Suburban
Help 24 Seven – Zimbabwe’s leading emergency and service-based app – has introduced a new button on their services, the “Neighbourhood Alert feature”.
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Suburban Reporter
The Neighbourhood Alert feature is the only one of its kind in Zimbabwe offering affordable comprehensive reaction services.
Help 24 Seven says they have discussed at length with many neighbourhood watches and tailored this feature to suite neighbourhood watches.
In an interview, Help 24 Seven Zimbabwe director Mr Rodney Beadon explained how the new neighbourhood alert feature works.
“The feature is accessed by going to edit ‘edit profile’ select ‘neighbourhood watch’ mode, click on ‘on’ you will be taken to the neighbourhood watch page. When you need help press and hold the security response button down for three seconds. A map showing your location comes up, a notification is then sent to your neighbourhood patrol team, J&P Security and to the Help 24 Seven control room,” he said.
“Your neighbourhood local reaction team reacts first, they can block roads, go to the person needing assistance, fetch the police and let the person needing help know they are there. Local reaction is fast. Whilst this is happening J&P reaction team will be dispatched, J&P are fully equipped professionals who have an outstanding record for reaction services and customer satisfaction.
“Help 24 Seven control room coordinates everything keeping the local reaction team updated, the J&P reaction team and the person needing assistance. In the event an ambulance or any of the services are required Help 24 Seven will pave the way to avoid delays. The biggest advantage is the protocol for each neighbourhood watch can be adapted for their individual requirements. No other company in Zimbabwe offers this service,” he said.
He went on to give an example of the neighbourhood alert working, where recently a flat in a complex was broken into, the tenant pressed the panic button on the Neighbourhood Alert App.
“The guard at the gate was notified and all the residents. All who agreed to react did so, the guard had apprehended the intruder. The residents assisted the guard in detaining the thief whilst one of the residents collected the police. The protocol had been written by the residents in conjunction with the Help 24 Seven app developer and group CEO,” he said.
“The cost is affordable to all Zimbabweans. Firstly, you need to join help 24 Seven this costs US$3.00 per month. This gives you access to all our service providers at a discounted rate. For the neighbourhood feature it is an additional US$5.00 providing you only pay a negligible fee if the reaction team is dispatched,” said Mr Beadon.
Help 24 Seven will also send their agents to assist with installation, offering residents a unique professional personal service twenty-four seven.
