The Communication Initiative
Development action with informed and engaged societies
The Communication Initiative
After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future.
 
Co-founder Victoria Martin is pleased to see this work continue under Wits' leadership. Victoria knows that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction.
 
We honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades. Meanwhile, La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA) continues independently at cila.comminitcila.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
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Published 22 years ago
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HIV and IDU’s - Australia

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This harm reduction programme used early and vigorous HIV prevention programmes to reach injecting drug users and related population groups. It was generally agreed among the group that this prompt and sustained action fundamentally altered the course of the country's HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Communication Strategies

The main focus of the programme was promotion of a needle exchange programme, but it also included bleach distribution, access to methadone treatment and comprehensive AIDS education.
Development Issues

Injection Drug Use (IDU) and HIV/AIDS, harm reduction, education
Key Points

The needle exchange distributes or exchanges 10 million sterile needles for contaminated needles every year. In 1996, HIV prevalence was just 3%, an accepted low value. This programme serves as a best practice example for future work in the field of HIV/AIDS prevention and injection drug users for UNAIDS.
Partners



UNAIDS, UNICEF, UNDP, UNFPA, UNESCO, WHO, World Bank, European Union

Sources

Drug use and HIV/AIDS: UNAIDS statement presented at the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on Drugs 99.1E (English original, March 1999)