Agricultural Employers Association (AEA) HIV/AIDS Awareness Theatre

Quiet Storm travelled to various farms and small towns across Namibia to perform the HIV/AIDS awareness play. Most of the performances coincided with information days for farm employees, during which various speakers conveyed farming information. The AEA management also urged employers on farms close to where the performances were taking place to give their employees the opportunity to attend these performances. The content of the performance covered safety in the work place, the importance of getting tested and knowing one's status, and how to live a healthy, positive life with HIV. In May 2009, the theatre group concluded their second roadshow in the southern part of Namibia.

According to the organisers, the theatre strategy was developed following the establishment of AEA's HIV/AIDS policy in 2005, which commits the Association and its members to participate in projects and programmes to help to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS. According to AEA, the Association's goal is to provide information to farmers and other employees who do not have access to HIV/AIDS information because they are far removed from the majority of the population. PharmAccess conducted a survey among AEA members in 2007 to examine the accessibility of health care and HIV/AIDS awareness, and the play is a response to the findings in the survey.

January 2010 update: A DVD of the HIV/AIDS awareness play, "lig deur die kraak", was produced and launched in June 2009. Organisers state that the DVD and its story line were so popular that a radio production (in 4 local languages) was also produced. The first broadcast took place in December 2009 on various NBC radio stations; the re-broadcasts are scheduled to take place in February 2010.

The industrial theatre performed for the last time in the first quarter of 2010. However, the DVD, "lig deur die kraak", is being distributed by the Agricultural Employers Association to their members as well as other interested parties to make sure that the message continues to be spread as wide as possible.

HIV/AIDS.

PharmAccess Foundation (PharmAccess) is a Dutch not-for-profit organisation dedicated to strengthening health systems in sub-Saharan Africa. As part of its work, PharmAccess supports HIV/AIDS workplace programmes, providing prevention and confidential HIV/AIDS treatment for employees and dependents.