The Role of Library in the Use of Mobile Phone for People Living With HIV (PLHIV)

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume IV, Issue VIII, August 2020 | ISSN 2454–6186

The Role of Library in the Use of Mobile Phone for People Living With HIV (PLHIV)

Farida Sani Stores^1*, Karimatu Isa Maisango^2
1Federal College of Agricultural Produce Technology, Kano
²Yusuf Maitama Sule University, Kano
*Corresponding author

Abstract: HIV is the worlds’ most disturbing epidemic especially in developing country like Nigeria. Hence the world wants to reduce the spread of the epidemic by the year 2030. To be able to achieve the worlds’ sustainable development goals (SDG) HIV prevention, treatment and care messages would be essential. The paper looks at the role of libraries in encouraging the use of mobile phone to communicate HIV information for the treatment and control of the disease through social media platforms. The PLHIV needs to be encouraged to use mobile phone as a means of disseminating HIV information. Use of mobile phone may be a reliable means of accessing HIV information as one can receive information from far and wide. More through the use of mobile phone technology new ideas are able to emerge to meet the health need of People Living with HIV. The paper concludes by highlighting the challenges of using mobile phone and some recommendations were given.

Keywords: Role of libraries, Mobile Phone, People Living with HIV

I. INTRODUCTION

Human Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (HIV) has become the worlds’ most shocking epidemic, especially in developing countries like Nigeria. Many people have dead because of HIV related illnesses prior to its discovery in 1983. The virus infects the CD4 cells that produce anti-bodies of the immune system, hence weakens the immune system. As a result of this the body becomes un able to fight infection causing the person infected vulnerable to opportunistic infection such as tuberculosis. Hence HIV education and awareness have been implemented by various government and private body which enhanced the HIV prevalence rate. Hence more need to be done to improve access to information. Similarly People Living with HIV (PLHIV) support groups have been supporting the PLHIV for three decades (Thumbi 2017). They help the PLHIV to cope with the changes and challenges associated with the illness. The disease affects different group of people in the society ie young people, adults, children, men and women (Thumbi 2017).

Information on treatment, prevention, care and control need to be communicated to the PLHIV for effective result. The traditional face to face communication between patients, physicians and other stake holders appears to be ineffective in meeting the health needs of the growing population of PLHIV in the developing countries (Baguma and Mukalazi cited in Thumbi, 2017).

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