CATEGORY: Zambia

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SMS Eliminates a Deadly Delay in HIV Testing

Posted by: admin on Mon, 2010-11-01 14:30

Zambia is hoping to slash its infant mortality rate by helping HIV-positive children get treatment fast. Thanks to SMS-text messaging, parents will know the HIV status of their children sooner and can begin life-saving treatment.By Newton Sibanda LUSAKA, Zambia- It can take as long as 10 weeks to process an HIV test at rural health centers here. While the blood samples are sent back and forth to a central hospital for analysis, the clock is ticking for HIV-positive infants. The sooner they are started on anti-retroviral therapy the better their chances of survival. The ministry of health is now piloting a program in which SMS-text messages will be used to return pediatric HIV results within five days of testing.

Zambia is hoping to slash its infant mortality rate by helping HIV-positive children get treatment fast. Thanks to SMS-text messaging, parents will know the HIV status of their children sooner and can begin life-saving treatment.

By Newton Sibanda

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Zambia’s Rural Poor: Does Word-of-Mouth Trump Radio as the Best Way to Reach Them?

Posted by: admin on Thu, 2010-10-14 15:21

Radio is often seen as one of the easiest and most effective means of reaching rural populations with development-oriented information. Especially in regards to supplying lower income populations with moderately complex content such as agricultural information. In Zambia, AudienceScapes found in its 2010 national survey that for the rural poor radio while possibly easier to exploit by development organizations may not be the most effective means of supplying development information.

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Why Communication is Important: Achieving the MDGs

Posted by: admin on Sun, 2010-09-26 22:30

At a recent MDG event, AudienceScapes Analyst David Montez is reminded that effective social and behavioral change communication is a key determinant for reaching many of the MDGs. by David Montez, AudienceScapes Research AnalystOn Monday (September 20th) I attended a side event for this week’s Millennium Development Goals Summit entitled “Achieving MDG 4: The power of Vaccines and Partnership to Tackle the Major Child Killers“. While the event overall focused upon the role of vaccines in helping countries move closer to achieving MDG 4,  I couldn't help but be reminded about how important a role communication plays in ensuring the success of immunization campaigns.

At a recent MDG event, AudienceScapes Analyst David Montez is reminded that effective social and behavioral change communication is a key determinant for reaching many of the MDGs. 

by David Montez, AudienceScapes Research Analyst

DISCUSSION ARTICLES

Zambia: Radio and Mobile Phones Stand Out as Important Communication Mediums

Posted by: admin on Wed, 2010-09-15 17:24

The AudienceScapes team is currently conducting preliminary research on the project's recent Zambia survey (implemented April 2010). Here is one more of the interesting points we have recently discovered in our dataset. Stay tuned to our Featured Chart section for more insights and for our upcoming full reports.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DISCUSSION ARTICLES

How Familial and Community Connections Help Expand Mobile Phone Use in Zambia

Posted by: admin on Wed, 2010-09-08 13:31

The AudienceScapes team is currently conducting preliminary research on the project's recent Zambia survey (implemented April 2010). Here is one the interesting points we have recently discovered in our dataset. Stay tuned to our Featured Chart section for more insights and for our upcoming full reports.

DISCUSSION ARTICLES

In Zambia, Alternative Electricity Sources Help Power Radios in Low Access Provinces

Posted by: admin on Tue, 2010-08-31 17:36

The AudienceScapes team is currently conducting preliminary research on the project's recent Zambia survey (implemented April 2010). Here is one the interesting points we have recently discovered in our dataset. Stay tuned to our Featured Chart section for more insights and for our upcoming full reports.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Zambia Uses ZAIN SMS to Fight Measles

Posted by: admin on Tue, 2010-08-31 17:10

The Ministry of Health worked with the telecommunications company to send messages to parents reminding them to vaccinate their children. By Newton SibandaLUSAKA, Zambia – While most Zambians think of SMS text messaging as a way to keep in touch with friends and family, it can also be used to roll out important health services, as the Zambian government demonstrated in July.As part of a new measles immunization campaign, the Ministry of Health partnered with Zambia’s largest mobile phone service provider to use SMS as a tool for advocacy. The vaccination campaign was launched during this year’s Child Health Week, a massive outreach project held twice a year in clinics and communities nationwide.“Do you have a child under 5?

The Ministry of Health worked with the telecommunications company to send messages to parents reminding them to vaccinate their children.

By Newton Sibanda

LUSAKA, Zambia – While most Zambians think of SMS text messaging as a way to keep in touch with friends and family, it can also be used to roll out important health services, as the Zambian government demonstrated in July.

DISCUSSION ARTICLES

Media Use and Mobile Phone Adoption in Zambia

Posted by: admin on Tue, 2010-08-24 10:47

The AudienceScapes team is currently conducting preliminary research on the project's recent Zambia survey (implemented April 2010). Here is one the interesting points we have recently discovered in our dataset. Stay tuned to our Featured Chart section for more insights and for our upcoming full reports.

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To Market, To Market By Mobile Phone

Posted by: admin on Fri, 2010-08-13 11:14

Zambia’s farmers are using mobile phones to change the way they do business.By NEWTON SIBANDALUSAKA, Zambia --Slightly more than a decade ago, mobile phones were a prestigious gadget and a preserve of the elite. But today, small scale farmers, petty traders and domestic servants alike can all enjoy the services of mobile phones -- thanks to reduced prices and an extensive roll-out by service providers.According to the 2009 statistics, Zambia has more than 4,000,000 subscribers shared by three mobile telephone service providers out of a population of about 11 million. A substantial percentage of Zambia’s agricultural workers have adopted the regular use of mobile phones and they are keeping pace with other rural groupings.

Zambia’s farmers are using mobile phones to change the way they do business.

By NEWTON SIBANDA

LUSAKA, Zambia --Slightly more than a decade ago, mobile phones were a prestigious gadget and a preserve of the elite. But today, small scale farmers, petty traders and domestic servants alike can all enjoy the services of mobile phones -- thanks to reduced prices and an extensive roll-out by service providers.