Caribbean broadcasters expand HIV/AIDS programming in Haiti
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| Published on Thursday, November 15, 2007 |
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PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti: The Caribbean Broadcast Media Partnership on HIV/AIDS (CBMP) and the Global Media AIDS Initiative (GMAI) on Wednesday announced a new collaboration to make HIV/AIDS-related programming content and other resources available – in Haitian Creole – to radio and television audiences across Haiti beginning on December 1, 2007 – World AIDS Day.
According to UNAIDS, Haiti’s estimated national adult HIV prevalence is 3.8% -- the highest level in the Western Hemisphere. There are approximately 190,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in Haiti, and there were about 16,000 AIDS-related deaths in 2005.
The GMAI is providing technical and financial support to translate and make available to local Haitian broadcasters HIV/AIDS-related programming content produced through the CBMP’s LIVE UP campaign, a Caribbean-focused HIV/AIDS pubic information campaign.
The content will feature television and radio public service ads (PSAs) and long-form programming, including episodes of LIVE UP: The Show, a new news magazine program produced by the CBMP that highlights HIV/AIDS issues across the region.
The Centre de Communications Sur le SIDA (CECOSIDA), a national association of journalists and media professionals based in Port-au-Prince, will lead efforts to adapt the programming and secure commitments from local Haitian broadcasters to air the content.
“Through this collaboration, the CBMP continues to make strides to expand the availability of high quality HIV/AIDS-related programming in the region and encourage awareness and public discourse,” said Dr. Allyson Leacock, Executive Director of the CBMP. “Through this partnership, millions of Haitians will gain access to potentially life saving information about HIV/AIDS and their health.”
“This partnership demonstrates how the GMAI leverages the power of the media in the fight against HIV/AIDS by bringing companies together in common cause to inform and challenge stigma in some of the hardest hit regions in the world,” said Dali Mpofu, Chairman of the Global Media AIDS Initiative and Group Chief Executive of the South African Broadcasting Corporation.
In an effort to make information more readily available, the Digicel Group, a leading regional mobile phone provider, is also working with the CBMP and CECOSIDA to connect their 1.8 subscribers in Haiti with local HIV resources.
Using SMS mobile phone technology, Digicel’s mobile phone customers in Haiti will be able to have HIV information sent directly to their mobile phones.
In addition, the GMAI and CBMP are partnering with YeleCinema to include HIV/AIDS education messages during outdoor film screenings and special events to reach tens of thousands of citizens of Haiti’s poorest communities that have little or no access to television.
“Haiti has been hard-hit by HIV/AIDS, and it is important that we empower our population with lifesaving information. Now, we are pleased to join resources with our media colleagues from across the Caribbean to harness the power of radio and television to encourage Haitians to be informed, get tested, and protect themselves,” said Roosevelt Jean Francois, President of CECOSIDA. | | | | Reads : 712 | | | |
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