The partnership between business and government provides a hotline to doctors in all official languages, 24/7, anywhere, on any device, for free – no data or airtime required.
Johannesburg, South Africa (26 March 2020) – Momentum have committed additional resources to help the government in curbing the spread of Covid-19.
This follows recent financial commitment to support the Health Department and South Africans in mitigating the spread of Covid-19. The service will not only allow citizens access to quality advice when they need it, but it also prevents the sick and potentially affected South Africans from transmitting the virus in health facilities around the country.
Furthermore, it also allows practitioners who may be infected, to remain in the health system and assist patients from a safe distance at a time where they are needed the most.
The support is in the form of HelloDoctor, Momentum’s telehealth capability that provides access for its clients to doctors anytime (24/7), on any phone, in all official languages. This service will be available to all South Africans at no charge nationally from Thursday, March 26, 2020.
Damian McHugh, Health Executive at Momentum Health Solutions, says, “This is the time for business to show their solidarity and ability to come together with Government in providing more health to more South Africans for less, especially at a time where the country needs it the most.”
Without the need for airtime or data, South Africans will have access to a risk assessment tool, which will trigger a callback from a doctor if need be who will respond personally with telephonic advice.
No call will go unanswered, not a single one.
Any South African can access the service by simply dialling *120*394# on their mobile phone and follow the menus. The doctor will call back and provide the right advice required based on given symptoms and conditions at no cost.
McHugh further expresses, “We cannot afford the skills of our health practitioners to be lost during this critical time in our country. This partnership will help South Africans to access healthcare professionals during self-isolation when they are asked to stay at home and during a probable lockdown.”
Our country requires business to partner with government to limit the effect of this pandemic in South Africa.
Our president and the health ministry have announced many initiatives to assist South Africa, and we all need to come together to limit the devasting effects we are seeing in the rest of the world.
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