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Don’t Be Negative About Being Positive
Country: Zimbabwe
Region: Africa
Programme Summary

Don’t Be Negative About Being Positive is a campaign that aims to fight discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe. Since May 2005, the campaign has used personalised messages from people living positively with HIV, disseminated through television, radio and print media, to raise awareness and discourage stigma. Developed and produced by Population Services International (PSI) - Zimbabwe and sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department for International Development (DFiD), the campaign is based on the belief that reducing stigma plays a large role in HIV and AIDS prevention and care.

Communication Strategies

The campaign features radio, print and television spots consisting of real life testimonials by people living with HIV. By telling the stories of prominent and ordinary people who lead productive lives with HIV, the campaign hopes to make role models of those who are willing to share their HIV status in public, with the hopes of ending prejudice and encouraging others to follow their example.

According to the organisers, helping people living with HIV and AIDS get access to treatment, mutual support, and ways to get their voices heard at local and national levels is particularly effective in tackling stigma. Four HIV-positive Zimbabweans, who had decided to disclose their status to the public, were Gladys Ngwenya, Donance Kangausaru, Thembeni Fazo and Rebecca Chiroodza. They shared personal and intimate details about their lives, how they became HIV positive and the stigma that they face.

The campaign was created in Zimbabwe over a three month period and according to the organizers, was developed in close collaboration with people living with HIV/AIDS who face stigma on a daily basis.

Development Issues

HIV/AIDS.

Key Points

The campaign won a 2005 Global Media Award. According to PSI, the stigma that surrounds people living with HIV prevents people from getting tested, seeking treatment and admitting their HIV-positive status to others.

Partners

USAID, DFID.

Contact
PSI/Zimbabwe
30 The Chase West
Emerald Park Offices, Block E
(Corner Second Street and the Chase West)
Emerald Hill
Harare Southern Africa
Zimbabwe
Tel: + 263 4 334 631
Fax: + 263 4 339 632

PSI website on December 3 2007 and the DFID website on December 11 2007.

This website is funded by the President Bush's Emergency Fund for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
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