Johns Hopkins - Health and Education South Africa

WHO WE ARE

WHAT WE DO

RESEARCH

JHHESA PARTNERS

		USAID The U.S. Agency for International Development provides economic, development and humanitarian assistance worldwide. USAID programs from the American people aim to strengthen South Africa socially, politically and economically.
		PEPFAR The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) employs the most diverse prevention, treatment and care strategy in the world, with an emphasis on transparency and accountability for results.
		Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Centre for Communication Programs The various international initiatives of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Centre for Communication Programsand related information can be accessed through the following website: http://www.jhuccp.org/

LOCAL COMMUNITY

The following section highlights the essence of the focus areas and activities of each of our local partners.


		ABC Ulwazi Applied Broadcasting Centre (ABC) Ulwazi is a Radio Training and Production House based in Johannesburg, South Africa. ABC Ulwazi is a Section 21 non-governmental and non-profit organisation with 18a status. The organisational objectives are to strengthen the community radio sector in South Africa and to develop radio as a tool for development and education by: Creating dialogue and a voice within civil society through a sustainable community radio sector Make communities more information-rich by developing the community station sector into a communicational channel Produce effective programmes in the areas of health, literacy, entrepreneurship, community tourism etc. ABC Ulwazi produces educational and developmental radio programmes in a variety of formats including documentaries, features and drama, specializes in the technique of Entertainment Education (or educational "soap operas."). Body, Mind and Soul, funded by USAID through JHHESA, is a production in collaboration with CADRE dealing with HIV and AIDS. This is a 13 part 12 minute educational drama series in English, Afrikaans, Zulu and Sotho. Through USAID/PEPFAR funding, Listeners Associations (LA'S) were established in February of 2005 in consultation with 20 community radio stations and representatives from the community radio sector. The LA's are community forums with 8 to 12 representatives that meet weekly to discuss themes of the episodes and what impact it has for their communities. They often take action in their community on the issues identified and serve to maximise the reach and impact of programs broadcast at community radio stations. In the past 2 years the Body, Mind and Soul production was distributed to 60 community radio stations with 50 of these stations participating in the Listeners Associations. It is hoped that these Listeners Associations will be formalised and be sustained beyond the PEPFAR project. For more information visit ABC Ulwazi

		The Centre for AIDS Development, Research and Evaluation (CADRE) The Centre for AIDS Development, Research and Evaluation (CADRE) is committed to fast-tracking appropriate and effective responses to HIV/AIDS through informing policy and developing coherent strategic models for interventions. Specific areas of work being undertaken by CADRE include the development of HIV/AIDS policies, strategies, models and interventions ; Qualitative and quantitative epidemiological, socio-behavioural and communications surveys; Monitoring and evaluation of HIV/AIDS interventions and Communications research and interventions. For more information, please visit CADRE.

		Cell-Life Cell-Life is a Cape Town-based not-for-profit section 21 company which develops and implements open source technical systems to support the fight against HIV & AIDS. JHHESA has approached Cell-Life to help with using cell-phones as a mass media tool to reinforce HIV messaging, e.g. through smses and mixit. Other exciting projects include the development of an on-line monitoring system that will reduce time spent on collation whilst improving data quality. For more information, please visit Cell Life.

		The Community Health Media Trust (CHMT) The Community Health Media Trust (CHMT) works in five provinces (Gauteng, Kwa-Zulu Natal, Eastern, Western Cape and Free State) focusing on the dissemination of Prevention and Treatment messages. CHMT Outreach utilises audiovisual materials together with interpersonal communication to provide treatment literacy and promotes HIV prevention that empowers people to respond positively to the impact of the epidemic within their own lives, families and communities. The audio-visual material draws upon the successful Siayinqgoba Beat It television programme and the treatment literacy series produced by CHMT that are facilitated through face-to-face interaction with a number of trained Treatment Literacy and Prevention Practitioners (TLPP’s) within local health care settings, schools and community based organisations.

