Stop AIDS. Love Life Campaign

The Love Life song and video were produced by Ghanaian artists and producers who donated their time and talent to the project. The song and video frequently aired on television, on radio stations, and on M-NET, an Africa-wide satellite TV station.

Television and radio spots were subsidised by the Ministry of Communications. These spots focused on the ABCs of prevention: sexual Abstinence, Be faithful, and Condom use.

Phase II of the programme, entitled "Caring Communities", emphasised community involvement in HIV/AIDS prevention.

The campaign was designed to successively address these issues: advocacy and programmes with traditional and religious leaders and youth; issues concerning non-discrimination and compassion; and pre- and post-test counselling. Main activities included the speaking out by chiefs and queenmothers about HIV/AIDS on TV, radio, and in communities; an effort by Christian and Muslim groups to de-stimatise AIDS and to provide training and support at the congressional level; continued support for the radio dramas "Things We Do for Love" and "Speak Easy", entertainment/education programmes created by and for youth dealing with sexual health issues; work with People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) support groups in the area of peer counselling skills and community-based activities; and the development of participatory tools to engage community groups in HIV/AIDS issues, such as Journey of Hope, a tool to link preventive behaviours to personal goals and to increase positive peer support and social networks.

HIV/AIDS, Youth.

The HIV prevalence rate in Ghana is rapidly approaching the threshold of 5%.

Over 400,000 people have attended the "Stop AIDS. Love Life" roadshow live performances, which use an entertainment/education format. Conducted in over 120 cities and towns, performances typically attract an audience of 4,000.

Daytime audio presentations, nighttime video shows, and question-and-answer sessions have reached 4 million Ghanians, mostly in rural areas.

Materials have been distributed through the Ministry of Health and hundreds of NGOs, church and community groups throughout the nation. Materials produced to date include 2 million leaflets, 100,000 question-and-answer booklets, 50,000 stickers, 30,000 posters, 10,000 t-shirts, 10,000 caps, and 45 billboards nationwide.

Accoring to a UNAIDS report published in Ghana, 92% of males and 98% of females reported having seen the yellow hand (harbinger of the campaign) and readily associate it with the campaign. Between 80% and 90% of people interviewed in 5 towns throughout the nation reported having seen or heard the campaign.

Ghana Social Marketing Foundation (GSMF) sells approximately 1,000,000 condoms per month, as compared to 300,000 per month before the programme began. Programme organisers claim that there are no other changes in the national programme that could account for this increase.