An ambitious text messaging campaign is expected to reach a million South Africans daily with information about HIV/AIDS counseling services and testing centers throughout the country.
The effort, called Project Masiluleke—which means "hope" and "warm counsel" in the South Africa's major language, Zulu—"is one of the largest ever uses of mobile phones for health info," according to Andrew Zolli, executive director of Pop!Tech, which helped coordinate and fund the project.
One message reads: "HIV + & being mistreated by your family of friends? For confidential counseling call AIDS Helpline on 0800012322."
The use of text messaging to spread this information isn't necessarily new—similar campaigns have launched in recent years. "But this campaign is the most ambitious we are aware of," said Robert Noble of AVERT, an U.K.-based AIDS charity that works in South Africa.
Read on for more information on this "mobile" cause.
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