Who We Are
Background
In 1998 British safari guide Huw Jones was driving through the remote Zambian bush when he suddenly came upon a trail of sticky blood on the dusty road. After following the trail for several miles, Huw caught up with a heavily pregnant woman slumped on a bicycle as her husband pedalled frantically in the relentless heat to get her to the nearest hospital, some 60km away. Despite Huw’s efforts, after such huge loss of blood, the woman and her unborn baby died in the jeep on the way; but the concept for the Virtual Doctor service, which would use the internet to save lives in rural Africa, was born. In 2016, Huw was recognised as an Everyday Tech Hero, an inspiring example of someone, who having experienced a challenge first-hand, has used technology to tackle it.
Our story
Our Aim
Our aim is to help improve local primary healthcare in some of the most remote and impoverished areas of sub-Saharan Africa. To date we have equipped healthcare workers in more than 270 health facilities with app-loaded smartphones.
These facilities serve as many as 2.5 million people with no direct access to a qualified doctor. More clinics are being set up in a rolling expansion programme funded entirely through the generosity of our supporters.
We have also equipped a further 6 rural Health Centres in Malawi as part of a pilot scheme, at the Invitation of the Ministry of Health.
Our Vision
To improve the health of patients in rural clinics by supporting the health workers; sharing expert advice, resources and mentoring through our specially developed telemedicine software.
Our Mission
We use mobile technology to give rural Health Workers in remote areas access to doctors and resources for education, mentoring and professional second opinion support
