Health department’s ‘app’ solute way to spread awareness about HIV/AIDS

Stressing on the low level of awareness of the specifics of AIDS among the public, K Senthilraj, Project Director, TANSACS, said, “Many do not even know what an integrated counselling and testing centre (ICTC) is or the importance of an early diagnosis. In fact, how many of us even know that a HIV positive couple can give birth to a normal child.”

However, since the launch of the app there has been a 50 per cent rise in awareness of the disease, he said, adding, “With limited amount of funds available for such campaigns and the existence of a platform like social media, it is important that we make optimum use of it.”

“Iyyam Thavir, the mobile app launched by TANSACS, is aimed at highlighting the medication available and doing away with the myths around the killer disease. Besides, it also has a list of the ICT centres for the benefit of the public. We are focussing on red ribbon clubs that has been set up in all colleges.” The department was also conducting a meme making competition called ‘A Meme A Day’ – to create awareness about HIV/AIDS. “We are planning to extend it till the end of the month. We have already received over 500 memes. While a number of creative memes pop up on the social media every day, we thought of making better use of that medium to create awareness” he opined.

Another mobile app, the TAEI application, has been serving to reduce the number of emergency and accident deaths in the state. “It is used by hospitals to report accident and emergency data on a daily basis. Besides, ambulance services also have

accessibility to the app to update the hospital and the case being taken to the hospital and the condition in which the patient or patients are being rushed. Based on the information, the case will be triaged,” said a source from the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM).

As the number of deaths due to road accidents in Tamil Nadu were extremely high, there was a dire need to reduce the burden.