| Health NGO launches media drive to promote dialogue | Send to a friend |
| Tuesday, 11 May 2010 22:43 |
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Engender Health has launched a four-month mass media campaign to promote a national dialogue on men's role in fighting HIV/Aids and other reproductive health issues. The project, which is known as Champion project, was launched yesterday in Dar es Salaam. The project's programme officer, Mr Yeromino Mlawa, told reporters during the launch that the aim of the campaign was to promote communication by creating public attention on the gap in interpersonal communication among adults. "Through this campaign men and women will suggest several ways in which this communication can be improved and be useful in reducing the pandemic effects," he said. According to him, the campaign would also target community members in terms of use or non-use of available health services and the consequent health reproductive health. The Campaign, which will cost $16 million (about Sh21 billion), would also highlight the importance of couple communication in protecting family health, communication, consultation and teamwork in family cohesion and success. It will increase positive attitudes towards dialogue and communication between men and women in relationship to strengthen the relationship, increase trust and transparency. Mr Mlawa pointed out that their recent research and interviews conducted in Morogoro, Mbeya, Iringa, Mtwara, Shinyanga, Tabora and Temeke found that couple communication was a key ingredient in determining success. He added that effective communication would bring about trust within their relationships. However, the official noted that lack of communication was felt to lead unfaithful relationships and to some degree catalysing multiple concurrent partnerships and increasing the risk of HIV/AIDS for men and women. The project communication, Ms Lindsay Hughes said the intended primary audiences of the campaign are adults, while the secondary audiences are family members and the media. "The campaign will use both print and electronic media as well as billboards," she noted. Ms Hughes told The Citizen that the campaign would deepen the understanding of women's rights and the change that is happening around the world, every minute and every day. She noted that harmful gender stereotypes had greatly affected the country’s health systems and the health of individual citizens, accelerating the HIV epidemic. Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites           |
