South Africa: Project to Deliver Messages About HIV

The social innovation network Pop!Tech is leading an effort to use technology to provide people with information about HIV/AIDS and TB. The goal of "Project Masiluleke," Zulu for "lend a helping hand," is to deliver a million cell phone messages by piggybacking on the popular "Please Call Me" messages that people send when they want to avoid paying for a call.

The initiative will eventually be expanded to other countries to help fight HIV/AIDS and TB. South Africa was selected as the pilot country since around 90 percent of the population has access to a cell phone. Local partners include MTN, the Praekelt Foundation, the outreach group iTeach, and a mobile messaging organization.

Under the project, text with details on HIV and TB call centers will be inserted into the free Please Call Me messages. When someone telephones the center, a trained operator will provide them with information and counseling or refer them to a testing center. The Praekelt Foundation's TxtAlert technology will be used to send text messages reminding patients of scheduled appointments.

A three-week trial has already tripled the average daily call volume to the Johannesburg-based National AIDS Helpline.

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