MANILA, Philippines—With the increasing number of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases, which could lead to the fatal Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), the Philippine National AIDS Council (PNAC) has tapped the latest technology to boost its awareness campaign about the disease.
The PNAC launched last Friday “TXT HIV to 8504,” a mobile communications campaign that provides information and referrals to HIV counseling, testing and life-saving treatment programs.
“Metro Manila residents now have a convenient way to access health information through their mobile phones, particularly about the prevention and treatment of HIV,” said PNAC executive director Dr. Chito Avelino.
Powered by a telecommunication company’s technology and services, a subscriber can initiate the service by texting “HIV” and sending to 8504. A series of messages and interactive voice responses guides users through information, risk assessment and referral to participating health facilities in Metro Manila.
A pioneering public-private partnership of PNAC, Philippine NGO Support Program and Globe Telecom, the service will be available at no extra cost to Globe mobile subscribers for one year, said Avelino.
Initially, the service features social hygiene clinics of Manila, Pasay and Quezon cities and the Woodwater Center in Pasig City.
“These facilities offer confidential HIV counseling and testing, and are linked to services of treatment hubs, or hospitals that enroll HIV-positive patients to antiretroviral therapy that arrest the destructive progress of HIV in the body. The campaign also loops contact details of the PNAC, Department of Health and PinoyLifeguide.org as supporting information sources,” said Avelino.
“As the Philippines emerged as one of the countries with accelerating rates of new HIV cases… health authorities have been faced with the challenge of staging more efficient information dissemination on HIV and AIDS,” he said.