Women, particularly those in Sub-Saharan Africa, are often more vulnerable to HIV and AIDS, due to the effects of gender norms, gender-based violence and alcohol. These underlying but often overlooked social factors were the theme of the second annual AfriComNet practicum which was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from August 6 -8, 2007. The practicum brought together more than 80 communication experts from nine African countries to address these critical issues that influence HIV prevention, care and treatment, and impact mitigation. The Forum for Change, “HIV/AIDS, Alcohol and Gender: A Strategic Communication Perspective” was jointly funded by PEPFAR, USAID and UNAIDS.

PANEL DISCUSSION: The role of media in shaping, sustaining and changing norms around alcohol, gender and Gender Based Violence (GBV). L-R: Robin Tyson – Namibia University, Olaide Olumide – Nollywood Nigeria, Fungai Machiror- SAFAIDS Zimbabwe and Pontsho Makhetha – SABC, South Africa.

Dr. Medhin Zewdu, Special Assistant to the Minister of Health, Ethiopia, delivered the keynote address. She emphasized that AIDS has extreme consequences, but is preventable. She pledged her government’s support for HIV programmes to address gender norms, alcohol abuse, and gender inequalities as key drivers in the spread of HIV. Bunmi Makinwa, Director UNAIDS, noted in his opening address that in the past, most communication strategies focused on individual behavior change, but there is increasing recognition to work towards communication for social change from five different dimensions: government and policy, socioeconomic, cultural, gender relations and spiritual issues.

Researchers in alcohol and substance abuse presented findings that clearly showed a consistent link between alcohol use, risky sexual behaviour, and HIV prevalence. They noted the highest alcohol consumption per drinker and most hazardous drinking patterns occur in East and Southern Africa and Eastern Europe. The data also suggested that individuals who consume alcohol are more likely to become violent, engage in unprotected sexual activity, and have multiple partners. Other studies associated heavy alcohol use with decreased medication compliance as well as a poorer response to HIV in general. There are clear gender differences in alcohol use and sexual risks. For example, men are more likely to drink and engage in high risk behavior whereas women's risks are often associated with their male sexual partners' drinking habits.

Several presentations focused on the role violence plays in the transmission of HIV while others reported violence as an outcome of HIV disclosure. A number of key recommendations were reached during the practicum which included but were not limited to the development of multi-level alcohol risk reduction strategies aimed at individuals, the societal and policy levels. Other recommendations focused on the need to strengthen community-based efforts that challenge male norms and improve access to HIV prevention services. This could be realized through partner notification policies, client referral systems, an increase in VCT and post-test support services.

Participants also approved the Addis Ababa Declaration, which reaffirms that strategic communication can address these underlying factors. The Declaration includes a call to action to lobby African governments through regional agendas such as the Commonwealth Ministers of Health meetings to seriously address the issues of alcohol and drug abuse, gender-based violence and gender norms in the context of HIV and AIDS.
For more details of the declaration and the practicum resource toolkit, CLICK HERE

The AfriComNet Annual Awards for Excellence in HIV/AIDS Strategic Communication recognises outstanding contributions by individuals and organizations in Africa in the field of HIV and AIDS communication. During the first annual AfriComNet Awards event, held in Sandton South Africa May 2007, five winners were honoured for initiatives, campaigns, productions and tools that advance the field of strategic communication and can be adapted and replicated by others. Each winner received a plaque and certificate in addition to a fully funded round-trip to the ceremony, and tour of Johannesburg. Professor Alfred E. Opubor, Secretary General West African News Media and Development Centre, who presided over the awards ceremony, noted that strategic communication is both a science and an art and emphasized that it is not a quick and easy “magic bullet.” He argued that strategic communication is essential to the fight against HIV and AIDS, stressing that there is no single advance in health or social development that has taken place without communication.

Winner: Chairman’s Award, the late Omulolu Falobi - Nigeria
The late Omololu Falobi, founder of Journalists against AIDS (JAAIDS) Nigeria, was honoured posthumously for his contributions to the AIDS response not only in Nigeria, but across Africa. "This award acknowledges his invaluable contribution and work in the area of HIV prevention and impact mitigation," said Dr. Makwate Lorna Tumwebaze, Executive Director, AfricomNet. For more information, please visit www.nigeria-aids.org/content.

