Orange Cameroon to launch first healthcare hotline in Cameroon

Orange Cameroon is launching a preventive medical service in collaboration with the Ministry for Health, allowing remote medical advice in real time. Orange aims to expand the medical service dubbed My Healthline to other sub-Saharan African countries and extend the scope beyond sexual health, all built on a common Orange Healthcare platform.

Orange Cameroon customers will be able to access personalised advice on contraception, HIV/AIDS, sexuality and STDs from specialists by texting 929 between 8.00 am and 10.00 pm on any day of the week.

In less than one hour, the service will provide them with reliable medical information at minimal cost of about FCFA 150. Orange will anonymise all questions and then transmit them to a medical service consisting of Cameroonian nurses and doctors.

After analysis, the answers produced by the healthcare professionals will be sent back to the customer by Orange. My Healthline which provides quick, easy access by text, which allows anonymity and confidentiality, will provide services in French, English and Pidgin.

Cameroon has two doctors per 10,000 inhabitants and half the population lives in rural areas without access to medical facilities hence My Healthline will be able to reach a large proportion of the population with Orange Cameroon boasting of 6,500,000 customers.

Orange Healthcare has collaborated closely with the Corporate Social Responsibility Department of Orange Cameroon and the Ministry of Public Health to achieve the best possible fit between the service and local needs.

The subjects covered are themes often considered sensitive, or even taboo, on which people need reliable, non-judgmental information. Orange Cameroon says it hopes My Healthline will help to improve preventive medicine throughout the country in partnership with medical professionals.