Health Outreach Via Cell Phone

Cell phones, everyone has one.

You may be a low income Nicaraguan, living on the Honduran boarder with no electicity and no running water but, you have a cell phone. Once a week you walk three hours to the closest major city and charge your phone in a store selling rice and beans, and soap. You have a cell phone.

You may be a fisherman working off the coast of southeastern Nicaragua in a cove town with no cell signal. You have a cell phone.

You may be 14 years old with six brothers and sisters and you all live in a plastic house with no latrine. You have a cell phone.

Cell phones are the way. Over 84% of all the teenagers I work with in Nicaragua have their own cell phone. Many of them live in communities without signal. But, for some reason or another they all have one.

What do we do with this?

Use it to communicate. Use it to educate.

When I say the words “hotline” here in Jinotega, the first thing people think of is sex. When I say “crisis line” they dont know what Im talking about. Nicaragua has no nationwide hotline for HIVaids, for sexual or domestic violence for nothing. Nicaragua has no hotlines for any advocacy. But, we have the most basic infrastructure- cell phones.

This year I plan to start a department wide hotline based on sexual and reproductive health, and connect all community health works on an internet based cell phone system, only to be used in case of emergency. I have only recently started working on the health worker network. The hotline for sexual and reproductive health is another matter. I have written a work proposal and PP presentation. I have a plan and I know the funds I need. Now, I need to present my idea to the Jinotega community and get their support.

I am still working with youth groups, groups for mothers and pregnant women and health volunteers. But, I can see what a resource we already have here in Nicaragua. I want to use it.

If you know anyone who has experience putting together cellphone based projects or lines please send them my way, vice.lauren@gmail.com. I would love the help, support and ideas.