Digital TV company StarTimes and UNAIDS, a global advocate for accelerated, comprehensive and coordinated global action on the HIV/AIDS pandemic are set to bolster the disease’s awareness among the Kenyan youth with a new mobile online video app. The two organizations decided to work together under the “Value of new media in Africa, HIV/AIDS Prevention Campaign” umbrella to explore tech to spread HIV/AIDS-related content.
The app will be based on the fact that HIV/AIDS prevention information and knowledge is still scanty to a fair share of the young population, an issue that is linked to increased HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths. It is also believed that the tool will support global HIV/AIDS Prevention Campaigns that should engage more youths in prevention.
What is more, StarTimes says the app will be an information platform for more than 70 per cent of the population in Africa that is below the age of 35 without adequate HIV/AIDS information.
During the announcement of this venture, Ms Guo introduced the China-Africa Corporation project dubbed ‘Access to Satellite TV for 10,000 African Villages’ that is being deployed by StarTimes. The Chinese government is said to aid the villages with two StarTimes Projector TVs, one 32” digital TV set and 20 DHT decoders and satellite dishes.
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“We have seen progress in most countries today, but the biggest challenge that we face is complacency. The young people don’t have information; they don’t have the knowledge, so they don’t protect themselves. Information, knowledge and education is key and that’s why StarTimes is a very strategic partner for us,” noted UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé.
“Based on current technology trends, StarTimes launched its video streaming service in African markets with StarTimes App. The App has so far attracted over 8 million downloads and the figure is expected to reach15 million at the end of 2018. StarTimes App will now be streaming the “Zero Discrimination” messages being part of the cooperation with UNAIDS,” added StarTimes Group Vice President Guo Ziqi.
“With more broadcasting platforms and a bigger and diversified subscriber base and richer content, we will be able to make the best of all our resources to help end the AIDS epidemic by 2030,” concluded Ms Guo.
