Hello Ado is used to sensitize teenagers in Africa about sexual rights and health to reduce STI and STD infections among youths in Africa. Several organizations have joined forces to develop a digital solution with the objective of sensitizing youths using their smartphones as the communication channel.

Hello Ado is a digital solution developed by the African Network for Education, Health, and Citizenship, known as RAES (a Senegalese NGO), UNESCO Dakar, and the National Alliance Against AIDS (ANCS). This solution aims to educate youths from Central and West Africa, increasing their knowledge of sexual and reproductive health rights, facilitating communication, and directing them to the health, protection, and support services they may need. The app was launched on November 12, 2020.

It is available exclusively on Android and has been downloaded 10,000 times on the Play Store so far. The app offers audio, video, and written content that answers many contemporary questions youths have. Users need to register after downloading the app to ask questions, particularly in the forum when they cannot find answers to their concerns.

In addition to the diverse information available, the app provides the locations of the closest health centers and offers a forum for youths to discuss sexuality and sexual and reproductive health. Moderators ensure that discussions remain focused on learning. The app underwent beta testing with youths in Mali, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, involving over 400 youths to improve its functionality before deployment and public launch. Additional tests were conducted in Gabon and Cameroon in the first quarter of 2021. The ultimate goal is to make Hello Ado available in all French-speaking countries in Africa.

Adoni Conrad Quenum – We Are Tech Africa