Winner: Best Mass Media Campaign, Tsha Tsha - South Africa
Tsha Tsha, a primetime television drama, produced for the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) Education by CADRE (Centre for Aids, Development, Research and Evaluation) and Curious Pictures focuses on young people living in a world affected by HIV/AIDS and other social problems. The series has broadcast since 2003 on SABC1. Although produced for a youth target audience, the series draws viewers across age and language groups, and has achieved an audience share of around 50% for the broadcast timeslot. In the words of Harriet Gavshon, Managing Director of Curious Pictures and Executive Producer of Tsha Tsha, “Tsha Tsha is very close to our hearts - not only because we think we have created a credible vehicle for AIDS education, but also because it is so successful as a drama series”. For additional information, please visit
http://www.cadre.org.za,
http://www.ee4.org
http://www.curious.co.za
http:// www. SABC.co.za

Susan Ajok from Straight Talk Foundation, Uganda receives best multi channel communication award.

Winner: Best Multi Channel Communication, Straight Talk Foundation - Uganda
The award in this category went to two Ugandan initiatives for young people: Straight Talk Foundation, and Young Empowered and Healthy. Since 1993, Straight Talk Foundation (STF) has been providing sexual and reproductive health information to young people in Uganda. STF reaches 85 % of Uganda’s seven million adolescents annually with its health communication programs implemented through print, electronic and interpersonal communication. It also reaches hundreds of thousands of parents and teachers. STF produces and broadcasts a popular program on 33 radio stations in 12 languages including English. For more information, please visit www.straightalkfoundation.org or www.africomnet.org

Winner: Best Multi Channel Communication, Y.E.A.H. – Uganda

YEAH Director, Anne Gamurorwa receives best multi channel communication award.

The other winner of the Multi Channel Communication Award was Young Empowered and Healthy (Y.E.A.H.), a communication initiative by and for young people 15 to 24 years old in Uganda. Y.E.A.H. has been producing and broadcasting a weekly radio serial drama called “Rock Point 256” in five languages on 13 radio stations since August, 2005. Y.E.A.H. also produces a series of accompanying comic books, and organizes community outreaches, training, and events focused on preventing and stopping the practice of transactional and coercive sex, and promoting faithfulness, caring and respect in intimate relationships. As stated by Y.E.A.H. Director Anne Gamurorwa “We know that about 40% of young people between 18 and 24 years old are listening to the Rock Point 256 series, and according to feedback we receive from listeners, Y.E.A.H. is already positively changing the lives of young people.” Read more about Y.E.A.H HERE

Winner: Best Folk Media Initiative, Magnet Theater - Kenya
Developed by PATH Kenya with a view to create a tool that produces a visible example of behaviour change, Magnet Theatre induces and sustains new practices through a process of intense dialogue and critical reflection that ripples through the community.

L-R: Oluoch Madiag – PATH Kenya, award winner of best folk media initiative poses with professor Alfred E. Opubor - guest of honor and Debbie Gachuhi – AfriComNet Board member.

Magnet Theatre repeatedly targets a specific audience at a fixed venue on a regular schedule, offering opportunities for audiences to participate in dramas as they unfold. More than 3,408 theatre sessions have been conducted, reaching 649,940 youth in Kenya.

Magnet theatre has also traveled outside Kenya to Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Eritrea, Nigeria, India and Djibouti. Prof. Alfred E.Opubor, Secretary General, West African News-media and Development Centre said, “Magnet Theatre empowers the audience, giving them a forum to discover their reality and find ways of mitigating these realities. The best communication initiatives are those which allow people to participate and get involved in sharing meanings, knowledge, understandings, fears and experiences.” For more info contact Oluoch-Madiang, Program Officer, PATH. omadiang@path.org, visit www.path.org or www.africomnet.org

Hilda D. Banda from Health Communication Partnership – Zambia proudly displays the award plaque.

Winner: Best Interpersonal / Community Based Communication, Creative HEART Contest - Zambia

The Zambia Creative HEART Contest was developed in 2005 and is being implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Education with the goal of promoting youth access to health information, particularly HIV and AIDS through debates, drama, music and poetry. The contest provides a unique opportunity for young people to explore their own thoughts and ideas related to HIV and AIDS or other key issues affecting their communities; develop their opinions based on information they receive from mentors including teachers, health care providers and other adults; and to use their creativity to share health messages with their peers and the community. For more details, visit www.africomnet.org

Winner: Best HIV/AIDS related articles, series or column, SAFAIDS – Zimbabwe

Southern Africa HIV and AIDS Information Dissemination Services (SAFAIDS) of Zimbabwe won this award for a series of articles written by Fungai Machirori who has been with the SAFAIDS media team since July 2006. The team runs the Media Resource Desk – an initiative that aims to bring accurate HIV and AIDS information to health reporters and journalists throughout southern Africa. The Desk is a collaboration between the Southern Africa Editor’s Forum (SAEF), the Media Action Plan (MAP), UNAIDS and SAFAIDS, and produces materials for a database of over 500 media houses, media organizations, freelancers and institutions of learning throughout the southern Africa region. For more info, please visit www.safaids.org.zw or contact Fungai at fungai@safaids.org.zw

Your programmme could be a winner too!! Enter the 2008 AfriComNet Awards for Excellence in HIV/AIDS Communication. Details will be sent to all members and posted on www.africomnet.org soon.

