The telecommunications company is financing the initial deployment of 10 mobile health kiosks, with each province receiving one unit under the first phase of its OneHealth programme.
The initiative will ultimately see 100 mobile health kiosks deployed across the country, extending healthcare outreach to district level and bringing essential medical services closer to rural and other underserved populations.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa is expected to officially launch the programme on Saturday, October 17, during the 23rd ZANU PF National People’s Conference in Chinhoyi.
The investment coincides with NetOne’s 30th anniversary and marks the company’s expansion of community investment into technology-enabled healthcare delivery.
Unlike conventional healthcare facilities, the three-wheeler mobile kiosks are designed to support community-based outreach, allowing healthcare services to reach populations that face geographical and transport barriers to accessing established medical facilities.
Through integrated telehealth technology, the kiosks will facilitate initial health screening, access to medical information, remote consultations with healthcare professionals and referrals to appropriate medical facilities.
The mobile service is expected to particularly benefit rural communities where residents often travel long distances and incur transport costs to access basic healthcare.
By taking healthcare services closer to communities, the programme seeks to reduce these barriers while improving early detection of health conditions, timely medical consultations and continuity of care through established referral systems.
The initiative is being spearheaded by the ZANU PF Department of Health in partnership with NetOne and ZimSmart Villages, which is providing the digital-health technology and operational framework.
ZimSmart Villages Chief Medical Officer, Mr Admore Jokwiro, said the deployment would establish stronger links between community health workers, patients and healthcare professionals.
“Through ZimSmart Villages, we are bringing together digital-health solutions, community-based outreach and clinical support to create a connected pathway to care. The kiosks will help communities access initial screening and health information while enabling patients to connect with clinicians and receive appropriate referrals and follow-up,” said Mr Jokwiro.
He said the programme was intended to translate technological innovation into practical healthcare solutions, particularly for populations that have historically struggled to access medical services.
The deployment also demonstrates the growing role of telecommunications infrastructure in supporting healthcare delivery, with digital connectivity enabling clinical support and remote consultations beyond conventional medical facilities.
NetOne spokesperson Ernest Magadzire said the investment reflected the company’s commitment to leveraging telecommunications and digital technologies to improve community welfare.
“As NetOne celebrates 30 years of connecting Zimbabwe, we are investing in initiatives that improve people’s lives. Through OneHealth, we are demonstrating that our responsibility extends beyond providing telecommunications services to supporting solutions that address real community needs,” he said.
“By financing these mobile health kiosks, we are helping bring essential healthcare closer to underserved communities and contributing to a healthier, more inclusive Zimbabwe.”
The initial allocation of one mobile health kiosk per province is expected to establish a foundation for expanding the service to district level as the programme progresses towards its target of 100 units.
The initiative complements national efforts to improve healthcare accessibility, reduce inequalities between urban and rural communities and strengthen digital transformation in essential public services.
It also aligns with the Government’s Vision 2030 development agenda and the National Development Strategy 2, which prioritise inclusive access to essential services.
