#txtalert

[praekeltfoundationblog]

TxtAlert-PMTCT launches in KwaZulu-Natal

Praekelt Foundation's TxtAlert appointment reminder system now being used to help pregnant mothers in KwaZulu-Natal during their pregnancy and until their babies are 18 months old.

Monday 24 October was a great day for the improvement of maternal health in South Africa, when a new project was launched in KwaZulu-Natal - the province where almost 40% of the population - and therefore 40% of pregnant mothers, are HIV positive.

Says Marcha Neethling, Head of Operations for Praekelt Foundation: "The aim for this leg of the program, is to reach six thousand women in two districts in the province, but we don't see this as a pilot - both government and UNICEF are really keen to see this scaled up as soon as possible."

In her launch address, Ms Precious Robinson, PMTCT (Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission) Manager for the National Department of Health told representatives and stakeholders that the fight against the thousands of unnecessary maternal deaths, and the unnecessary transmission of HIV from mothers to babies, begins with "I".  She challenged all stakeholders - including Department of Health staff - to "shape up, or ship out".

In the photo, from left to right, are the project partners:

Warren - Virtual Purple Josephine - National Department of Health Precious -  National Department of Health  Sanjana - UNICEF South Africa Otty - Provincial Department of Health (KZN) Marcha - Praekelt Foundation

[praekeltfoundationblog]

TxtAlert wins Tech4Africa Innovation Award for 2011

Praekelt Foundation's appointment reminder system, TxtAlert, was recognised as the winner of the 2011 Tech4Africa Innovation Award, at a ceremony in Johannesburg last night.

TxtAlert was one of 11 finalists nominated for this award. One of the other projects that the Praekelt Foundation is also very involved in, Project Masiluleke, was also a finalist, but this time, TxtAlert came out on top.

The Tech4Africa conference is happening in Johannesburg from 27 to 28 October.

TxtAlert is going to be presented to the audience as the winner of the Innovation Award, on 28 October.

Read more about Tech4Africa and the other finalists in the Innovation Awards.