Collaborations on mHealth in UgandaAMREF Senior Management Meeting , 29 April 2011

Bas Hoefman Bhoefman@texttochange.com

+256 779890945

Developing countries have more mobile phones than

“developed” countries

2000

Total 719 million

Developed

Developing

*EstimatesThe developed/developing country classifications are based on the UN M49, see: http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/definitions/regions/index.htmlSource: ITU World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators database

2005

Developing

Developed

Total 2.2 billion

Mobile cellular subcriptions, by level of development

2010

Total 5.3 billion

Developing

Developed

Mobile subscriptions: developing vs developed

Source: ITU World Telecommunications

There are about 12 Million mobile subscribers in Uganda 70% has access to mobile phones

NGO founded in 2007 in Amsterdam

TTC develops Interactive and Incentive based mobile programs

Pioneer in mHealth in Africa

Mobile Tools for Health, Education & Social Impact: SMS, Voice, Data

First TTC program in Mbarara Target: 15.000 Celtel subscibers HIV/AIDS Quiz Results: 20 % response rate Uptake in HCT of +40% at AIC Built our own platform + toll free short

code

Text to Change has active programs in 6 countries (red) and upcoming programs in 8 more (yellow)

mHEALTH

Family planning/ rep health

PMTCT

Medicineadherence

Mobilisation health

services

Drug stock outs

HIV/AIDS

TB

Data collection

M Learning / training

Antentatel care

Do you think a healthy looking person can have HIV?1. Yes2. NoTo reply send: QUIZ<space><answer nr> to 8181

Users participate in free Health quizzes

correct! Someone who looks healthy may be HIV positive and could infect others. To know your own and your partners’ status, you should test for HIV together.

Question

Response to answer

Incentives with monetary value

Examples:

• Airtime• Merchandise• Health products

Mosquito net

Barcelona shirt

Airtime

Text to Change Campaigns

• Aids information Centre Uganda (AIC) Arua, January 2009.– Target group: 10.000 MTN mobile subscribers in Arua– Program focus: HIV/AIDS Awareness and promote uptake of couple HCT– Net Response Rate: 21 %– Uptake of HCT services at AIC: + 35%– Media: Radio, Newspapers, Posters.

• United Nations – ECOSOC ‘Texting 4 Health campaign’, Jinja, Uganda, June 2009– Target Group: 10.000 MTN subscribers in Jinja– Program focus: HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Child Health– Net Response Rate: 23 %– Media: Radio, Newspapers.

Other campaigns

• Health Child – IICD, Jinja, Uganda, 2009-2010 – Target group : 3500 people in Jinja– Program focus: Program focus: HIV/AIDS Awareness and promote uptake of VCT, malaria,

family planning, prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT), increase access to health services

– Media: radio, flyers, SMS

• Deutscher Entwicklungsdienst (DED), Lira, Uganda 2010– Target group : 7000 people in Lira– Program focus: HIV/AIDS awareness and promotion and use of HIV testing

and counseling services.– Media: radio, flyers, SMS– Response rate: 53%

Example of uptake in HIV testingTomorrow there is FREE HIV testing at the clinic in Lira. Please come and bring your partner! Tell your friends and family to come also!Week in which message was sent

Combining strengths: Public Private Partnerships

.

M4RH Program in Kenya &TanzaniaPartner: Family Health Int.

EPMTCT/ Mother Reminder program in rural Uganda

Increase number of ANC visits to a minimum of 4.

Increase PMTCT uptake & adherence for HIV positive pregnant women

Increase number of women delivering at the health clinic

Provide postnatal support; examples: info about nutrition and hygiene.

Use SMS to Improve TB and HIV treatment adherence and Improving access to

Services

Research partner: The Infectious Diseases

Institute (IDI)

Reminders

Please do not forget to take your TB medicine to reduce the risk for further spread of TB. Please beep 0784121381 if you have any problems.

HIV changes your life, but don't panic. If you live healthy and take medication when you

need to, you can live a good, long life.

Medicine

Information

How can TB be transmitted?

1. At birth2. Shaking hands with

people with TB3. By breathing in air

containing TB bacteria

To reply type: 1<space><Answer Nr> to 8181

This is correct. Always cover your nose and mouth when coughing to prevent TB from spreading to your family and friends.

Question

Response to answer

Increasing knowledge & raising awareness

Kawempe Homecare ART

Adherence Study

6 months2 groups: 224 Patients Baseline adherence: 85% with 75% greater than 95%.End of the study: 90% had a and adherence of greater than 95% Viral load tests : a very high level of viral suppression

SMS effective tool to increase awareness

levels

Promotion of Medical Male Circumcision via SMS

•To learn about Male circumcision and its advantages send: TOHARA to 1504

•To enquire on sites offering MC services send:

WAPI to 1504

This is a free service!

To receive Post Operative Text Messages send :BAADA to 1504This is a free service!

Post Operative Text Messages send :BAADA to 1504:

Day 1:If you notice severe pain, soaking blood of the bandage, inability to pass urine or severe swelling of the penis please go back to the Male Circumcision service center.

Partnership AMREF & TTC: • AMREF: strong local presence, extensive experience

and experts in health content• Text to Change: specialist in mHealth projects• Combined efforts in conducting research on the

impact of mHealth • Joint proposal development to attract funds to

support future AMREF / TTC mHealth activities

Potential Collaboration AMREF and TTC:1. Stop TB project2. Malaria ,AIDS and TB integrated project3. e/mLearning –upgrading of Nurses & Midwives4. Medical Male Circumcision to reduce HIV and other STIs Uganda

Proposed mHealth activities:1. TB and HIV/AIDS Drug Adherence2. mLearning and Training 3. Awareness creation & Sensitisation 4. Data collection

mLearning: eMclopediaInformation system for reference.

Navigate the system by SMS:--> Send one message to select an option<-- Receive back message(s) with the next menu

Remote Data collection: (Social) incentives

Scalable Sustainable

We are looking forward to a long and fruitful partnership. www.texttochange.com

Thank you very much !