What do community theatre, trains, mobile games and soccer have in common?

These may be used as tools to save lives by raising awareness on the HIV/AIDS situation, as demonstrated by various enterprising organisations.

Some 40.3 milllion people are presently living with HIV/AIDS, reports the World Health Organisation (WHO). Since its first clinical evidence over 20 years ago, more than 20 million people have died from the disease.

The Southern Africa HIV/AIDS Information Dissemination Service (SAfAIDS), a regional NGO based in Harare, Zimbabwe, believes that lack of awareness on HIV/AIDS issues among many sectors is one of the major problems.

In an Information for Development (i4d) article (December 2005), SaFAIDS Deputy Director Sara Page stated: ICT (information and communication technologies) can play a pivotal role in ensuring timely and speedy diagnosis as well as in improving and securing the quality of health care in most medical disciplines.

Pacific: Community radio in One Small Bag

2005 HIV/AIDS Statistics

Of the 40.3 million people living with HIV/AIDS:
- 17.5 million are women
- 2.3 million are children
- 4.9 million were newly infected with the virus
- 3.1 million died of HIV/AIDS

Source:
World Health Organisation (WHO) & UNAIDS. (December 2005).
/AIDS epidemic update. December 2005/. Retrieved from
<http://www.who.int/hiv/epi-update2005_en.pdf>

Grassroots ICTs in action can be seen in the Vanuatu-based Wan Smolbag (One Small Bag) community theatre troupe. So called, because it is all the group brings to local communities to spread HIV/AIDS awareness through plays and radio soap operas.

The troupe consults with communities and incorporates myths about reproductive health in their productions. They also use humour to educate audiences on safer sex practices.

The troupe of 11 full time actors produce the programmes and content, which reach audiences through AM broadcast.

India: Red Ribbon Express trains up and running 

Another initiative using drama is planned in India, where National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) will launch the Red Ribbon Express to generate awareness on HIV/AIDS.

UNAIDS reported that the Red Ribbon Express will carry youth and actors who will conduct AIDS awareness campaigns through puppet shows, dramas and skits in villages surrounding train stations.

The train will also have doctors who will carry out HIV tests, and volunteers who will cycle to villages every time the train stops. The
campaign, which will stop at all stations will complete its journey in six months.

Africa: music, drama and sports to liven youths activities

Music, drama and sports have already made a difference in the lives of the youth in Africa.

In Kenya, the number of new HIV/AIDS infections in the Juja Farm community decreased after the Juja Farm Future Youth Group (JFFYG) included HIV/AIDS messages in their newsletters, music and drama.

With the support of Plan Kenya, JFFYG recorded 12 songs on various subjects such as HIV/AIDS, drug abuse, early marriages, rape and infidelity. The drama group is also said to be a crowd-puller at the market place and in schools and churches.

Edutainment through mobile games

ZMQ Software Systems, an e-Learning, gaming and edutainment solutions company based in Delhi, released four Mobile games on HIV/AIDS Awareness. These games are:

*Quiz with Babu* - a game show testing the players knowledge on HIV/AIDS issues. The user needs to answer 10 questions (generated from a database of 300 questions on HIV/AIDS facts and awareness) correctly with three lifelines to win.

*Safety Cricket* - based* *on a village cricket match between Demons XI and Safety XI, users must catch the ball which appears in form of safety symbols like condoms, faithful partners, HIV information and AIDS awareness ribbons. The team also has to protect itself from various bad elements such as unsafe sex, infected blood transfusions, HIV virus, infected syringes and the company of bad friends.

*Ribbon Chase - *an arcade game format where the user plays a Red Ribbon that needs to deliver HIV awareness messages to different places on the globe. The multi-level game, which grants five lives to the player, has an evil HIV virus chasing the red ribbon and obstructing the delivery of messages.

*The Messenger *- an adventure game with a Dove (the traditional symbol for peace and love) as the messenger of HIV/AIDS awareness. The dove flies from village to village, collecting condoms and red ribbons, and distributes them to villagers with messages of HIV/AIDS awareness.

Source:
House of Learning & ZMQ. (2005). /Freedom HIV/AIDS/. Retrieved from <http://www.freedomhivaids.in/#>.

Meanwhile, Targeted AIDS Intervention, an organisation based in South Africa, uses soccer tournaments to talk to young men (aged 12 to 22) about HIV/AIDS, gender, sexuality and responsible sexual behaviour and to plan concrete actions in their areas. These tournaments are organised by peer educators.

Modern information tools for HIV/AIDS

Modern communication tools are also being utilised in more developed areas.

The United Nations Development Programme reported organisations are now using e-portals and user groups to foster community connectivity and disseminate information. Communities also use e-kiosks, electronic resource centres, information and education communication campaigns, e-mail, CD-ROMs, email lists, and the internet to spread HIV/AIDS-awareness messages far and wide.

Even mobile phone gaming is being used to spread awareness on HIV/AIDS. ZMQ, a mobile game company released four games on AIDS awareness at the 2005 World Aids Day 2005 in India. These games will be released internationally on International Labour Day, May 1, 2006.

As seen from the various community initiatives, HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns need not be confined to the printed page to get its message across. A convergence of traditional and modern ICTs can boost the campaign.

For future ICT initiatives, experts like Page recommended that groups develop a platform for vision building, planning, coordination and evaluation among HIV/AIDS stakeholders. Access to vital information is the key, as well as utilising available sources to inform, rehabilitate, and deliver health services.

Sources:

AusAID. (December 2000). One small bag makes one big difference. Retrieved from <http://www.ausaid.gov.au/publications/focus/focuspdfs/1200/p18_focus_dec00.pdf>.

House of Learning & ZMQ. (2005). /Freedom HIV/AIDS/. Retrieved from <http://www.freedomhivaids.in/#>.

OneWorld South Asia. (2005, December 1). Delhi CM releases mobile games on HIV/AIDS. Retrieved from <http://southasia.oneworld.net/article/view/123200/1/6771>.

Page, S. (December 2005). ICTs in the fight against HIV and AIDS. Retrieved from <http://www.i4donline.net/dec05/safaids.asp>.

"Plan Kenya. (November 2005). Community sees big drop in HIV/AIDS rates as young people modify high-risk habits. Retrieved from <http://www.plan-international.org/wherewework/eastafricaeurope/kenya/ourwork/healthy/habits/>.

A positive view. (September 2005). /Oxfam News/./ /Retrieved/ /from <http://www.oxfam.org.au/oxfamnews/september_2005/apositiveview.html>.

UNAIDS. (December 2005). //Red Ribbon Express trains for AIDS awareness. Retrieved form
<http://www.i4donline.net/dec05/unaids.asp>.