In 2015, almost a quarter of a million people in six countries used Y'ello Doctor.

They used Y'ello Doctor, launched in South Africa just two years earlier, to get informed healthcare information, be put in SMS contact with real doctors – and to even speak directly to doctors. All through a mobile service, the likes of which hadn’t existed until MTN took the lead.

Presented in cooperation with a leading health insurance provider, Y'ello Doctor has never been about replacing the general practitioner. Rather, it is intended to support primary healthcare by reducing pressure on scarce human and physical resources. And to save people time and money while removing some of the multiple barriers that exist between patients and doctors.

MTN's journey into mobile health (mHealth) was fuelled by a desire to make a real impact. Concerned about the accuracy of online health information and the dangers of self-diagnosis, MTN saw an opportunity to leverage technology for good. And so, the company embarked on a mission to bridge the healthcare gap and empower individuals with the information and resources they needed to lead healthier lives.

It's all about access and information

From the bustling streets of Lagos to the remote villages of Uganda, MTN's mHealth initiatives have touched countless lives. In Uganda, a free interactive text messaging platform empowered individuals with knowledge about reproductive health. In Nigeria, MTN Business Home Healthcare revolutionised the way healthcare providers communicated with patients, ensuring continuous care even when they were miles apart.

MTN Sudan's innovative app gave ambulance drivers real-time information on hospital bed availability, potentially saving lives in critical situations. In Cameroon, a groundbreaking service facilitated unprecedented access to specialists and hospitals. And in Ghana, MTN's commitment to inclusivity ensured that communities received vital medical information in their own languages.

MTN's impact extended far and wide, reaching Afghanistan with MTN Tele-Doctor and Uganda, where an innovative airtime recharge system provided low-income customers with access to hospital and life cover.

Making an impact across our network

MTN's leadership in mHealth continued to shine in 2018. In Côte d'Ivoire, the MTN Foundation equipped community health centres with essential resources and implemented an electronic medical filing system, making a tangible difference in the lives of over 20 000 people. In Cameroon, MTN's collaboration with the Clinton Health Access Initiative resulted in SMS Printer for Life, a groundbreaking solution that revolutionised infant HIV diagnosis and treatment. Through this initiative, 11 838 laboratory results were delivered, and 633 newborn babies who had tested positive were immediately enrolled in treatment programmes. And in Ghana, MTN commissioned a state-of-the-art 40-bed maternity block at the Tema General Hospital.

In 2019, MTN took mHealth to the heart of Nigerian communities, bringing healthcare services directly to the bustling public markets where traders often lacked the time or resources to prioritise their

health. The MTN Foundation's Easy Health Access Project brought essential healthcare services to 40 000 Nigerians while minimising the impacts on people simply making a living.

In 2023, Y'ello Doctor continued to thrive, reaching individuals across numerous countries. The Y'ello Doctor Medical Intervention Scheme, detailed in MTN's integrated annual report, focused on delivering healthcare services to underserved communities in six Nigerian states through mobile medical clinics. In collaboration with state Ministries of Health and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Y'ello Doctor provided a much-needed lifeline for those who had previously lacked access to essential healthcare.

Dr. David Edwin, a dedicated leader of the Y'ello Doctor team in Gombe, shared his personal connection to the project's mission, having grown up in a village without medical services. He described it as "immensely fulfilling, given the vast number of people we reached. Particularly gratifying was witnessing people receive medical care for the first time".