In a landmark development for digital health in Africa, HubPharm has officially launched AFIYA, Africa’s first multimodal and multilingual AI health companion, designed to reshape healthcare access and chronic disease management. The innovation was unveiled in commemoration of World Pharmacy Day 2025, aligning with this year’s global theme: “Think Health, Think Pharmacist.”
Pharm.Sesan Kareem, managing director of HubPharm and innovator of AFIYA disclosed to Pharmanewsonline in an exclusive interview that the AI health assistant is built on Amazon Web Services (AWS) for reliability and scalability, with 24/7 accessibility via WhatsApp.
By leveraging AI technology, he said it provides personalised health support to both patients and healthcare professionals bridging critical gaps in medication management, preventive care, mental health support, and health education.
“Across the continent, an estimated 100 million people live with chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol. For many, challenges such as forgetting to take medications, limited access to qualified healthcare providers, high treatment costs, and geographical barriers make disease management a daily struggle,” he stated.
“AFIYA aims to change this narrative” Kareem assured. “Its core features include: personalised alerts to ensure patients never miss a dose, access to prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs with just a few taps, conversations in English, Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, French, and other African languages, allowing family members abroad to track adherence and support loved ones back home, support for stress, anxiety, and depression through guided chats and resources”.
Pharm Kareem further highlighted the great features of the innovative App, saying by combining accessibility with affordability, AFIYA promises to empower patients in both urban and rural communities, breaking down barriers of cost, distance, and language.
“AFIYA is more than just a digital tool, it is a lifeline,” Kareem emphasised. “By harnessing the power of AI, we are transforming chronic care across Africa, one conversation at a time. Our mission is simple: to make quality healthcare accessible, secure, and culturally relevant to every African, no matter where they live.”
HubPharm’s commitment to integrating pharmacists into the digital health landscape mirrors the World Pharmacy Day 2025 theme, which underscores the pivotal role of pharmacists in improving health outcomes globally.
Healthcare experts have hailed AFIYA as a timely innovation that could help accelerate Africa’s journey towards universal health coverage. By offering services through WhatsApp, it meets users where they already are on a platform with over 500 million African users making adoption seamless.
“Technology like AFIYA shows us that digital health solutions can truly democratize healthcare,” said one health policy expert. “It’s about reimagining how care is delivered, especially in communities where health systems are overstretched.”
To start using AFIYA, individuals only need to send a simple “Hi” on WhatsApp to begin their health journey. The companion immediately guides users through setting up medication schedules, exploring health tips, and accessing tailored support.
With AFIYA, HubPharm is betting on the future of pharmacy and healthcare in Africa, one where digital tools and human expertise work hand in hand to deliver better outcomes for all.
