Gemalto, the world’s leader in digital security, has pledged its support to the GSMA pan-African mHealth Initiative (PAMI). PAMI is a network of mobile and health industries. Gemalto and mHealth will improve nutrition and maternal and child health throughout sub-Saharan Africa.

Gemalto is providing its expertise for two mHealth programs that are part of PAMI, the United Nations Every Women Every Child Global Strategy and the Global Nutrition for Growth Compact.

Gemalto will educate its users in a compelling manner through the use of its advanced SmartMessage interactive messaging platform. The technology’s objective is to break down barriers that often hinder relationships between patients and health providers, in order to deliver important health information through cellular phones.

PAMI is a part of GSMA’s “Mobile for Development mHealth” program that utilizes a wide range of communication tools to provide support for a variety of mHealth services. The project’s aim is to reach over 15 million pregnant women, and mothers with children under 5 years old throughout the African continent.

PAMI will be initiated in seven countries, including the Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia, in September 2014. The second phase of the program will begin in early 2015 by expanding to Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania.

Additional partnerships involved in the initiative include South African based telecommunications company MTN, Samsung, Omega Diagnostics, Hello Doctor, Lifesaver, Mobenzi and Mobilium.

According to a study conducted by GSMA in 2013, sub-Saharan Africa has the fastest growing, unique mobile subscriber rate in the world. Over the past five years, the region’s subscriber base has increased at an annual rate of 18 percent.

These promising figures have fueled the relationship between GSMA and Gemalto.

Gemalto’s Chief Operating Officer (COO) Philippe Vallée, emphasizes the importance of the collaboration, stating “As the world is becoming ever more digital and wireless, we are thrilled to see our solutions being used to support a noble social cause with this initiative. There can surely be no clearer illustration of the potential of mobile solutions to fundamentally change the expectations and outcomes of millions of people in sub-Saharan Africa.”

– Talia Langman
Sources: ITWeb Africa, Market Watch, IT News Africa, Guardian News
Photo: Apps World