(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Doha: At a time when people are confined to their homes, government departments are leveraging digital communication to keep citizens and residents abreast of latest information about their ongoing programmes and services.
Various government entities have sent over 8.9 million text messages to people during the first quarter of this year.
The departments in several ministries like the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Ministry of Public Health, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, and the Ministry of Transport and Communications are using various digital modes of communication to convey messages and disseminate information to citizens and residents.
'8,939,034 SMSs by government entities via SMS Gateway during the first quarter of 2020, said Ministry of Transport and Communications in a tweet.
Overcoming the challenges posed by COVID- 19 outbreak, the government departments are making maximum use of digital technology. Apart from using Internet, they are also using text messages which are simple and convenient for users. For example, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, along with using other modes of digital communication, is using text messages under its distance learning system.
The Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) came on the top in terms of sending messages. The corporation sent around 1.8 million such messages to the public during the first quarter of the year.
The General Authority of Customs sent around 1 million messages, while the Ministry of Transport and Communications sent around over 743,000 messages during the first quarter of this year.
The Ministry of Education and Higher Education sent around 640,000 messages while the Ministry of Commerce and Industry sent around 310,500 such messages during the first quarter of this year.
Other departments sent around 4.4 million messages to public regarding important information and updates.
'2,100 transactions conducted by Land Transport Sector in the first quarter of 2020, said The Ministry of Transport and Communications in a tweet. '2,105 transactions conducted by Maritime Transport Affairs in the first quarter of 2020, it said in another tweet.
The Government Contact Center, through its Hotline, 109, offers support services for the public and answers their inquiries relating to all government services.
The center, one of the largest government contact centers in the Gulf region, has become an important platform for providing information related to several government entities.
The centre receives around 4 million calls annually.
Part of Qatar Digital Government initiatives, the centre offers services in nine languages and covers 34 government entities. It is open 24 hours, seven days a week, and receives calls on 109 from residents.
MENAFN0305202000630000ID1100107383
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.