Text to Change (TTC), a non-profit organization in Africa, has been using mobile technology for health education since 2008. TTC has been running a fun, innovative and practical HIV/AIDS education program in three countries -- Uganda, Kenya and Namibia. This program not only educates participants about AIDS but also encourages infected patients to seek medical help and adhere to medication.
Process: TTC runs a six week SMS based quiz program with participants receiving 3 questions per week. The quiz participants answer via sending a free text message. The correct answer is acknowledged with additional information on the topic and the wrong one by an explanation about the correct answer. Detailed information on weekly quiz issues are also put up in a local newspaper and on the TTC website. At the end of the program, participants visit a Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) centre where they are provided with free HIV/AIDS counselling and testing. Participants answering correctly also have an opportunity to win prizes such as mobile phones and air time.
A similar SMS based model can be used effectively to educate people about other diseases and in providing information on general health related issues such as sanitation.
Photo taken from the Text to Change website.
