Program emphasizes responsible behavior to fight AIDS
The Adventist Disaster and Relief Agency (ADRA) in Malawi received a 2008 Entertainer of the Year Award for work in educational radio programs, presented by the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC). The award for “Radio Play of the Year” recognized ADRA’s radio programming addressing HIV/AIDS prevention and family and personal health.
The ADRA radio program, titled Tikuferanji—meaning “Why are we dying?” in the national language—appears on Television Malawi and airs on state-run MBC Radio. The show provides HIV/AIDS education in an effort to prevent the spread of disease by advocating responsibility and safe sexual behavior.
“Receiving this award is a great recognition of ADRA Malawi’s work in development and communication,” said Emanuel da Costa, director for ADRA Malawi.
The HIV/AIDS-related issues discussed in ADRA radio programming include the importance of blood testing, condom use, faithfulness, empowerment and human rights. The programs present stories and prevention tips in the form of plays that reflect the day-to-day lives of many Malawians, ADRA officials reported.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) reports that an estimated 900,000 people, or 12 percent of the population, live with HIV in Malawi. HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death among Malawi’s adults. More than half a million AIDS orphans currently live in Malawi, one of the highest numbers by country in the world.
ADRA Malawi also works with other civil organizations such as the National Initiative for Civic Education, the Civil Liberties Committee, the Malawi Human Rights Commission and the Human Rights Consultative Council, providing education to vulnerable groups, conducting community dialogue sessions, and providing educational materials. The topics raised at these meetings create the foundation for Tikuferanji’s plays, ADRA officials said.
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