AfriComNet Recognizes
Excellence in HIV and AIDS Communication in Africa
The African Network for Strategic
Communication in Health and Development (AfriComNet) recognized
six organizations and individuals for outstanding efforts
to fight HIV and AIDS through communication during the first-ever
annual award ceremony for excellence in HIV and AIDS communication
in Africa on the evening of 28th May 2007, at
Hilton Hotel, Sandton,
South Africa.
Winners of the awards this year
include:
- South
Africa’s Tsha Tsha television series;
- Uganda’s
“Rock Point 256” radio serial drama and comic book series;
- Straight Talk Foundation’s
radio, newsletters, and outreach for young people in Uganda;
- Kenya’s
Kati Yetu interactive community theatre, radio
series, and comic books;
- The Zambia
Creative Heart Contest;
- A series of articles
about HIV and AIDS from Zimbabwe; and
- The late Mr. Omulolu
Falobi, Nigerian journalist and HIV/AIDS activist who
founded the Journalists against AIDS Nigeria (JAAIDS)
Winners were selected by a panel
of communication experts from African
Universities and HIV/AIDS organizations.
“The winners are excellent examples of the power of communication
to combat HIV and AIDS in Africa,” stated AfriComNet Executive Director Dr. Lorna Tumwebaze.
“There are literally thousands of organizations and individuals
who are using communication strategically to help fight
AIDS. AfriComNet thinks it is important to acknowledge
these efforts.”
AfriComNet launched the Annual
Award for Excellence in HIV and AIDS Communication this
year as a means to highlight communication strategies, tools
and programs that are state-of –the-art and can be replicated
elsewhere. “We want to encourage more innovation and higher
standards in strategic communication, and we want to show-case
initiatives that have really worked,” stated Peter Mwarogo,
AfriComNet Chariperson.
AfriComNet presented awards in
each of five categories: mass media, folk media, multi-channel,
interpersonal/community; best article, series or column.
The awards are only for communication initiatives that have
been produced or taken place in Africa.
AfriComNet is an association of
strategic communication practitioners working in Africa,
and to date has over 700 members in 41 countries comprised
of individuals, associations, governmental and non-governmental
organizations, community- and faith-based organizations
and educational institutions. Membership is currently free.
The vision of AfriComNet is “people in Africa making informed choices and taking action to improve their well
being.” Its mission is to strengthen capacity in and commitment
to strategic communication for health and development in
Africa. This year’s annual award was
funded by the United States Agency for International Development
through the United States President’s Emergency Fund for
AIDS Relief.
For additional information,
please contact:
AfriComNet Secretariat
Plot 42 Lumumba
Avenue
P.O. Box 3495
Kampala, Uganda
Tel: 256 41 250183/237222
Fax: 256 31 264969
Email: infodesk@africomnet.org
Website: www.africomnet.org
