August 26, 2007

LSACA takes HIV messaging to grassroots (Nigeria)

In effort to check the spread of HIV and AIDS in Lagos State, stakeholders at the grassroots level, last week gathered in Lagos to deliberate on more effective way to design HIV and AIDS messages that would directly impact on Nigerians in the local communities.

No fewer than 70 people participated in the Behaviour Change Communication Training workshop for community based organizations (CBOs) and public sector workers/workshop for development of posters, handbills and training manuals for use in Lagos State organized by the Ministry of Information and Strategy, Lagos State in collaboration with Lagos State AIDS Control Agency in Lagos from August 16 through 20.

Addressing participants, Head of Project at the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA), Dr. Olusegun Ogboye explained that HIV & AIDS messages geared to check the spread of the virus which is currently in use had been designed by people who are not from the communities they were meant to serve, Hence, the misconception of the information in such posters, handbills, among others.

Ogboye said messages to check HIV transmission should be designed by the people for whom it is meant or with the contribution of the people for whom it is meant, ‘so that it will pass the message it is meant to disseminate.’ The current training is expected to expose participants to how to communicate effectively in the design of messages to HIV messages and consequently promote the adoption of positive behaviour among the people of the state.

He hinted that the objective of the workshop include to assist participants acquire the necessary skill, knowledge and confidence to carry out strategic communication campaign on HIV/AIDS in their communities and work places.

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