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NetOne is set to launch and showcase Health on Wheels, a pioneering ward-based mobile telehealth and primary-care access programme, during the 23rd ZANU-PF People’s National Conference opening tomorrow in Chinhoyi. Developed as a collaborative initiative between the p telecommunications giant NetOne, and innovation ecosystem ZimSmart Villages, the project aims to bring essential healthcare services closer to rural and peri-urban communities across Zimbabwe.
The landmark programme is designed to bridge critical gaps in primary health care delivery by combining mobile access, static telehealth, AI-supported services, and last-mile delivery.
The comprehensive exhibition features a complete access network comprising 10 solarized and Starlink-powered mobile health outreach tuk-tuks, two static telehealth kiosks equipped for diagnostics and virtual consultations, and 10 “Mudhumeni WeUtano” solarized bicycles to extend community mobilization and digital health promotion at the grassroots level.
The Health on Wheels model operates around a continuous cycle of screening, consultation, treatment, and follow-up. Nurse- and community health worker-facilitated outreach points offer vital screening services, including blood pressure and glucose checks, non-communicable disease (NCD) risk reduction, and maternal, child, and HIV/TB health navigation.
Patients can access clinician-led tele-triage for low-risk concerns, care-plan clarifications, and streamlined specialist referrals.
Importantly, the initiative addresses critical emergency transport needs in remote areas.
While not a substitute for an ambulance or a full hospital, the solarized tuk-tuks provide structured last-mile evacuation and prompt clinical handover for maternal emergencies, snakebites, and other approved acute traumas from rural homesteads to designated local clinics. The model also ensures continuous access to chronic medications, such as antiretroviral drugs and vaccines, safely bridging the gap between patients and the public health system.
Drawing inspiration from successful international frameworks in Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, and Uganda regarding community-based tricycle and motorcycle transport, Zimbabwe’s model goes a step further by integrating transport directly with ward-based telehealth and digital service navigation.
As NetOne marks its milestone anniversary of community investment, the Health on Wheels rollout at the Chinhoyi conference represents a transformative step toward achieving universal health access and modernization in alignment with the Alma-Ata and Astana declarations.
Delegates attending the Chinhoyi conference are expected to tour the live, solarized, and Starlink-enabled exhibition, witnessing firsthand how technology and strategic partnerships can transform primary healthcare delivery nationwide.
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