AIDS ToughTalk - Global
In January 2004, the Young Africans Welfare Association (YAWA) Zambia and the USA-based World Talk Radio launched a global online AIDS talk radio programme in an effort to:
This project uses radio - broadcast through the Internet - to provide information and enable equal opportunity to engage in debate. AIDS ToughTalk is an open global radio show presented as an HIV and AIDS weekly debate forum on the World Talk Radio website. The programme features world and regional experts, including political and religious leaders, celebrities and academics, traditional healers and herbalists, community leaders, children and young people, and men and women as key advocates of change across many areas of interest. It is set to air on Fridays from 11am to 12pm (Pacific Time - USA). Callers may email the show host prior to, during, or following each programme; toll-free and paid international live show phone-in telephone numbers are provided so that people might engage in dialogue about the issues raised in the programmes.
AIDS ToughTalk covers HIV/AIDS-related questions, comments, answers, and issues that may have been absent from official global debate for action - stigma and discrimination, for example. The rationale of the programme is to establish and institutionalise debate on HIV/AIDS, keeping track of global developments and providing effective public information - including monitoring and evaluation of all related activities (such as the supply and use of antiretroviral drugs, and the status of vaccine development efforts). The talk show is meant to accord citizens worldwide with a global platform on which to share past and present experiences, air their views, and take action against HIV/AIDS, thereby hopefully developing fresh approaches to the problem. Although experts host the show, it is intended to be a forum to bring diverse voices to the table.
- offer a venue for debate of HIV/AIDS issues
- act as a platform and link for ongoing announcement of various developments in the fight against HIV/AIDS
- encourage exchange of information and experiences among people infected and affected by HIV and AIDS
- foster a network of campaigners on related issues
- make HIV/AIDS a daily media-driven issue, based on ordinary people's talk and action
- provide access to preventative HIV/AIDS information and education
- create a people-driven monitoring and evaluation platform for speaking about and acting on critical developments.
This project uses radio - broadcast through the Internet - to provide information and enable equal opportunity to engage in debate. AIDS ToughTalk is an open global radio show presented as an HIV and AIDS weekly debate forum on the World Talk Radio website. The programme features world and regional experts, including political and religious leaders, celebrities and academics, traditional healers and herbalists, community leaders, children and young people, and men and women as key advocates of change across many areas of interest. It is set to air on Fridays from 11am to 12pm (Pacific Time - USA). Callers may email the show host prior to, during, or following each programme; toll-free and paid international live show phone-in telephone numbers are provided so that people might engage in dialogue about the issues raised in the programmes.
AIDS ToughTalk covers HIV/AIDS-related questions, comments, answers, and issues that may have been absent from official global debate for action - stigma and discrimination, for example. The rationale of the programme is to establish and institutionalise debate on HIV/AIDS, keeping track of global developments and providing effective public information - including monitoring and evaluation of all related activities (such as the supply and use of antiretroviral drugs, and the status of vaccine development efforts). The talk show is meant to accord citizens worldwide with a global platform on which to share past and present experiences, air their views, and take action against HIV/AIDS, thereby hopefully developing fresh approaches to the problem. Although experts host the show, it is intended to be a forum to bring diverse voices to the table.
Development Issues
HIV/AIDS.
Key Points
Organisers cite the estimate that over 50 million people are infected with the HIV/AIDS worldwide. They note that the vast majority of those living with HIV/AIDS are in developing countries, particularly southern Africa. In light of this picture, they say, a global debate about this issue - including its past, present, and future - is timely.
Partners
YAWA, World Talk Radio.
Sources
Letter sent from Aalgernon Susiku Sikwiindi Situla to The Communication Initiative on January 3 2004; and Global AIDS ToughTalk page on the World Talk Radio site.
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