The Vodacom mHealth Alliance for HIV/Aids, under the Vodacom Foundation, has unveiled an integrated platform for the development of mobile technology solutions in the management of HIV/Aids.
The alliance is a consortium comprising several organisations working directly in the field of HIV/Aids, or providing support services to reduce the impact of the pandemic. The mobile network operator already provides financial support to many of the organisations through funding from the Vodacom Foundation.
Consortium members are Vodacom and four partner NPOs: Cell-Life, Young Africa Live (YAL), Geomed, and the Centre for Specialised Services.
According to the mobile giant, during the first year of the alliance, the four partner organisations will use mobile technology to intensify HIV-related and adherence messaging, as well as build a clinic reporting system. “In subsequent years, these will be integrated into the national health system.”
The chairman of the Vodacom Foundation, Mthobi Tyamzashe, says together with the South African National Aids Council, the foundation “will plan, develop and implement appropriate mobile systems to lower new infections, provide treatment, care and support, and build the capacity of the health system”.
This is part of Vodacom's health portfolio through the Vodacom Foundation, providing funding for several organisations working in the HIV/Aids arena.
Vodacom says it is helping Cell-Life's vision to improve the lives of people infected and affected by HIV in SA through the appropriate use of mobile and other technologies.
“YAL is an entertainment-oriented and fun mobile platform where young South Africans can talk about hot topics affecting their daily lives: love, sex, relationships, gender and cultural issues, as well as HIV/Aids. The platform is supported and hosted by Vodafone Live,” Vodacom explains.
Geomed has developed a mobile platform to monitor and evaluate individuals who provide community or home-based health care services, it adds.
Tyamzashe says: “The World Aids Day 2010 theme provides the inspiration to continue our journey towards the improvement of the health system, and a dedicated commitment to address the HIV epidemic that faces our country. We are confident that the Vodacom mHealth Alliance for HIV/Aids will provide a platform from which we can effectively continue this work.”
The alliance will create a partnership between the public, private and NPO sector that aims to achieve several benefits, including leveraging off the knowledge, expertise and reputation of all partners. It will also make HIV/Aids projects more sustainable, extend their knowledge base, and stretch limited funds further.
In addition to the four partner organisations that make up the alliance, the foundation also says it is providing funding for HIV/Aids-support initiatives NOAH (Nurturing Orphans for Humanity), the South African Tuberculosis Vaccination Initiative, Ndlovu Trust; and ACFS Community Education and Feeding Scheme.
Share