Participants in a Pilot training session on HIV/AIDS and Strategic Communication held at MildMay Center – Uganda, June 4 - 15th, 2007

The University of Nairobi course is one of three short courses in HIV and AIDS strategic communication developed by AfriComNet over the past two years in partnership with African Universities and training institutions. The capacity building initiative aims to build capacity and professionalize the practice of strategic communication in Africa, by developing and offering certificate and diploma courses in HIV and AIDS strategic communication.

Since its inception in 2005, AfriComNet’s university network has expanded rapidly. There are now five universities and one training institution that have partnered with AfriComNet, including the University of Nairobi School of Journalism; Makerere University Department of Mass Communication and School of Public Health; University of Namibia Department of Information and Communication Studies; Jimma University Department of Health and Behavioural Sciences; the University of Stellenbosch; and the Mildmay Center Uganda. With technical assistance from AfriComNet and CCP, these institutions are developing and offering short courses for health communication professionals, undergraduate and graduate students.

In addition to the five-day course at the University of Nairobi, the Uganda Consortium comprised of Mildmay Uganda and the Makerere University School of Public Health and Department of Mass Communication has developed and pilot tested a two-week course entitled “Basics of HIV/AIDS and Strategic Communication.” This course, held at the Mildmay Center from June 4 -15, 2007, attracted a range of participants including writers, researchers, radio communicators, counselors, and other trained communicators from Ethiopia, Zambia, Uganda, and Kenya.

A third course on Research, Monitoring and Evaluation of Communication Interventions and Programmes has been developed and pilot-tested by the University of Namibia. The pilot training course, offered in June, lasted five days and was attended by participants from Namibia, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Kenya. The Univeristy of Namibia has plans to offer the full two-week course during 2008.

The six institutions involved in this partnership with AfriComNet met in Mombasa, Kenya, in October, to share course materials, schedule training sessions over the next year and agree on additional courses for development. During the next year, the University of Jimma will develop and offer a short course in Community Participation and Mobilization; and the University of Stellenbosch will develop and offer a short course on HIV/AIDS Counseling and Interpersonal Communication. The other university partners will offer the other 3 short courses throughout the year. Keep your eye on the AfriComNet website for announcements of these and other training opportunities in the region.

Theresa Norton, Stephen Goldstein, Margaret D’Adamo

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health/Center for Communication Programs
In acknowledgment of the need for a holistic approach to patients and clients, a new specialty area is emerging within public health; one that integrates HIV and AIDS and sexual and reproductive health programs and services. Many view the integration of these programs and services as critical in reducing the spread of HIV and AIDS, improving the quality of life for those living with AIDS, and keeping gains in family planning adoption from reversing direction. Health professionals aiming at integrating services face a challenge: how do they locate or share evidence of successful integration approaches? A group of health professionals tackled this challenge and tasked a knowledge management facilitator; the INFO Project at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health/Center for Communication Programs (CCP); to help them develop a resource tool: Resources for HIV and AIDS and Sexual and Reproductive Health Integration (www.hivandsrh.org) (formerly called Resources for Family Planning and HIV and AIDS Integration). The data base currently houses over 600 expert selected resources on integration and links for interested professionals and opportunities to interact including video conference events and on line forums. For more details, visit www.hivandsrh.org or contact tnorton@jhuccp.org

Telemedicine: Health care goes ICT
Hassan Ntiyamir

As part of the Government of Rwanda’s E-health strategy, the Ministry of Health on February 3, 2007 launched the ‘telemedicine’ project partly to address the many underlying problems faced by the health sector, especially the lack of sufficient healthcare professionals and instructors. Dr Naruhirira the State Minister in the Ministry of Health in charge of HIV/AIDS, urged doctors attending a Rwanda Medical Association annual assembly to embrace the project because it would ease their work for the benefit of the entire nation. The UNDP and World Bank are the main supporters of the project. Telemedicine initiatives are predicted to spread across Africa in the coming years. For the detailed article, visit www.africomnet.org or email jassax2000@yahoo.co.uk

Contact Information
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Tel. : +256-414 250183 / +256-414 237222/ +256-414 250192/ +256-414-223837
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