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.
Time to read
1 minute
Print
a- a+
Published 23 years ago
Last updated 1 year ago
Read so far

Reach Out, Show Compassion

0 comments
The second phase of the Stop AIDS, Love Life national communication programme has been launched in Ghana. The purpose of Reach Out, Show Compassion is to cultivate attitudes of compassion, hope, and support among Christian and Muslim leaders toward Ghanians living with HIV/AIDS, and to encourage the adoption of behaviours that will help diminish the spread of the disease. The hope is that greeting those who have been diagnosed with the disease with an attitude of acceptance will constitute a form of emotional and spiritual support that is conducive to the sharing rather than the hiding of HIV status.
Communication Strategies

Muslim and Christian leaders will participate in the effort to increase the number of religious organisations and congregations and humanitarian groups engaged in HIV/AIDS issues; the Christian Council of Ghana will coordinate these groups.

For example, training programmes for 900 clergy, Imams, and other religious leaders will be held throughout Ghana. Television and radio spots will quote directly from the Bible or Koran where compassionate behaviour is demonstrated.

Development Issues

HIV/AIDS.

Key Points

During a launch of this phase of the programme in November, 2002, 23 Muslim leaders and 25 Christian leaders committed to work together with the government and other stakeholders in confronting the problems Ghana faces because of HIV/AIDS. In Ghana, approximately half a million people are HIV-positive.

Stop AIDS, Love Life is a joint effort of the Ghana Ministries of Information and Health, the Ghana Social Marketing Foundation, and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Center for Communication Programs (CCP), with support from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The programme was implemented in Febuary, 2000.

Partners

CCP, the Christian Council of Ghana; Ghana Ministries of Information and Health, and the Ghana Social Marketing Foundation. Funder: USAID.

Sources

Press release dated November 6 2002.