Built to support the hospital's clinical judgment.
Patient responses are prioritized according to approved clinical protocols. Cases requiring attention are assigned to the responsible hospital team, with escalation and response deadlines configured to match the institution's clinical arrangements.
How replies are handled
- Symptoms needing immediate medical attention. Warning words in English and Kiswahili, such as "chest pain" or "nashindwa kupumua", are flagged for the hospital team first. The patient is told at once by SMS to go to the nearest hospital or call 999 / 112.
- Requests for a call. A patient who replies 3 receives the same emergency guidance, and the case is assigned to the responsible nurse.
- Routine follow-up. Questions are reviewed by the hospital team within the times its clinical protocols set.
- Escalation. If a case is not answered within the time the hospital sets, the contacts the hospital has named are alerted.
- Patients who stop replying. They get one reminder; if they stay silent, the case goes to the hospital team to decide on a phone call.
- Closing a case. Every case is closed with a recorded action and outcome.
In an emergency
PonaPath is not an emergency service. Anyone who feels very unwell should go to the nearest hospital now or call 999 / 112.
Clinical responsibility
PonaPath supports the hospital team's clinical judgment; it does not replace professional assessment. Response times and escalation are set by each participating hospital's approved clinical protocols.
Consent and privacy
- Patients are enrolled only with their consent, recorded by the ward nurse at discharge.
- Patients can reply STOP at any time to stop messages, and staff can see who has stopped.
- Only authorized hospital staff can see patients' replies.
What testing does and does not show
The software is tested with fictional patients to check that it works as designed. That shows the software behaves as intended; it does not establish clinical safety. Clinical safety is confirmed through the participating hospital's clinical review and sign-off before any patient is enrolled.
Where we are
- Built
The functions on this website, working in a demonstration with fictional patients. Clinical safety is confirmed through the hospital's clinical review, not by software testing.
- In review
The clinical workflow, awaiting review by a clinical lead.
- Being prepared
A proposed pilot with one hospital and one or two wards.
- Not yet
Use with real patients, which starts only after clinical sign-off and the required approvals.