U.S. CTO Aneesh Chopra announced the launch of Text4baby, what it says is an “unprecedented mobile health public-private partnership” designed to promote maternal and child health among underserved women. The service provides timely and expert health information through SMS to pregnant women and new moms through their babies’ first year.
Here’s how it works (from the press release):
By texting BABY to 511411 (or BEBE for Spanish), women receive three free SMS text messages each week timed to their due date or baby’s date of birth. These messages focus on a variety of topics critical to maternal and child health, including birth defects prevention, immunization, nutrition, seasonal flu, mental health, oral health and safe sleep. Text4baby messages also connect women to prenatal and infant care services and other resources.
In addition to the U.S. government, founding partners include National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition (HMHB), Voxiva, CTIA – The Wireless Foundation, grey healthcare group and founding corporate sponsor Johnson & Johnson. Then there are sponsors (WellPoint, Pfizer, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, MTV, etc.) and mobile operators, which are distributing free text messages. Speaking of operators, all major players and some smaller ones are on board to support the initiative: Alltel, Assurance Wireless, AT&T, Boost Mobile, Cellular South, Cellcom, Centennial Cellular, Cincinnati Bell, Metro PCS, N-Telos, Sprint Nextel, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular, Verizon Wireless and Virgin Mobile USA.
And you can get all other information from the official Text4baby website.