		Curious Pictures Curious Pictures has over 16 years experience in South African film and television production. Known for producing content that uses entertainment to educate and effect change , the Curious signature is defined by rigorous and intelligent research methods, uncompromising attention to creative detail and a commitment to telling resonant, significant stories across a range of genre’s, which includes documentary films and series, educational programming, drama series and commercials. Curious Pictures has been an industry leader on HIV/AIDS awareness drama and holds numerous local and international accolades for their continued contributions to the sector. Awards include the 2008 Prix Jeunesse International- UNICEF Special Award, 2007 Commonwealth Broadcasting Awards - UNICEF Children's Programme Award, 2007 Africomnet Media Initiative Award, numerous South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTA) and social, health and medicine awards from the US International Film and Video Festival. Their work includes four seasons of Tsha Tsha – which was also made in partnership with JHESA.
		DramAidE The overall aim of the Health Promoter’s Project is to contribute to limiting the progression of the HIV/AIDS pandemic through a reduction in new infections among university students, learners in schools and communities in South Africa. This is achieved through recruiting, training and monitoring HPs to work in established university HIV/AIDS programmes with a special focus on prevention using AB, and prevention through behaviour change beyond abstinence and/or being faithful and VCT in a way that is appropriate to the South African context. It is also achieved through training and supporting CFs based in FBOs to communicate A and AB messages effectively in schools and communities. DramAidE works in 18 tertiary institutions and neighbouring secondary schools and with 9 faith-based organisations. They use individual and group discussions, workshops, classroom instruction and live events to mobilize young men and women. Their prevention activities focus on delayed sexual debut, fidelity, cross generational sex, gender-based violence (GBV), condom negotiation skills, sexually transmitted infections (STI’s), male norms and behaviours, stigma and discrimination, sexual and reproductive health (SRH) the risks of substance and alcohol abuse and sexual behaviour. In addition to this HP's mobilizes tertiary students and pupils to undergo VCT. DramAidE caring communities Project Provides Training on Psycho and Social Support for NGOs and CBO’s and FBO are who work with OVC.
		OneVoice South Africa OneVoice South Africa is a vibrant and unique non-governmental organisation, which uses innovative and creative ways of actively involving young people in HIV and AIDS prevention. Our programme is appealing to young people because it provides them with a platform to discuss and address HIV and AIDS and sexual reproductive health issues. Our target audience is young people (13-19 years). We believe it is crucial to target these young people seeing as they are in a stage of transition from childhood to adolescence to adulthood, which is both a time of risk and opportunity for change. We are passionate about working with young people from diverse cultural backgrounds, from different geographical areas and from various settings. OneVoice South Africa was formerly known as ‘dance4life South Africa’ and is based in South Africa. Our head office is in Durban (KwaZulu-Natal) and we have regional offices in East London (Eastern Cape) and in Cape Town (Western Cape). We have experience working as a non-government organisation in HIV and AIDS prevention and acquired a wealth of experience in developing and implementing HIV and AIDS projects with and for young people. We have also established networks and developed partnerships with several national and international organisations such as the Department of Education, the CINDI Network, Mindset Health, DramAidE, STOP AIDS NOW! and many others.

		Health-e News Service Health-e News Service is a multi-lingual South African news agency that specialises in providing health-related news to television, radio stations, newspapers and magazines in South Africa. Since Health-e was established in 1999, it has been producing award-winning stories focussing on health issues that affect ordinary South Africans. We take a very broad definition of health, and include in our coverage social and socio-economic issues that have an impact on the physical and mental wellbeing of ordinary people.

