STRADCOM WRAPPS ITS ACTIVITIES IN TANZANIA

By Nasser Kigwangallah

THE government has commended Strategic Radio Communication for Development (STRADCOM), for making in roads in sexual behaviour change across Tanzania for young boys and girls of reproductive age.

The remarks were made in Dar es Salaam yesterday by Dr. Gilbert Mliga, the Human Resources director at the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare at a function to officially wind up the project.

He said a five-year project, funded by USAID/US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), STRADCOM supported efforts of the Tanzanian Government’s fight against HIV/AIDS by providing high quality radio programming to the public.

Led by CCP, in partnership with Media for Development International (MFDI), STRADCOM combined best practices and innovative radio programming on HIV/AIDS while developing collaborative relationships with government agencies, other USG PEPFAR partners, and international and local nongovernmental organizations (Noose) working in HIV/AIDS in Tanzania.

He said Wahapahapa (the people from right here): a 30-minute weekly radio serial drama used music and drama to model behaviour change along four major HIV/AIDS related story lines aired on ten radio stations starting its third annual season.

“That was indeed an effective tool of reaching the message to a large population of the people in the country,” he said.

The programme also used co-producing weekly radio magazine programs using diaries of people living with AIDS, news items, expert interviews, phone in and text messages and provided capacity building and training to 15 radio stations across the country.

In collaboration with prevention partners producing public service announcements as a component of campaigns addressing abstinence, faithfulness, condoms and voluntary counseling and testing.

Leading the development of a highly acclaimed campaign on discouraging cross-generational sex by using a fictitious cartoon character called “Fataki” or “explosion”. Other methods used are providing video infomercials on treatment for Counseling and Treatment Center waiting rooms.

The programme also roduced and distributed through the public and private sectors eight music videos on various HIV/AIDS BCC messages including testing, PMTCT, adult child communication and faithfulness. Songs have appeared on top ten music charts.

Produced and distributed in partnership with other prevention partners a multi-media discussion kit addressing issues such as cross generational sex, faithfulness, alcohol misuse, adult child communication, stigma and discrimination.

Fataki is a fictional Tanzanian sugar daddy. His stories are known by the masses. But this on-air phenomenon is not meant to merely entertain.

Fataki is part of an aptly named Fataki campaign - a campaign supported by the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) that works to lower the spread of HIV/AIDS by rallying communities around Tanzania to put an end to harmful cross-generational sex.

In each story played on air, Fataki repeatedly preys on young women offering them money, gifts and promises for sex. But with each plot, Fataki is unexpectedly thwarted by the young girl's family, friends and her community members.
First tested on the Morogoro Region's radio waves, many have been quick to call the Fataki a success.
The campaign's findings in Morogoro show why. By the end of Fataki's pilot run in the region, 88 percent of Morogoro's adult residents said that, as a result of Fataki, they felt they could now do something to help solve the problem of cross-generational sex. Community members said that by ridiculing Fataki's behavior, they were able to develop language they could use to help actively intervene in potential cross-generational sex situations. Forty-four percent of Morogoro adults also said they now call sugar daddies "Fataki," adding to the behavioral change the campaign seeks to accomplish.
"When we have evidence of this, community leaders need to take action. We have used Fataki as an example in our community meetings," Deo Ngwanansabi, the STRADCOM Chief Party said.



He added that since its initial success in Morogoro, the campaign has spread to neighboring regions in Tanzania.
As of November 2008, Fataki spots regularly broadcasted on 15 radio stations across Tanzania.
Fataki is part of PEPFAR Tanzania's comprehensive prevention portfolio which supports behavior change and promotes positive male and social engagement in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
On his part, Seth Greenberg, the USAID senior advisor on HIV prevention said the day was important as STRADCOM wrapped up its five year activities in Tanzania.
“Certainly the programme has left a significant mark in the history of Tanzania and it will always be remembered,” he said.
He added that what makes the programme so important is that its footprint does not end by the closure of its activities, but rather it will continue to be remembered for many years to come.