The award was presented at the "ITU Virtual Digital World 2020 SME Awards", a global ICT innovation event for governments, enterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) organized by Vietnam's Ministry of Information and Communications and the International Telecommunication Union.
According to a statement sent to VerAngola, the Angolan start-up won in the eHealth category for enabling its users to identify the nearest pharmacy, the best prices and availability of medicines.
In view of this achievement, the vice-president, Bornito de Sousa, congratulated the project, considering that this award is a "deserved recognition".
"The distinction in the eHealth category is the deserved recognition of Appy Saúde, which has contributed to the development of the technology industry in Angola, Africa and the world, guided by excellence in the use of new technologies for the benefit of families and society in general," he said, quoted by Angop.
The vice-president also said that the innovative technology of the application only proves that information technologies can help contribute to the well-being of people and "accelerate economic development".
Houlin Zhao, Secretary General of the International Telecommunication Union, cited in the statement, said that these awards "constitute a small but important part" of the development journey of technological SMEs, which are essential to help in the success of social and economic recovery.
"Appy Saúde" is a mobile application. It has been available since 2017 and allows its users to reserve medicines and order non-prescription pharmaceutical products, make appointments and join health insurance. In addition to this achievement, "Appy Saúde" was voted the "Best Application in Africa in 2019.
Awards were also given in three other categories: Indian Astronome in the connectivity category, Vietnamese BusMap in the smart cities category, and Israeli OKO Finance in the digital finance category.
"The awards and the SME program are part of a series of virtual activities co-organized by the ITU and Vietnam's Ministry of Information and Communications before and in preparation for the upcoming ITU Digital World 2021, which will take place in person in Ha Noi, Vietnam from October 12-15, 2021 and organized by the Government of Vietnam," the note added.