		Health and Development Africa (HDA) Health and Development Africa (HDA) provides technical assistance and project management to organizations in the fields of health including HIV and AIDS. Together with JHHESA, CADRE, Soul City and Khomanani, HDA is managing the quantitative side of the Second National Communications Survey 2009. Additionally, HDA together with four JHHESA partners (Mothusimpilo, Lesedi, TVT and Lighthouse) is developing baseline surveys to benchmark the factors driving the pandemic within these communities as well as proving technical assistance with strategic information to aid partner interventions.
		The HIV/AIDS and the Media project The HIV/AIDS and the Media project based at the University of the Witwatersrand investigates the role and the impact of the news media on the HIV/AIDS pandemic in South Africa and advocates for better media coverage of HIV/AIDS. It achieves this through building the capacity of aspiring journalists in reporting on AIDS as part of its post-graduate Honours program and through engaging editors and practicing journalists on the media's response to the epidemic. For more information, please visit The HIV/AIDS and the Media project.
		Joe Public Joe Public is full service communication company that provides integrated brand solutions. It has been in operation since 1998 and has some of South Africa’s leading and most loved brand on it’s books including Clover and Anglo American. Joe Public is a company for people, by people and is made up of talented individuals who are down to earth and strive to produce excellent creative solutions. Joe Public created the strategy, the name and all of the creative elements for the Brother’s for Life campaign. Joe Public is responsible for all mass media communication of the campaign.
		LifeLine Southern Africa LifeLine is in the process of self-transformation and re-definition towards relevance as a true community-based Organisation. This involves the expansion of LifeLine's current service model to incorporate both proactive and reactive work, within dynamic community partnerships aimed at leading communities to ownership of their own emotional wellness enhancement. The Model incorporates LifeLine's learning, over the years, to utilize dialogue for sensitive issues, learning through peer interventions and the facilitation of personal growth programmes, in order to engage community members in a leadership role focused on enhancing the emotional wellness of their communities and finding workable solutions for societal challenges. LifeLine, through the support of USAID/ PEPFAR, has implemented Community Peer Educator Project in three Provinces of South Africa viz. Gauteng (Alexandra), Limpopo (21 Villages within Greater Tubatse Municipality) ) and Northern Cape ( 5 townships within Sol Plaatji Municipality). In all these areas, Community Peer Educators mobilizes community leaders, utilizes workplaces as well as other places where men and women gather such as taverns, taxi ranks, mines, farms, compounds etc farms to promote prevention messages. These messages also refer to faithfulness including intergenerational transactional sex, prevention with positives, Gender Based Violence, condom negotiation skills, stigma and discrimination, and the risks of substance and alcohol abuse and sexual behaviour. We also promote VCT through community outreach and mobilization activities targeting adult men and women within the communities.
		Lesedi Lechabile Lesedi-Lechabile Primary Care's goal is to prevent the spread of STI/HIV/AIDS among vulnerable communities in the mining towns of the Northern Free State. The Programme started as a measure to curb STI/HIV/AIDS among vulnerable mining communities ten years ago (1996) but has grown into a sustainable HIV prevention intervention. The Lesedi Project, as it was known in 1996/7, was registered as a Section 21 Company on 31 July 2002, and its name changed to "Lesedi-Lechabile Primary Care". The programme provides targeted community and facility based interventions and services that focus on women, older men and youth (in and out of school). Trained peer health educators (PHE) work in their respective target communities to disseminate Information Education and Communication (IEC) and conduct Social Change Communication (SCC) regarding STI/HIV and AIDS, using the ABCDEF prevention strategies i.e. Abstain, Be-faithful, Condomise, Disease (STI) management, Education and Family involvement. The services at the Youth Centre (Y-Centre) include life skills programme as an investment in an improved future for the youth of the District of Matjhabeng. The challenge that Lesedi-Lechabile Youth Centre is faced with is to get youth in Matjhabeng involved in the decisions that affect themwith the knowledge and undesratnding of what puts them at risk of infection. We believe that it is the youth that have to actively turn the tide against the pandemic facing them. Lesedis recently initiated men's programme targets older men in communities and in their workplaces (such as Mines). Together with Sonke Gender Justice, Lesedi men’s programme aims to engage men on an ongoing basis to encourage men to adopt presentation strategies to lower their risk of HIV infection, as well as to encourage men to access services at the Lesedi mens clinic. Lesedis High Transmission Area (HTA) project focuses on women most at risk, including women involved in sex work in the mines and surrounding communities. Professional nurses, their assistants and peer health educators render preventive, promotive and curative services in communities. Services offered include STI treatment/care, family planning and health education. Trained outreach workers attached to the Project also promote safer sex practices among their peers by encouraging consistent correct use of male or female condoms.
		Levi Strauss SA (Pty) Ltd Levi Strauss & Co. has long been a leader in the fight against HIV & AIDS... in fact, Levi Strauss & Co. were one of the first companies to recognize the pandemic as an issue in the early 1980's in San Francisco. Since then, Levi's® has donated over $50 million to HIV & AIDS related initiatives around the world, testament to the company's strong commitment to the values of integrity, courage and empathy. Levi's® Red for Life is a South African initiative that leverages the power of the brand to educate and empower the youth, sharing facts and dispelling myths around HIV and AIDS. Over the last 3 years, the programme has distributed over a 1.5 million Levi's® branded condoms. Together with NGO partner New Start, they have brought mobile HIV testing to over 196,000 people... a number that continues to grow. And together with their musician and celebrity friends, they've opened up discussions around the variety of ways there are to "Work it out for yourself".
