The Drum Beat 30 - HIV/AIDS

THE POLL! - see below

This Drum Beat on HIV/AIDS and related issues follows the recent MEDIA BEAT on the same theme. They coincide with the series of Regional HIV/AIDS Conferences - the next of which is for Asia/Pacific in Kuala Lumpur, 23-27 October. Though specific to HIV/AIDS, we hope the material below includes initiatives with insights and experiences relevant to the range of development issues. Use the email connections to contact people. The next Drum Beat will focus on general communication for development.

PROGRAMMES

1. Football and AIDS - Zambia - Humorous and educational live drama depicting the dangers of HIV/AIDS and its transmission to promote behavioral change. Performed at major football matches to reach boys and men. Drama troupes are formed from a local secondary school and the community. A partnership between the Football Association of Zambia, and the Zambia Family Planning Services Project, 
Contact: Clare Blenkinsop cblenkinsop@unicef.zm

2. LALS - Nepal - The Lifesaving and Lifegiving Society works with injecting drug users in Kathmandu through a comprehensive harm-reduction approach. Communication strategies support the outreach work, needle exchanges, counselling, and education that are central to the project. 
Contact: life@lals.mos.com.np

3. Radio and HIV/AIDS - Morocco and Comoros - A series of 20 radio programs on HIV/AIDS broadcast every other week reaching rural women and youth on popular stations using local dialects. HIV positive people gave testimonies to bring home the reality of the disease and decrease sexual myths and rumours. Supported by The European Union.
Contact: Wolfram Brunger eu000171@pophost.eunet.be

4. Sexwise - The second phase of the BBC's Global Sexwise programme - with a focus on Europe and Eurasia. Includes radio shows, cassettes, books and an interactive website to raise awareness and provide education about HIV/AIDS and other sexual issues.
Contact: Karen Merkel karen.merkel@bbc.co.uk 

5. Tinka Tinka Sukh - India - An interactive radio soap opera seeking to increase awareness of HIV/AIDS and related issues such as gender and reproductive health. The theme of traditionalism versus modernism pervades the programme, which "reached millions".
Contact: PCI pciny@population.org

6. AIDS Education - Benin - An effort to decrease deeply held skepticism about the realities of HIV/AIDS in the lives of children. Local radio programmes and brochures were provided for the rural areas of Benin. Supported by The European Union.
Contact: Lieve Fransen Lieve.FRANSEN@DG8.cec.be

7. loveLife - South Africa - primary goal is to positively influence adolescent sexual behaviour to reduce teenage pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and HIV/AIDS. Seeks to get South Africans talking about sex, sexuality and gender relations. Activities include: Jika Jika - TV youth sex talk show; S'camto - young people's films of impromptu conversations with peers about sex and relationships; "New Youth Crossfire" on radio with Paul 'Rude Boy' Minisi; and others. For more detailed paper
contact: Michael Sinclair msinclair@kff.org 

8. ConPacts - USA - Part of DC FACES, distributes condom cases that look like 'compacts', along with information about AIDS, to women in beauty salons. Discrete and convenient, the initiative works through social networks and partnerships with HIV/AIDS Organisations. Supported by Administration for HIV/AIDS and Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide.
Contact: Yolan Laporte yolan.laporte@dc.ogilvypr.com

9. Bamrasnaradura Hospital HIV/AIDS Project - Thailand - Integrates prevention communication with care and treatment of HIV/AIDS. All members of the CDC Thailand hospital staff are included in the project, ensuring consistency.
Contact: Lindsay Sales bamra@loxinfo.co.th

10. Dance Against AIDS - Brazil - AIDS education for Afro-Brazilian youth and traditional cultural groups is promoted through highly energetic and humorous street performances and live drama, motivating confrontation of STD and HIV/AIDS issues. 
Contact: José Marmo da Silva afroreggae@ax.apc.org

11. HIV/AIDS Mass Media Campaign - Nigeria - Launched early this October by the Society for Family Health (SFH) in collaboration with Family Health International, this campaign utilizes radio, television, and interpersonal contact with drama and games to provide key information and raise awareness about HIV/AIDS to the public.
Contact: A. Odutola chpss_abo@yahoo.com

 

VOTE IN "THE POLL"

What is the best strategic direction for HIV/AIDS Communication over the next 5 years - same messages, new messages, promote dialogue and debate? Other options? Vote now and then freely express your perspectives and opinions through the comments page. Overall results appear after after you have voted. All comments received will be posted on the web site soon. Please let Warren know if you want to receive the results and collated comments by email wfeek@comminit.com 

Click on the highlighted "HIV/AIDS Communication" and scroll down for questions. 

