Health information expert and innovator Andrew Philip Mwebaza has launched Smarty, a digital entertainment platform aimed at sharing health and climate action information with the youth.

The platform utilises games, cartoons, challenges, quizzes, and other interactive means to engage and educate young people.

Mwebaza, who is the founder of the African Health Grid Foundation (AFHEG), revealed during the launch at Kasangati High School on April 19, 2024, that the idea for Smarty came from the realisation that it is increasingly challenging to reach youth who spend most of their time on the internet, playing games, and consuming entertainment content.

"Most youth spend their time on the internet, social media, and gaming platforms, making it difficult for health educators to engage with them in person. Recognising that entertainment is their primary interest on these platforms, I saw the importance of utilizing entertainment avenues to promote health and climate action," he explained. 

Students during the launch at Kasangati High School on April 19, 2024

Mwebaza further explained that the conception of the project came in place when he participated in the Content Catalyst Program facilitated by the French Embassy and the Media Challenge Initiative (MCI).

During this programme, he pitched the idea along with its broader vision, which garnered interest from the two entities. Subsequently, they partnered with him to transform his idea into a reality.

During the launch event, students at the school participated in various activities, starting with an aerobics session where they engaged in different dance moves and fitness routines.

This was followed by a games session where students attempted to shoot balls into a small goal post, each aligned with a Sustainable Development Goal they felt passionate about promoting and working towards.

The event also featured recitations of health-themed poems by students, including My Day by Raheem Nsubuga Bantubalamu, which left the audience impressed.

The entertainment bit transitioned into lecture sessions covering a range of topics, including mental health, menstrual hygiene, climate action, personal hygiene, and career guidance, among others.

Following the physical activities and lecture sessions, students were taken through an online session where they accessed and logged into the Smarty platform to explore its various features and games.

Among the games available are Fight Virus,Hero Doctor and Puzzles, several others. Additionally, the platform offers informative sections such as health courses, podcasts, and health explainer animations.

Ukasha Ssemambo, one of the students who successfully logged into the platform, shared his experience, highlighting Hero Doctor as the most engaging game. He explained that the game requires players to assemble different parts of the doctor to solve puzzles, providing an enjoyable yet educational experience.

"All the games are great, but I particularly enjoyed Hero Doctor because it challenges you to think critically to complete the final puzzle," he remarked.

Another student, Nisha Nassali, a student in form two, expressed her appreciation for the aerobics and the lecture sessions, where she learnt about various Sustainable Development Goals and their significance.

She mentioned her intention to apply the knowledge gained to advocate for health and climate action literacy in her community when she breaks off for holidays.

The head teacher of the school, Peter Kizza Kiyingi, expressed his support for the launch of the Smarty platform at the school, emphasizing its potential benefits for the students. He noted that in an increasingly digital world, initiatives like this are crucial, especially considering the shifting focus of the youth towards digital platforms.

"When the project's 'team leader presented the idea to me, I immediately saw its value because there has been a significant challenge in directly reaching out to the youth. This became even more evident during the COVID-19 pandemic when students were at home, and health educators couldn't engage with them directly. In such circumstances, a platform like this could serve as both entertainment and information-sharing hub for youth and students. I am optimistic that if utilized effectively, it could yield significant results," Kiyingi remarked.

Health expert Joy Nsamba, who conducted a session on menstrual hygiene, highlighted the opportunities that the digital space offers to health innovators to create informative tools that could enhance the country's health status. She noted that platforms like Smarty have the potential to attract a wide audience in the digital space, thereby improving health literacy.

The event concluded with various activities, including the official launch of the Smarty platform and the Health Defenders Club, as well as a tree planting exercise. Female students were also provided with donations of sanitary pads and bars of soap, further enhancing their well-being.

Who is Phillip Andrew Mwebaza?

Philip Mwebaza is a seasoned health communication expert and journalist renowned for his impactful contributions to health education. As the Founder of the AFHEG Foundation (African Health Grid), a non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting health literacy, Philip leverages compelling storytelling and gamified e-learning to empower communities with equitable health information, envisioning a future where all thrive on knowledge.