Digital Pulse - Ch 2 - Sec 3 - HIV/AIDS and Information and Communication Technologies

Summary

This report was produced by for the International Development Research Centre and was intended as a review of the role that ICTs are playing in the efforts to challenge the HIV/AIDS epidemic in developing countries. The report provides a brief overview of HIV/AIDS and its impact, different examples of the ways that ICTs are being utilized to combat AIDS, and some feedback from people working in developing countries. The report begins by recognizing that ICTs have the potential to be effective tools because of their ability to provide information and knowledge to; “those working on the problem, to those who are suffering from the disease and its effects, and to those who need to take preventative actions.” This phrase is repeated throughout and the author stresses that true ICT utility must recognize all stakeholders involved.

Key Points

Central to the report was the opening disclaimer that ICT programme development could be seen as an unnecessary luxury when compared with the immediate prevention, treatment, and care requirements of the AIDS epidemic. This disclaimer applies especially to issues of funding, and while the author concludes with a statement of support for ICT programme development, this is to occur only after sufficient funding exists for condom distribution, anti-viral drugs, palliative care and other on-the-ground necessities. ICT initiatives should complement other primary programs – as stand-alone projects they will not contribute to the struggle against AIDS. Nor should ICT projects deflect money away from community level work because ICT projects all to often benefit participants form the North than those from the developing world.

While cognizant of the above disclaimer, the report goes on to discuss the benefits resulting from ICT utilization. Knowledge generation is increasingly understood as a networked activity and ICTs facilitate linkages between people. These linkages provide opportunities for programme review and the sharing of best practices and lessons learned; connecting researchers and strategists with the needs and priorities of the field; connecting communities with each other; and allowing individuals to access the vast holdings of human knowledge on nearly any subject – an essential component of prevention strategies. It was also recognized that ICTs play a role in changing perceptions of the disease and contributing to advocacy and efforts to mobilize both regional and global responses. These linkages were described in theory, in feedback garnered from interview and survey data, and through the use of several case studies of already existing projects and the ways in which they are using ICTs. The specific applications of ICTs can be broken into several different groups: Web-based information; AIDS news and media; distribution of CD based media; and discussion groups – a topic that was reviewed in extensive detail with the conclusion that while eforums were useful, they were hampered by inequality of access and concerns about the quality and consistency of information.

The report also recognized some of the areas which needed to accompany ICT development and which contribute to some of the scepticism about ICT projects that can be found amongst community level workers. The need for infrastructure, central access, and training within communities was stressed and alternatives to web based information (e.g. CD's) was noted. After a review of six projects that were utilizing different types of ICTs to create different linkages the author concluded that ICTs do have an important role to play in the AIDS epidemic and that there are many as of yet untapped applications for them – a list of which is provided. However, the author continues to stress that ICT programs 1) must act as complementary projects to primary programs, and 2) must not divert funds away from the basic prevention, treatment, and care areas of the disease.

Source: Driscoll, Libbie. “HIV/AIDS and Information and Communication Technologies” Final Draft Report (IRDC) November 2001.