Give Life Campaign

The Give Life advertisements feature "friendly, cute, and adorable" images of babies conveying a variety of messages about the positive characteristics and attributes they have inherited from their parents - but not HIV. For example:

• I have her pouty lips and his warm heart, but not HIV;
• I have her rhythm and his looks, but not HIV;
• I have her eyes and his big dreams, but not HIV;
• I have her radiant skin and his charm but not HIV;
• I have her fiery nature and his cheeky smile, but not HIV;

The advertisements, which were developed by the Johannesburg advertising firm Saatchi & Saatchi, are featured on billboards, radio, and television. Visit the UNICEF website to download the adverts.

UNICEF is also working at the community level with civil society partners to roll out other aspects of Give Life. These partners are expected to bring an interactive experience to local communities throughout South Africa via community theatre and drama. One of these activities will involve arepp: theatre for life, the edutainment theatre company that uses live dramatic theatre to provide complimentary, interactive, social life-skills education to school-going youth of all ages. The theatre groups plan to bring HIV prevention messages in live presentations to audiences in schools and communities nationwide. In addition, the Siyayinqoba Beat it! TV series features documentary video "inserts" filmed by local youth journalists. It airs weekly on SABC on Thursdays at 13H00. UNICEF claims that Siyayinqoba Beat It! represents one of the main vehicles to bring a scientifically based understanding of HIV treatment issues to a mass audience via television. The project has been designed for people living with HIV and AIDS, partners, families, friends, colleagues, caregivers, and communities.

HIV/AIDS

According to UNICEF, in South Africa, 29% of pregnant women are HIV-positive and could pass on the virus to their unborn child. In the absence of any intervention, 20-35% of infants could be infected during pregnancy, delivery, and breastfeeding. If a mother gets tested early and knows her status, she can help reduce the risk of transmitting HIV to her unborn baby to less than 10% by taking advantage of free access to treatment interventions, as well as information and counselling available at most local health facilities, hospitals, and clinics around the country.