App launched to help Ugandans manage holistic wellness
The app was unveiled at an event held at MoTIV in Bugolobi, Kampala, on Saturday, bringing together partners, wellness professionals, fitness communities and other stakeholders to explore how technology can support holistic wellbeing.
Patrick Kimathi, managing director of Old Mutual Life (Right in specs) at the launch of Thrive App at MOTIV in Bugoloobi on Saturday (Photos By Aloysious Kasoma)
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A new digital wellness platform, Thrive, has been launched to give users access to tools for managing their physical health, mental wellbeing, nutrition and finances from a single application.
The app was unveiled at an event held at MoTIV in Bugolobi, Kampala, on Saturday, bringing together partners, wellness professionals, fitness communities and other stakeholders to explore how technology can support holistic wellbeing.
Thrive allows users to track their physical activity, participate in wellness challenges, manage their finances and access resources related to mental and nutritional wellbeing.
Patrick Kimathi, managing director of Old Mutual Life, said the application was developed around the understanding that wellbeing extends beyond one aspect of a person's life.
“When you're driving, you have life. When you are thriving, everything is well with you,” Kimathi said.
One of the key features of the application is its physical wellness component, which allows users to participate in activities and challenges and monitor their progress through a wellness score.
The platform also provides financial wellness tools, allowing users to set budgets, monitor spending and examine their money habits.
Zac Kisesi, managing director of Old Mutual Investment Group Uganda, said the financial component is intended to help users make informed decisions and develop habits that support their long-term goals.
“Financial wellbeing is not simply about how much money a person earns; it is about the confidence to make informed decisions, plan for the future and steadily work towards the life you want,” Kisesi said.
He said the platform seeks to make financial wellness more accessible by helping users build better habits and engage with their financial goals as part of their everyday lives.
The app also features mental wellness tools through challenges and resources designed to help users assess aspects of their wellbeing.
Users who require additional support can be connected to organisations and service providers offering mental wellness services.
The launch comes amid growing concerns about mental health in Uganda.
The developers say the platform responds to the interconnected nature of these challenges by bringing financial, physical, nutritional and mental wellness resources together.
Thrive is also being positioned as a workplace wellness tool. Employers can encourage their staff to use the application and gain insights into wellness challenges affecting their workforce.
Such information could help companies identify areas where employees may need support, including financial education, counselling and other wellness interventions.
Kimathi said the application would also create a new channel for regular engagement with users.
He noted that insurance customers traditionally interact with providers mainly when purchasing or renewing policies or when making claims.
“With insurance, most times somebody buys insurance, and the next thing is unless you have a claim or the next time you are renewing. So we have no time to engage with our customers,” he said.
The platform also incorporates analytics that can provide insights into user demographics, behaviour and engagement, which could help inform the development of future products and services.