What began as a quiet Friday evening spent browsing on her phone has turned into an unforgettable milestone for 19-year-old Buhle Nyantumba, a pupil at Mbabane Central High School, who emerged as the grand prize winner in the NOTSA Health App Activation Raffle Draw.
The science learner walked away with a Smart TV, smartphone, smartwatch and wireless headphones during a prize handover ceremony held at MTN Eswatini Headquarters on Wednesday.
The raffle formed part of MTN Eswatini’s 21 Days of Y’ello Care campaign, which encourages the public to download and actively engage with the NOTSA App, a digital health platform designed to provide reliable and accessible health information.
For Nyantumba, however, the biggest reward was not the impressive collection of gadgets she received, but the knowledge she gained after downloading the application out of curiosity.
Still visibly overwhelmed after receiving her prizes, Nyantumba said she never imagined that a simple decision made out of boredom would lead to such a life-changing experience.
“I feel very excited because I was not expecting to win,” she said with a smile.
She explained that she came across the application one Friday evening while looking for something interesting to do. After downloading it, she began exploring the educational content, particularly information relating to HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
The app, she said, challenged many misconceptions she had previously heard from peers and social media, replacing them with medically accurate information presented in an easy-to-understand format.
“I learned that HIV cannot be transmitted by hugging someone. The app also taught me a lot about STIs and other health issues. I think it is very helpful, especially for young people who do not always go to the hospital for health information,” she said.
Nyantumba believes many young people shy away from seeking health information because they fear being judged or feel uncomfortable asking sensitive questions. Having a platform that provides confidential, trustworthy information directly on a mobile phone, she said, could empower more young people to make informed decisions about their health.
She encouraged fellow learners and young people across Eswatini to download the application, saying it offers valuable lessons that extend far beyond the possibility of winning prizes.
“It is not only about the rewards. The information is useful and can help people make better choices about their health,” she added.
The activation campaign rewarded several other users who actively engaged with the application. Andiswa Malambe received a smartwatch, tablet, headphones and power bank; Sobahle Nxumalo won a tablet, headphones and power bank; Lungelo Ndwandwe took home a smartphone, headphones and power bank, while Nqoba Jele received a Stanley-style cup, headphones and power bank.
Speaking during the prize presentation, MTN Eswatini Chief Executive Officer Jerry Soko said the initiative demonstrates how digital innovation can play a meaningful role in improving public health while making learning engaging and rewarding.
He said this year’s 21 Days of Y’ello Care campaign, themed “Expanding Equitable Health for Every Community,” reflects MTN’s commitment to using technology to remove barriers to healthcare and ensure more people have access to reliable health information.
Soko thanked Georgetown Global Health Eswatini for developing the NOTSA App and acknowledged the Ministry of Health for its continued partnership in bringing the initiative to communities.
“I would like to extend our sincere appreciation to Georgetown University for the NOTSA App. This is the kind of innovation that helps bridge a critical gap in healthcare access and demonstrates how technology can be used to create meaningful impact for our people,” he said.
He added that sustainable solutions to healthcare challenges can only be achieved through strong collaboration between government, academia, the private sector and communities.
“At MTN, we firmly believe that the best solutions come from partnership,” he said.
