Overview
The EXCELERATE and ISHARE [3] projects build off the well-established CDC-funded ARC (AIDS Resource Center) project which ran in Ethiopia from 2002 to 2011. While some of the activities initiated during ARC are continued through EXCELERATE and ISHARE, the new projects also branch off to include several innovative and exciting activities. The goal of EXCELERATE and ISHARE is to contribute to reducing new HIV infections and AIDS related morbidity and to mitigate its impact in Ethiopia.
EXCELERATE (Expanded Communication Efforts to Lead and Reverse AIDS Trends in Ethiopia) is a 5-year, CDC-funded project that was launched in 2010. JHU∙CCP uses five key approaches under EXCELERATE:
- Increase the use and improve the quality of anti-retroviral therapy (ART) services;
- Reduce stigma and discrimination against PLHIVs;
- Improve young people’s ability to avoid HIV infection;
- Strengthen the role of RARCs in providing social and behavioral change communication (S/BCC) information and services; and
- Provide technical assistance for strategic BCC.
Key activities include: the ART Communication Initiative; Betengna Radio Diaries, Dagu Youth Media Program, RARC (Regional AIDS Resource Center) expansion and outreach activities; MARCH project; capacity building for Jimma University.
Accomplishments
- Dagu Youth Media Program, a radio program exploring sexuality, life skills and other HIV/AIDS-related issues that is broadcast in schools as well as on city-wide FM stations to reach out-of-school youth and parents, was launched in 2008 and underwent a redesign in 2011. The program’s new format and content is meant to be more responsive to young people’s needs through including components such as Art corner, Parent’s corner, Social media, and Dagu Silaque.
- ARC conducted outreach programs utilizing communication materials, including a series of videos produced by the BCC team on the negative consequences of alcohol abuse, multiple concurrent partnerships (MCP) and the importance of effective and consistent condom use for HIV prevention, to athletes and their supporters who came to the Adama for the 3rd All Ethiopian games. Over 4,000 people were reached at this widely attended event.
- Betengna, a successful radio program featuring radio diaries of individuals living with HIV and AIDS, will expand its reach through establishing listener discussion groups in regional ARCs throughout the country. These listener discussion groups allow in-depth discussions and further learning opportunities about testing and treatment services available as well as some of the health and social issues of living with HIV that are brought to light by the diarists.
- The Betengna Radio Diaries reaches approximately 89% of the population through over 100 broadcasts in 3 languages across 5 regions. The programs are also accessed through the Betengna website including by the Ethiopian Diaspora for even wider dissemination.
- Two professors from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health associated with CCP taught courses in the College of Public Health and Medical Science, Department of Health Education and Behavioral Science at Jimma University in Jimma, Ethiopia. The courses are Theories and Models of Behavior Change and Qualitative Research Methods. The program seeks to build capacity at Jimma University in behavior change research and pedagogy.
