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SAfAIDS wins inaugural AfriComnet Award for Strategic HIV Communication
Southern Africa AIDS Information Dissemination Service (SAfAIDS)
June 22, 2007

The Southern Africa HIV and AIDS Information Dissemination Service (SAfAIDS) has won the inaugural AfriComnet Award for Excellence in HIV and AIDS Strategic Communication. The accolade - which was received at a winners' reception held in Johannesburg, South Africa - was awarded to the regional organisation in the journalism category for the best series or article on an HIV-related topic. Other winners at the event included Nigeria's Journalists Against AIDS (JAAIDS), Straight Talk Uganda, Zambia's Health Communication Partnership (HCP) and SABC TV.

"We feel excited and humbled by winning this award," said SAfAIDS Executive Director, Mrs. Lois Chingandu. "This is an indication that people are recognising the critical role we are playing in information dissemination and strategic HIV communication."

Using the Media Resource Desk (MRD) as its strategy, SAfAIDS was able to demonstrate how this initiative is being used to encourage more effective HIV communication in southern Africa. The MRD is a collaboration between the Southern Africa Editor's Forum (SAEF), the Media Action Plan (MAP), UNAIDS and SAfAIDS, and produces a range of materials for a database of over 500 media houses, media organisations, freelancers and institutions of learning throughout the southern Africa region. These materials, packaged in the form of fact sheets, newsletters and newsflashes, seek to capacitate media professionals to report accurately, excitingly, and ethically on HIV and AIDS - related issues.

The MRD's catch phrases is, "We bring accurate HIV and AIDS information together when you need it", and this is what the Desk's ongoing advocacy journalism has sought to do, especially in light of the growing linkages between gender-based violence and HIV.

"One of the areas we have focused on in our strategic communication has been gender-based violence, and getting Zimbabwe's Domestic Violence Bill to be enacted into a law has been a major success," added Mrs. Chingandu.

"This had to happen through various activities, through the concerted efforts of various partners, and one of the core activities was information sharing."

Last year, SAfAIDS was involved in writing articles on gender-based violence (GBV) in the build-up to the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence campaign, and as such initiated debates through the e-forums on the Domestic Violence Bill in Zimbabwe, and the legislation's silence on HIV and AIDS.

The press, both local and regional, were also used extensively as tools for the dissemination of facts and opinions on GBV, and HIV and AIDS. This year, the organisation has been involved in publicizing important events such as International Women's Day - attending and documenting its launch, as a means of sensitising the public about its relevance.

"Our focus on gender will not end, as the organisation is again building towards gender-based activities in the coming year. But this time, we also hope to be looking at the issue from a cultural perspective", highlighted Mrs. Chingandu, in reference to the ongoing Cultural Dialogue Series and follow-up training activities, that SAfAIDS is running in conjunction with Zimbabwe's Seke rural community.

She added that while it was encouraging that Zimbabwe now has the Domestic Violence Act in place, there was still a need to equip grassroots communities with information about its existence, as well as its various provisions. Mrs. Chingandu also stated that the organisation would be willing to partner with other organisations in skills sharing for sound communication planning as such expertise were necessary for effective strategic communication.

"We hope to continue on in the direction that we have taken, as well as to register new successes and strengthen our partnerships with like-minded organisations," she said in conclusion.

The African Network for Strategic Communication in Health and Development (AfriComNet) is an association of HIV and AIDS, health and development communication practitioners who reside, work or have a primary interest in Africa. The purpose of the AfriComNet Award is to recognise outstanding contributions made by individuals, or organisations, in the field of strategic HIV and AIDS communication, as well as to encourage innovation and the highest standards of quality in strategic communication in Africa.

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