ActionAid
International The Gambia in partnership with the National AIDS Secretariat, the
Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and UNAIDS has concluded a five-day
message development workshop on HIV and AIDS at AbCa’s Lodge in Foni Kassagne,
West Coast Region from 29th August to 3rd September. The Directorate of Health
Promotion and Education at the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare
facilitated and coordinated the message development workshop. The workshop
participants comprised communication specialists, members of the BCC Committee
on HIV and AIDS, health experts and UNAIDS. The message development workshop
was held as part of activities being implemented under the New Funding Model of
the Global Fund on HIV and AIDS.
HIV
and AIDS and other STIs pose a serious public health problem in The Gambia.
Studies have shown that a significant proportion of morbidity and mortality
among sexually active people are directly or indirectly due to STIs.
At
the opening ceremony, the Executive Director of ActionAid Mr Omar Badji
reflected on the significant progress that had been made in the global HIV and
AIDS response in the past 35 years, particularly on the treatment and
prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission, information dissemination and
reduction of stigma and discrimination. However, Badji warned that HIV and AIDS
is far from over and that we cannot afford to lose the fight. “Clearly
developed messages that are well understood and accepted can play an important
role in ensuring that the prevalence of HIV & AIDS is brought to zero”, he
said. Badji also highlighted the need to align the messages to be developed to
the national policies in order to respond appropriately to the communication
challenges we currently face as a nation. ”Pre-testing the messages will ensure
recognition of people’s traditions and enhance their proper interpretation and
understanding of the messages being developed”, he concluded
.The
Deputy Director of the National AIDS Secretariat Alpha Khan highlighted the
significance of the workshop, noting that the IEC/BCC messages will enhance the
understanding of HIV-related perceptions and needs of the general population.
Khan stated that the development of the messages follows a study that assessed
selected IEC/BCC indicators of the National HIV and AIDS Response as well as
the effectiveness of current approaches to behavioural change. “The findings of
the study revealed a lack of comprehensive knowledge about HIV, misconceptions
and myths, whilst stigma and discrimination against People Living with HIV
(PLHIV) and other Key Affected Populations remain high, causing both fear of
testing and fear of disclosure of status, he stated.
Deputy
Director of National AIDS Secretariat Executive Director, AAITG
During
the days that followed, participants went through an intense and elaborate
review of both old and new messages to determine their relevance in line with
the current HIV and AIDS situation and the study findings. The messages were
also pre-tested in various communities and the comments received were
incorporated. At the end of the workshop, a draft message booklet was produced
which will be reviewed and finalized after which copies will be produced for
use by communication specialists and health personnel through the Directorate
of Health Promotion and Education to disseminate HIV and AIDS message
nationwide on posters, leaflets,
brochures, flyers and billboards. Radio and TV jingles will also be produced to
enhance effective communications on HIV and AIDS.
This
is the first time the conference hall in AbCa’s creek lodge was used after its
completion. The Executive Director of AAITG was therefore given the honour and
privilege to officially inaugurate the new Conference hall. He thanked the
proprietors Abdoulie and Caroline Gaye for the honour and prayed for the hall
to be a success in the development affairs of the country.
