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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.
 
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HIV/AIDS Telephone Hotline System - South Africa

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South Africa has launched a telephone hotline system to provide the most up-to-date and accurate information about HIV/AIDS. Callers South Africa concerned about such basic questions as how the virus is transmitted, where to get tested, and how effective condoms are in preventing HIV/AIDS now have the answers at their fingertips.
Communication Strategies

A modern telephone hotline system with a team of 68 specially trained counselors work around the clock to provide information and counseling at no cost in 11 different languages.
Development Issues

HIV/AIDS
Key Points

At a national event on July 30 2001 in Johannesburg, South Africa's Minister of Health, Dr. Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, launched the updated toll-free hotline, which is capable of handling up to 200,000 calls each month. President Thabo Mbeki's personal advisor on HIV/AIDS, members of Parliament, and other government officials also attended the launch. Most of the calls to the South African hotline come from young adults, who are most at risk for contracting the AIDS virus. According to Pamilla Mudhray, manager for the AIDS Helpline, 39 percent of the callers are 15 to 19 and 45 percent are 20 to 29. Men are also more likely to call than women; 60 percent of the callers are male. The South Africa AIDS Helpline phone number is 27-11-0800-012-322.

Hard hit by the AIDS epidemic, South Africa has an estimated 4.7 million people infected with the HIV virus and has more people living with AIDS than any other country in the world. Because of the rapid spread of the virus, officials recognized the crucial need for a centralized and streamlined way to deliver current and accurate AIDS information and plans were made to upgrade the existing AIDS Helpline. Call volume now averages about 20,000 calls a month with most callers seeking information about HIV/AIDS testing, disease transmission, and condoms.
Partners



Both countries sought technical assistance from The Johns Hopkins University Center for Communication Programmes (JHU/CCP), with the support of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), in setting up the hotlines. The Academy for Educational Development (AED) also played a key role by training counselors for both hotlines.


The new system was made possible through a successful partnership between the South African government, a local NGO known as LifeLine, and JHU/CCP.

Sources

Press Release from JHU/CCP.