 

IMPACT DATA

12. "Keys to Life" - West and Central Africa - A 26-part radio drama: Of 1600 listeners, 73% took action concerning AIDS/STD's as a result of the programme, 40% increased condom use; 33% reported fewer sexual partners; those exposed reported more positive attitudes about the issues addressed.
Contact: cchappel@aed.org

13. AIDS Interventions with Churches - Kenya - 2.5 million people participated in a mobile cinema van initiative: the frequency of discussion of sexual matters, AIDS matters, male/female relationships, and parent/youth issues increased from 15 to 20%; among youth respondents, there was a decrease in the number of sexual partners in the range of 50 - 75% between 1994 and 1996 with 41% of youth decided to have sex with only one partner, compared to 25% in 1994. 
Contact: Dr. Peter Okaalet Okaalet@MAPint.mhs.compuserve.com

14. AIDS Information Center - Uganda - Number of HIV positive clients reporting consistent condom use rose from 10% to 89% with steady partners and close to 100% with non-steady partners over six months. HIV negative males increased consistent use of condoms from 34% to 93% with non-steady partners, and from 16% to 38% with steady partners. HIV-negative females increased consistent use of condoms from 14% to 94% with non-steady and from 16% to 34% with steady partners. 
Contact Lieve Fransen Lieve.FRANSEN@DG8.cec.be

15. Apwe Plezi - St. Lucia - Confidential Hotline: nearly 1% of the population of St. Lucia called; focus group respondents reported that "Apwe Plezi"often sparked "lively discussion or argument" and that it changed their attitudes "a lot". After introducing the name "Catapult" for condoms, 30% of listeners and 13% of non-listeners reported using the term when referring to condoms.
Contact: Angel Urraza pciny@population.org

WEB SITES

16. "The SEA-AIDS email discussion forum and its team of Key Correspondents from Cambodia, China, India, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Thailand will bring you on-the-ground daily coverage of sessions and interviews with participants at the Asia Pacific regional HIV/AIDS conference - Kuala Lumpur - 23-27 October, 1999. To join SEA-AIDS send an e-mail to sea-aids@hivnet.ch with the word "join " in the subject line".
Contact Tim France tfran@hivnet.ch

17. Video AIDS Online - An effort to compile educational, critically reviewed HIV/AIDS videos for viewing and ordering from the University of California. Information about videos can be browsed by target region or audience.

18. HIV/AIDS Net - Southern Africa - compiles a range of institutions presenting HIV/AIDS information on the web. Acts as a guide for research into these issues. Commissioned to SAfAIDS by Panos.

19. Tamilnad network of Positive People Living with AIDS (TNP+) - India - web site for people who would like to ask confidential questions regarding any aspect of HIV/AIDS. Objective is to increase quality of life and strengthening networks for others living with HIV/AIDS.

GATHERINGS

20. Time Out for Action - Caribbean - workshop evaluated the role of media and youth in the battle against HIV/AIDS within the Caribbean. Attended by media agencies, National Youth Councils, UNESCO/UNAIDS and CAREC.
Contact: Jocelyne Josiah J.JOSIAH@unesco.org

21. International Conference on AIDS in Ethiopia - November 7, 1999 - Goals include: initiating behavioral change in school-aged children and examining the roles of media in the fight against AIDS. Hosted by the W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for Afro-American Research and the Harvard AIDS Institute
Contact: Elleni Gebreamlak West ethio@fas.harvard.edu

MATERIALS

22. "Making Prevention Work" - presents the global lessons learned from the AIDS Control and Prevention Project (AIDSCAP) 1991-1997. Covers 10 technical and programmatic areas.

23. "Beyond Awareness Raising" (PDF file) - the first report of "Community Lessons, Global Learning" partnership between the International HIV/AIDS Alliance and Glaxo Wellcome's Positive Action Programme.

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Thanks to all who helped with this issue which was edited by Brooke Hayes ebhayes@coastnet.com