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 cila.comminitcila.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
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Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund Palliative Care Initiative - East and Southern Africa

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As its 4th anniversary approaches, The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund launches an initiative to bring palliative care to people facing unnecessarily painful death in many of the world's poorest countries. Palliative care is a holistic approach to the care of people for whom cure is not possible and includes support for their relatives. More than 50 million people die each year around the world. Four out of every five of these deaths occur in the developing world and many of these people will endure intense and unnecessary suffering and pain.
Communication Strategies

Through a five-year programme of grants and advocacy, The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund aims to ignite the debate about what should be done to improve the quality of life for people who are approaching death. As well as a £5 million grants programme, the Fund will use its influence and global profile to help unlock resources, political commitment and support for these people who are currently ignored by existing health service provision.
Development Issues

Health, HIV/AIDS.
Key Points

Proper pain and symptom control can relieve much of the suffering caused by diseases like HIV/AIDS and cancer. Despite the rise in cancer in the developing world and the overwhelming spread of HIV/AIDS, governments have been slow to support the development of comprehensive palliative care services. Uganda is the only country in sub-Saharan Africa (as of August 2001) to include palliative care in its national health policy.

The Fund will focus its initial efforts on East and Southern Africa. For the millions of people with HIV/AIDS and other life-limiting diseases in this region there are few options. Hospitals are overflowing with patients and people with chronic disease are often discharged without follow-up support. While many non government organisations (NGOs) are doing their best to provide packages of home-based care, there is a desperate need for more clinical staff trained in palliative care techniques and better access to drugs for pain relief and symptom control.
Sources

Press Release August 28 2001.