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HIV texts improve HIV tests
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South Africaââ¬â¢s new text messaging service encourages people to get tested for HIV
"The messages are broadcast in English and local languages, such as Zulu"
Developed and funded by a group of technology firms, HIV charities, design agencies and educational organisations, Project Masiluleke is South Africa’s latest weapon in tackling the HIV epidemic.
Launching on 1st December - World Aids Day - Project Masiluleke will send one million free text messages a day to remind people of the importance of being tested for HIV.
The system proved hugely successful when piloted in Johannesburg earlier this year. The National Aids helpline reported a 200% increase in enquiries after the text messages were sent out.
Numerous variations of helpline messages are sent out. One example reads: ‘Worried that you might have HIV and want to talk to a counsellor about getting tested? Call Aids helpline 0800 012322.’
Mobile phones are hugely popular in South Africa. In a country of 49 million people there are an estimated 43 million handsets - meaning the text messaging services have almost universal coverage. To further encourage participation the messages are broadcast in English and local languages, such as Zulu.
Project Masiluleke is believed to be the largest use of mobile phones for health information and there are plans to set up similar text message services in the future to provide information about tuberculosis.
The United Nations estimates that there are currently around six million people living with HIV in South Africa while around 350,000 people die of Aids-related diseases in the country every year.
