Truth By Text: How Mozambique’s Youth Access Vital Health Information
“For some young people, SMS BIZ is the only place they can turn to for information— correct information,” says Danizia Portugal.
Zambézia, Mozambique - In Quelimane, down a busy street bustling with bicycles, 22-year-old Danizia Portugal sits in a modest office, typing diligently on her laptop. As one of eight counsellors on duty at SMS BIZ, Danizia provides a vital service: free, text-based counselling accessible to any young person with a mobile phone. Throughout her shift, she responds to a wide range of inquiries that mirror the pressing issues facing Mozambican youth today, including HIV, pregnancy, cholera, menstruation, and child marriage.
“For some young people, SMS BIZ is the only place they can turn to for information—correct information. There are a lot of myths and rumours in circulation. And many people cannot ask their parents about issues of sexual and reproductive health,” says Danizia.
Launched in 2015, SMS BIZ fields around 5,000 daily inquiries from its 800,000 users across Mozambique, who range in age from 10 to 24. These users remain anonymous, providing only their gender, age, and province, while withholding their names.
The service has expanded to branches in three cities, enabling coverage nationwide in several local languages. The young counsellors use a comprehensive database of reliable information and FAQs, supplied by the Ministry of Health and other authorized institutions, to assist their peers.
With generous support from the Government of Canada through the Canada Global Initiative for Vaccine Equity (CanGIVE), UNICEF is equipping and resourcing SMS BIZ in Mozambique, enabling them to continue their critical role as a dependable resource for young people.
I love my job. I feel useful if I give information to youths which prevents disease or illness or bad decisions. I feel proud when I go home after work each day because this information helped young people like me.
“There is a lot of bad information out there,” Danizia points out. From the day’s batch of text messages, she highlights several widespread myths: Do condoms cause HIV? Can a girl get pregnant by a boy with a different blood type? Do mosquitoes transmit cholera? Danizia and her fellow counsellors are crucial in debunking these myths and supplying accurate information to the youth.
Zambezia province, home to the city of Quelimane, was severely affected by Cyclone Freddy in March 2023. Following the disaster, Danizia noticed a significant increase in queries regarding access to clean water and managing waterborne illnesses. One text message today reads, “My sister has cholera. What can I do?” In such instances, Danizia provides guidance on connecting with local services and offers basic advice on preventing the disease’s spread.
“I love my job. I feel useful if I give information to youths which prevents disease or illness or bad decisions. I feel proud when I go home after work each day because this information helped young people like me,” says Danizia, beaming with pride.
Through the efforts of Danizia Portugal and SMS Biz, young people in Mozambique are finding reliable guidance and support right at their fingertips, ensuring they can make informed decisions about their health and futures.
With support from CanGIVE, UNICEF established three regional counselling hubs for SMS BIZ in Maputo, Quelimane, and Nampula, equipped each hub with ICT infrastructure, and has trained 68 peer counsellors. UNICEF provides ongoing technical support for the digital platform, develops communication materials, and runs nationwide promotional campaigns for the service.
