Friday, March 12, 2010

Mobile phones – Newest Tool in the Fight Against HIV/AIDS


Mobile phones represent the latest use of technology in stemming the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa. The phones promote opportunities to connect people with necessary information and available resources. In Nigeria, there is already a toll-free service that connects callers to HIV/AIDS counselors.

Also, a pilot project in Nigeria has begun to teach village workers in identifying minor symptoms of the disease. They use their phones to call trained medical workers within a larger referral center to receive a clearer diagnosis and instructions.

It may not be an ideal form of health care, but it extends information and HIV/AIDS support services to thousands of people who were previously without. Much of Africa is plagued with inadequate health systems and weak infrastructure; therefore one solution is to increase the capacity to which technology is used to combat this epidemic.


-Michelle Leung

Source: Africa Good News