Soul Beat Africa
African development action with informed and engaged societies
Soul Beat Africa
After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future.
 
Co-founder Victoria Martin is pleased to see this work continue under Wits' leadership. Victoria knows that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction.
 
We honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades. Meanwhile, La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA) continues independently at cila.comminitcila.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
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Promoting Sexual and Reproductive Health and HIV/AIDS Reduction Programme (PSRHH) - Nigeria

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A seven-year project to address the issues of poverty, fertility, contraception, and HIV/AIDS was initiatied in Abuja, Nigeria in September, 2002. The Promoting Sexual and Reproductive Health and HIV/AIDS Reduction Programme (PSRHH) is a collaborative effort between the Nigerian government's HIV/AIDS Emergency Action Plan (HPEP), the National Population Policy, the British Department for International Development (DFID), and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Four agencies will implement the programme: Population Services International (PSI), the Society For Family Health, ActionAid Nigeria, and Crown Agents. The National Action Committee on AIDS (NACA) will coordinate the programme with the Society For Family Health as the key local implementation partner. Organisers will initiate behaviour change campaigns in an effort to accomplish the following by 2015: reduce the HIV prevalence by 25% among high-risk 15-24 year-olds, reduce the rate of unwanted pregnancy among teenagers, and reduce the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among high risk groups.
Communication Strategies

Still in its planning stages, PSRHH intends to use media campaigns that emphasise behaviour change and will provide low-cost contraceptives for people defined as being vulnerable to HIV/AIDS and STDs, especially those engaged in sex work, young people, and long-distance drivers. Advocacy campaigns will be carried out on location in over 100 communities that have large numbers of people at high risk. The programme is designed to empower communities to reduce the incidence of unprotected sex, to delay the age of sexual debut (particularly among girls), and to reduce the number of sexual partners.

Development Issues

HIV/AIDS, Youth, Economic Development, Family Planning.

Key Points

Nigeria crossed the HIV/AIDS epidemic threshold of 5% in 1999 with an infection rate of 5.4%, becoming a high-risk zone for the spread of HIV/AIDS, with the highest prevalence among young people aged 15-29 years. With half its population under the age of 15 and with 70% of the population classified as poor, Nigeria is in dire need of a robust anti-HIV/AIDS response.

Partners

HPEP, the National Population Policy, DFID, USAID, PSI, the Society For Family Health, ActionAid Nigeria, Crown Agents, and NACA.

Sources

News releases (dated 9/1/02) forwarded by Chido Nwakanma to The Communication Initiative on September 2, 2002; PEP Model website.