Health Information Via Mobile Phone Debuts In Nigeria

Oneworld Uk in collaboration with Education as a Vaccine against AIDS (EVA),Mtn foundation and national agency for AIDS control (Naca) are the promoters of this unique and innovative  information services that will help young people in Nigeria access vital health information  via the mobile phone.

The services is segmented into two distinct services,MyQeustion and MyAnswer.
MyQuestion will enable young people to ask questions through text messages, online or using a telephone hotline. By offering three free mediums to get in touch, there will be options for most young people according to their situation and choice. Even the shyest teenager will feel comfortable posing their questions about sexual health as they do not even have to say the question out loud. 

MyQuestion services which is a competition, will be answered by trained counselors based in EVA’s Abuja office. Young people have the opportunity of winning prizes by answering a monthly question. This month’s question is “What is the difference between HIV and AIDS” and young people can enter the competitions by texting their answer to a short code number. MyAnswer aims to engage and motivate young people to learn from and reflect on various issues. Each month ten winners will be picked from the qualified entries and win airtime sponsored by MTN and NACA. 

MyQuestion and MyAnswer are part of the larger Learning about Living programme that includes the development and implementation of an e-learning tool based on the Nigerian Family Life and HIV/AIDS Education (FLHE) school curriculum.

Learning about Living has three goals. Firstly, it aims to use ICT to educate young people on issues around adolescent reproductive health so that they can make informed decisions about their sexual health and prevent HIV/AIDS and gender-based violence. Secondly, the project aims to improve the information available on sex education and encourage people to be more open about these issues.Thirdly, Learning about Living aims to increase and improve gender equality by offering positive alternatives to existing beliefs that assume male superiority and contribute to an acceptance of violence against women in Nigerian society.  Learn more about learning about living at http://www.learningaboutliving.com/.

The project is being piloted in three locations: Lagos, Cross Rivers State and the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, and in each of these regions an NGO will serve as the implementing partner alongside various state government organisations.

The MyQuestion press launch will be held at the Chelsea Hotel, Plot 389, Cadastral Zone AO, Central Area, Abuja on November 20th 2007, 10-12am.For  further information and interview,please contact The Project  Manager,Uju Ofomata,  on +234 0803 300 7404 or at  uju.ofomata@oneworld.net.


Emmanuel Okoegwale
emmanuel@gomobileng.com