Personal Health Pathways is motivating Cebokazi to get healthier and achieve all her wellness goals

Cebokazi has been a Discovery Health Medical Scheme member since 2014, and over time, has engaged with as many rewarding features and benefits on her health and wellness plans as possible.

With a keen interest in taking care of herself and a generally positive outlook in life, Cebokazi was drawn to Personal Health Pathways soon after it was rolled out on the Discovery Health app in January 2025.

"It caught my interest immediately," she says enthusiastically.

Cebokazi didn't waste a moment in activating Personal Health Pathways

"Personal Health Pathways was very easy to find and activate on the Discovery Health app. Generally, I enjoy exploring new features and learning how to maximise their benefits." And Personal Health Pathways offered a few more that appealed to her.

Cebokazi saw an opportunity to use her weekly exercise goal - which was to do up to 10,000 steps a day. She felt it would be easiest to achieve her daily step goal on Saturdays as she's already allocated some running time in her exercise schedule. Getting in those steps every other day was a challenge she was all for trying to meet and get better at doing.

"At first, achieving all my steps every day was a bit challenging. But once I saw the rewards on offer and how my participation started improving my health, I became fully engaged," she adds.

Personal Health Pathways also keeps Cebokazi informed about her health and motivated to do better

"Personal Health Pathways offers reminders and health actions that help me stay on top of screenings. It's made me understand that prevention really is better than cure." Her recommended health actions have included visiting her GP, doing a Health Check, and a dental check-up. It was during her Health Check that she learned her blood pressure had improved since her last screening. She also discovered a cavity that needed filling during her dental check-up, catching that before it progressed.

Cebokazi also feels motivated by the opportunity to earn funds: Every time Cebokazi completes a recommended health or exercise action, an allocated amount accumulates into her Personal Health Fund. From this, she funds day-to-day medical expenses.

Cebokazi has wanted to improve the condition of her skin. "Using these funds, I have been able to go and see a dermatologist," she says.

Completing goals and closing rings have become Cebokazi's formula for staying motivated

Each time she closes her health and exercise rings, Cebokazi feels motivated to remain consistent in meeting all her recommended health actions and weekly physical activity goals. "I've seen visible results physically and emotionally. I'm calmer and feel healthier. My skin is glowing more than ever!"

Making the most of Personal Health Pathways has also enabled her to lose a little weight, which has helped rebuild her confidence. "Now, if I skip exercise, I feel like something's missing!" she jokes.

"The instant rewards, like vouchers, Ðiscovery Miles and accumulated funds, keep me going too," she says. "It's exciting to be rewarded for taking care of myself."

Cebokazi turns progress into power with every goal achieved

"Personal Health Pathways encourages progress and consistency in every aspect of your life," shares Cebokazi. "Toning my body, seeing my skin glow naturally, and watching my acne disappear without any necessary treatment are some of the effects I'm enjoying because of my efforts to improve my health and wellness," she adds.

"I have a new, ambitious goal too - to finish a marathon one day! Right now, I'm running 10km races and feeling stronger with every step taken."

For Cebokazi, working on her health and fitness hasn't been easy but she believes that discomfort often means progress. She also believes that it's better not to pressure yourself for quick changes; but rather focus on developing healthy habits. "And Personal Health Pathways can help you achieve this. It's important to stay patient and consistent - good results take time."

Cebokazi is the living proof of this, for sure!

What is Personal Health Pathways?

Personal Health Pathways is a free tool available to adult DHMS members via the Discovery Health app. It provides personalised, real-time health recommendations based on each member's unique profile. As a member's health journey evolves, so does their pathway, continuously updating based on their specific health status, risk profile and engagement patterns and dynamically adjusting as new health data become available.

Personal Health Pathways combines artificial intelligence, predictive analytics and behavioural science. The platform uses more than 50 million life years of health claims and clinical data, along with nearly 30 million life years of exercise and lifestyle data gathered through Vitality in South Africa, to recommend actions that have the greatest potential to improve health outcomes.

Members earn rewards for engaging, including shopping vouchers, Ðiscovery Miles and instant rewards. Those Scheme members who are also Vitality members earn personalised rewards through Personal Health Pathways in addition to their Vitality rewards.

Then, each Personal Health Pathways cycle provides up to two clinical actions and one weekly exercise goal, which must be completed by a set date. Members can earn up to R500 into a new Personal Health Fund for each completed action, up to a maximum of R10,000. The money that is accumulated in the Personal Health Fund can be used for day-to-day medical expenses, including GP and specialist consultations, medicine, radiology and pathology.