Active Prevention and Transformative Communication (PACT)

Overview

The Prévention Active et Communication Transformatrice (Active Prevention and Transformative Communication) Program (PACT) is a two-year program (September 2011-September 2013) implemented by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Center for Communication Programs (JHU•CCP) in partnership with USAID, PEPFAR and local partners in Côte d’Ivoire.

The overall goal of the project is to reduce HIV infections, support national programs to improve the quality of care and treatment services and improve lives of people living with or affected by HIV/AIDS using PEPFAR resources. PACT is designing social and behavioral communication (SBC) programs for selected audiences and building the capacity of the Ministry of Health and AIDS and nongovernmental partners to develop and implement SBC interventions.

Accomplishments

Accomplishments as the project enters its second year include:

Social and Behavioral Communication (SBC)

• The Super Go (Super Girl) program to reach out-of-school girls aged 12 to 19 has reached 9,288 girls. Evaluation results show that the program resulted in considerable improvements in HIV-related knowledge and perceived self-efficacy among the participants.
• The Sports for Life© program for boys and girls aged 12 to 19 and their parents/guardians has involved 3,904 girls and 4,895 boys in various community activities. Ownership of the program is being progressively transferred to partner NGOs and town councils. As part of this plan for orderly devolution, managers, treasurers and accountants received training in NGO management, project monitoring and evaluation, and financial management. The parent-child communication workshops have reached 558 women and 335 men.
• JHU∙CCP has provided technical support, including materials development and training, to national programs to promote HIV services, assist orphans and vulnerable children, and promote blood donation and blood safety.
• JHU∙CCP worked with the US Embassy to organize an essay and song lyrics contest with the theme “Zero new HIV infections.” The winning lyrics were put to music and are in the process of being recorded by nationally famous reggae artist Tiken Jah Fakoly.
• The African TransformationTM workshops addressing social and gender norms that contribute to the spread of HIV have reached 893 young women and 896 young men aged 18 to 30. A new male profile on gender-based violence has been added to the program.

Capacity Building

• JHU∙CCP supported the re-launch of the AIDS information hotline InfoSIDA with advocacy, training, equipment and a publicity campaign.
• JHU∙CCP facilitated the second national Leadership in Strategic Health Communication course in collaboration with faculty from the Université Houphouët Boigny. A memorandum of understanding is being developed to institutionalize the course within the university.
• A special window for an Ivory Coast specific toolkit related to HIV and AIDS prevention and care has been created within the Knowledge for Health portal. This toolkit has been promoted through social media such as Twitter and Facebook. Social media is also used to attract and interact with project audiences. Link to toolkit: http://www.k4health.org/toolkits/hiv-cotedivoire.