WorldView Magazine - Fall 2009 - (Page 20)

Health CN U HLP ME? I HVE A ?? A Peace Corps Volunteer harnesses the power of text messaging for good health by Shannon Cummings n a few short years, text messaging (also called “SMS” for Short Message Service), has seemingly replaced phone conversations, letter writing and the traditional two cans attached by a long string as the primary form of communication for young people worldwide. Imagine if young texters in the developing world could get quick and accurate answers to their most personal sexual health questions anonymously, by simply sending an SMS. In Namibia, Peace Corps Volunteer Rashid Khan has developed a program that does just that. Khan is harnessing the global texting trend to fight rampant sexual health misinformation that contributes to a towering HIV infection rate and many unwanted pregnancies. Smart phone technology is revolutionizing communication throughout africa. When Khan arrived in country, he immediately became aware of the lack of knowledge and resources Namibian youth had regarding sexual Khan recognized the potential consumers receive a tailored answer health. “After talking to local youth, to implement a similar system in from a trained health Volunteer that is both formally and informally, it became Namibia, where cellular phone service both accurate and timely. Additionally, very clear that there exist serious is widespread and text messaging in the program was expanded to deliver misconceptions about pregnancy, sex, the cheapest and most frequently used SMS in a round robin fashion to a pool circumcision and other important way to communicate. Together with of 10 Volunteers across the country. topics,” explained Khan. And he Jennifer Moore, a fellow Namibian PC Consumers can still view the prewas right—in his region “lack of Volunteer, he developed the Health written content by texting MENU, and knowledge” was listed among the top Education Response System (HER) in then following the directional guide factors driving the HIV infection rate February of 2009. through a menu of choices. A directory by the 2008 National HIV Sentinel Optimistic, but not content, Khan of anti-retroviral (ARV) clinics with Survey. As a whole, the country of realized that “a fully automated system complete contact information can be Namibia has an 18% HIV infection could only address the most basic accessed by texting “ARV TownName”. rate. of questions.” Searching for a more In Namibia, HER has proved After discussing possible ways to complete solution, he stumbled upon a transformative. The system’s popularity address this problem, Khan learned North Carolina-based text line designed was evidenced in June of 2009 when of an automated, menu-based health to answer sexual health questions from nearly 2400 SMSs were processed to information system started by two teenagers called the “Birds and the and from 325 unique clients. One key Volunteers in the Philippines. This Bees Text Line.” Realizing that the feature of the system is the anonymity program allows consumers to access demand in Namibia was present for of the questioner. an abundance of pre-written health such a service, Khan designed software “Our goal was to answer the information through text messages. so that by sending a question via SMS, questions people couldn’t ask anyone 20 Fall 2009 I Rashid Khan

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of WorldView Magazine - Fall 2009

WorldView Magazine - Fall 2009
Contents
President's Letter
Your Turn
Are You Connected Yet? Join Africa Rural Connect
Group News Highlights
Why Investment in Health Is Critical Now
New Hope and Lessons from Rwanda
Turning a Blind Eye
A Question of Capacity
CN U HLP ME? I HAVE A ??
When Water and Sanitation Are a Priority
Could “Peace Care” Lessen the Global Burden of Disease?
One, Two, Three
Translating International Health to Health Care at Home
Turning Tragedy to Opportunity
Costa Rica: Finding My Religion
St. Lucia: Learning about Hunger
Seven Dusty Notebooks
Peace Corps Service 2.0
The Peace Corps Community Making a Difference
Community News
Advertiser Index

WorldView Magazine - Fall 2009

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