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Health action with informed and engaged societies
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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.
 
We honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades. Meanwhile, La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA) continues independently at lainiciativadecomunicacion.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
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Published 25 years ago
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HIV/AIDS- Afro-Brazilians - Brazil

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Religious leaders and traditional healers were consulted to determine what was being done about HIV/AIDS in their areas and to implement strategies to communicate to the people the dangers of specific religious ceremonies, and other modes of contracting HIV. Religious-cultural traditions were used as the medium for understanding new practices and concepts.
Communication Strategies

Three Candomble stories in comic strip form were made by a famous creator of art. 50,000 were distributed to priests and priestesses; 200,000 to their followers. Strong community relationships were formed with the leaders and healers. Traditional healers keep boxes of condoms to give to people. Religious leaders sell clean razor blades at the rituals.
Development Issues

HIV/AIDS
Key Points

Many rituals performed by the indigenous people involve blood, and this can cause the spread of HIV/AIDS. There were many problems faced by the organization, such as widespread, prejudiced beliefs that many religious leaders were homosexual, and the lack of public channels of expression causing suspicion about the motives of private ceremonies.
Partners



Religious Support Against AIDS (ARCA), World Council of Churches

Sources

Development Communication Report, Sacred Messages for AIDS Prevention. Jane Galvao, No. 74 1991/3.