Health action with informed and engaged societies
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.
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It's Time to Live

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'It's Time to Live' is a television talk show initiated by Internews, UNAIDS and several other organisations that is designed to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS in Russia. It is hosted by popular television presenters and features local authorities, organisations fighting HIV/AIDS, doctors, teachers, journalists, and people living with HIV.
Communication Strategies
Launched on May 15 2005, the 'It’s Time to Live' television talk show aims to get people involved in thinking about the issues of HIV/AIDS by providing reliable information on the epidemic’s development and encouraging open discussion and live debate. Russian and international experts will take part in the programmes and the role of the presenters is to facilitate dialogue between guests in the studio and the audience. Guests will include doctors, teachers, journalists, government representatives and people living with HIV.

Regional versions of the talk show also examine the specific problems experienced in the regions participating in the project and are designed to create an open forum for the discussion of HIV/AIDS in those areas.

The television talk show is an extension of television marathons shown annually on Russia’s Channel One. The television talk show is an extension of the television marathon shown on Russia’s Channel One on December 1, 2004 World AIDS Day. This television marathon, hosted by Russian presenters Vladimir Pozner and Tutta Larsen, combined live national talk show and a music concert with top Russian pop groups and artists. According to Internews, the show had 25 million viewers in Russia alone (Channel One can also be seen in many neighboring countries) and TV critics called it the "best program of the month."
Development Issues
HIV/AIDS
Key Points
According to the Internews website, official statistics show over 300,000 Russians living with HIV; experts estimate the true number to be 3-4 times higher. More than 80% of those infected are under 30 years old. The World Bank estimates that if unchecked, the epidemic could reduce the workforce in Russia by 11% by the year 2020.
Partners

Internews, UNAIDS, UNDP, the European Commission, Focus-Media, AIDS Foundation East-West (AFEW), the Centre for Social Development and Information and the Community of People Living with HIV/AIDS.

Sources