		Matchboxology Matchboxology is a strategic ideation factory that has been working in the HIV sector for many years, helping funders, companies and brands to contribute positively to the societies in which they work. Matchboxology is the creative incubator behind Scrutinize, Footballers4Life and Levi's© Red For Life. Together with JHHESA the company develops a wide range of mass media and interpersonal communication programmes that primarily target young people. For more information, please visit Matchboxology.
		The Mindset Health Channel (MHC) Mindset Health is a comprehensive public-private alliance between Mindset Network and the National Department of Health, involving a myriad of partners: HIV/AIDS NGOs, donors, academic institutions, content media providers, technology providers and health providers. Mindset Health broadcasts and datacasts public (patient) and health care worker (HCW) educational channels respectively to users in their immediate environments of public clinics and hospitals. Its HCW Channel trains health care workers on preventative interventions, counselling & testing and provides the latest updates and information on treatment, care and support issues in 240 health facilities. Its public health channel makes use of facilitated discussions to sensitize audiences on abstinence, partner reduction, correct and consistent condom usage, substance and alcohol abuse, STI's, and SRH related issues in 358 health facilities.
		Mothusimpilo Mothusimpilo is a community-based organization (CBO) that works in mining communities in Gauteng (Carletonville). They use Peer Educators, Community facilitators and trained lay counsellors to mobilize young people that participate in their youth activities around messages relating to HIV prevention. They mobilize men and women within mining communities through their mobile services, men's clinics and other forums around messages on abstinence and where appropriate, faithfulness, multiple or concurrent partners and cross generational sex. In addition they provide VCT services in fixed and mobile sites in the surrounding communities.
		Sonke Gender Justice Sonke Gender Justice was founded in 2006 working in the areas of gender and HIV/AIDS training, policy, advocacy, and community mobilization. JHHESA and its partners draw upon the technical expertise and experience of Sonke Gender Justice in strengthening the capacity of its partners to develop and integrate programs targeting men with a particular emphasis on the reduction of multiple and concurrent partners while at the same time contributing towards the implementation of the National Men’s Campaign. For more information visit Sonke Gender Justice.
		Turn Table Trust Turntable Trust works in the rural areas of KwaZulu-Natal to work with youth 15 - 24, young people 18 – 32 and promotes Prevention and the uptake of Counseling and Testing services in Kwa Zulu Natal Midlands Districts of Kwa Sani and Ingwe. A team of Youth facilitators and VCT counselors work in the community focusing on community, workplace and schools outreach. The community VCT team works with farm labour,forestry employees and with identified community groups to educate them about HIV Prevention, Treatment adherence , and provides VCT services at their place of work or at TTT
		CCMS The Culture, Communication and Media Studies Department at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban (Howard College Campus) provides specialized development and health communication courses and opportunities for students to conduct applied research for their honours projects. Students have the opportunity to work with other JHHESA partners like Dance4Life, DramAidE and the Valley Trust assessing some of their interventions with rassroot communities within a research context. The courses also builds capacity of young South Africans in designing, implementing and monitoring strategic communication interventions aimed to bring about behavioural and social change. It further provides an excellent research environment, peer support and supervision for masters and doctoral students working in the field of development and health communication. For more information visit CCMS
		The Valley Trust (TVT) The Valley Trust (TVT) works with youth in 30 primary schools and 25 secondary schools, out-of-school youth and older men and women in rural KwaZulu-Natal. In primary schools TVT partners with educators in teaching young children about abstinence. In secondary schools it establishes HIV prevention care and support clubs, trains peer educators and supports them to develop a program for their schools and communities on messages that promote AB. TVT mobilizes community leaders, utilizes workplaces and places where adult men and women gather such as taverns and taxi ranks to promote messages relating to faithfulness including intergenerational transactional sex, prevention with positives, PEP, GBV, condom negotiation skills, male norms and behaviours, stigma and discrimination, and the risks of substance and alcohol abuse and sexual behaviour. TVT also promotes VCT through community outreach and mobilization activities targeting adult men and women at its 15 mobile and one fixed VCT site. The Valley Trust OVC works in the rural areas of KwaZulu-Natal and identifies and trains caregivers within local communities to provide direct care and support to OVC. This includes protection from abuse and exploitation and working with school officials to identify and work with OVC who are trained as Peer educators within the school settings. Peer Educators identify and work with other OVC on creating safe spaces and providing psychosocial support that that uses group recreational activities including music, drama and sports to decrease social isolation. Peer Educators also provide support to OVC for bereavement and compiling and maintaining memory boxes. For more information, visit The Valley Trust.