Social Norms
Social norms action with informed and engaged societies
Social Norms
After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future.
 
Co-founder Victoria Martin is pleased to see this work continue under Wits' leadership. Victoria knows that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction.
 
We honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades. Meanwhile, La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA) continues independently at lainiciativadecomunicacion.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
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MERLIN/PHRI/WHO's Joint DOTS-Plus Pilot Project - Russia

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An enhanced TB programme which treats drug resistant TB by adding second line drugs to the basic DOTS approach.
Communication Strategies
Person to person contact comes with the high level of medical management necessary to administer the drugs & keep on top of inevitable side effects in the 2 year programme . This WHO endorced programme includes a "series of demonstration projects to develop strategies to treat & control the spread of drug resistant TB".
Development Issues
Health
Key Points
The region of Tomsk was chosen for the DOTS-Plus pilot project in hopes that its success would produce the necessary funding to see nation wide replications of the programme. "Drug resistant TB in Russia, particularly in the prison system, has already reached a level at which the relatively inexpensive DOTS approach will not be enough to solve the TB problem". The WHO has required that a DOTS-Plus programme be implemented only if a fully operational DOTS programme is already in place (for civilians & the prison population). Drug costs are expensive, ranging from $5,000 to $8,000 per patient. There is an expected 75% chance of success, but the treatment takes 2 years & the drugs have serious side effects, requiring attentive medical staff. Unfortunately, there is no alternative in sight to the high cost & lengthy treatment & "without major efforts to treat existing resistant cases, there is no chance of winning the battle against TB".
Partners

The Public Health Research Institute (PHRI), Medical Emergency Relief International (MERLIN) & World Health Organisation (WHO). MERLIN & PHRI share the costs of the DOTS Plus pilot project, which are estimated at $4 million. PHRI's share of the project is financed by the Soros Foundation & MERLIN'S share is financed by the European Union's ECHO Program & the British Know How Fund.

Sources

The Public Health Reasearch Institute (PHRI) Website: Russian Tuberculosis Control Program