RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 P3.375 Effective Use of Mobile Phones in HIV Prevention in Uganda
JF Sexually Transmitted Infections
JO Sex Transm Infect
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP A266
OP A266
DO 10.1136/sextrans-2013-051184.0828
VO 89
IS Suppl 1
A1 C O Wanyana
A1 S Nambafu
A1 E Musoke Seruma
A1 D Mpiima
YR 2013
UL http://sti.bmj.com/content/89/Suppl_1/A266.3.abstract
AB Background Uganda currently has a population of about 7 million people who own mobile phones. There is always a challenge of reaching out to big populations of people with HIV prevention services. Mobile phone usage is sited as one of the effective tools in reducing costs and improving efficiency in reaching out to people who need HIV prevention services. Program Description The Aids Support Organization (TASO) Uganda Limited, uses mobile phones to follow up their clients on HIV treatment, management and for planning psychosocial support visits to client’s family. Partnerships with Media Telecom companies to send bulk or group SMS massages like reminders of wedding meetings sent to very many different people at the same time and less costs. Lessons learnt It’s cost effective to use mobile phones to reach a big numbers of people in the community for HIV prevention Conclusion Effective partnership with Telecom companies will improve on reaching out to mobile users in HIV prevention. TASO to continue using mobile phones to improve on their community programmes.