AIDS TENDER AWARDED TO A CONSORTIUM OF SA'S NGO'S

Issued by: Department of Health

14 July 1997

PRETORIA - The Department of Health has awarded a R7-million tender for a "Beyond Awareness" media campaign to a consortium of South African non-governmental organisations. The consortium was selected from amongst a number of tenders by an adjudication panel of AIDS and media experts nominated by the National HIV/AIDS/STD Communication Forum.

The consortium, led by the Society for Family Health, includes the Community Agency for Social Enquiry (CASE) Dramaide, Soul City, Ulwazi Educational Radio and Siyakha Communications.).

"The purpose of the beyond awareness concept is to provide support to individuals and communities who want to take action around the disease" said Rentia Agenbag, spokesperson for the HIV/AIDS and STD Directorate.

"Previous initiatives have successfully raised awareness of key AIDS messages. In the light of current HIV infection levels of more than 1000 per day, the challenges of the "Beyond Awareness" campaign is to use creative strategies to stimulate deeper commitment and action" she said.

The consortium proposal include:

• Personalising risk and action through a series of multilingual television spots and radio documentaries;
• Promoting access to detailed information by developing a resource centre and clearing house of media products that relate to AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs);
• Promoting dialogue by advertising the AIDS telephone helpine and potentially including write-in information services;
• A national youth action competition;
• Awareness and action around the vulnerability and empowerment of women;
• Promoting action in various sectors through provision of information packages to key decision makers;
• Training journalists and other media producers in the issues related to AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases.

The campaign sets out to maximise existing media resources and provides an opportunity to bring together a range of organisations that already carry out high profile AIDS activities.

These activities include the extremely popular television and radio health drama series developed by South City.

"The choice of this consortium of non-governmental organisations provides a unique opportunity for a partnership with government and the development of a united front to tackle AIDS in South Africa", said Mitchell Warren, director of Society for Family Health.

"Collective our organisations bring togtether expertise and many years of experience in both HIV prevention activities, and in the development of effective media products", he said.

Various aspects of the campaign will be evaluated through research conducted by the Community Agency for Social Enquiry (CASE)