Half a million calls have gone through to the HIV/Aids call centre since the “please call me” campaign started.
The initial success of the HIV education campaign, Project Masiluleke, has led organisers to begin phase two of the project.
Earlier this year, Pop!Tech, Praekelt Foundation, iTeach and MTN, among others, unveiled a pilot project that would disseminate an HIV/Aids awareness campaign using the unused space in “please call me” messages.
At the official unveiling of the formal project yesterday, Eunice Maluleke, head of the MTN Foundation, explained that - since the beginning of the pilot project eight months ago - the Aids Helpline has increased call volumes from practically none to half a million people. The helpline is run by Life Line and the Department of Health.
The campaign is currently offered in English and Zulu; however, Praekelt Foundation head Gustav Praekelt says the next phase of the project will include messaging in several other languages. Messages are developed by NGO iTeach.
The foundation is preparing to incorporate other technologies into the campaign, including the possibility to create an ongoing dialogue with people looking for HIV education. “We will be extending the project to USSD [a text-based interactive mobile model], which will allow us to keep track of cellphone numbers and have an ongoing conversation with people.”
MTN is one of the few operators that does not sell advertising space in its “please call me” messages, holding it rather for internal messaging. The company has provided 5% of its traffic in these messages freely to the project.
Praekelt says another pilot, being tested in KwaZulu-Natal hospitals, uses SMS and USSD to remind patients to collect medication and attend doctors' appointments. Incentives, like cheaper SMS and call rates, are granted to those who maintain their medical regimes.
While this is still in pilot phase, Praekelt says it will be incorporated into the current project of providing simple information, and the Department of Health has expressed interest in getting involved in developing the project.
While he understands that HIV infected patients' privacy may be a concern, he says the number capturing and reminders will only be sent to those users who opt into the service.
The second phase of the project will be up and running in two weeks.
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