The Communication Initiative
Development action with informed and engaged societies
The Communication Initiative
After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future.
 
Co-founder Victoria Martin is pleased to see this work continue under Wits' leadership. Victoria knows that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction.
 
We honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades. Meanwhile, La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA) continues independently at cila.comminitcila.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
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Empowering Queen Mothers and Magajias in the Fight Against HIV/AID

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Summary

Introduction

"In July 2000, under the USAID funded ENABLE project, CEDPA/Ghana, in partnership with the YWCA, embarked on a programmE with Queen Mothers and Magajias to addressthe impact of HIV/AIDS in their communities. The main purpose of the Queen Mother Initiative was to sensitise Queen Mothers and Magajias on the issue of HIV/AIDS,empower them to work with their communities to reduce stigmas surrounding PLWHA, and provide HIV/AIDS prevention messages.


Ghana, unlike many other African countries has a relatively low prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS (3.6%), with an estimated 350,000 adults living with HIV/AIDS in 2000.(Ghana MOH, UNAIDS). However, a disturbing trend has been observed, that the disease in the general population is showing no signs of stabilisation, and two out ofevery three reported cases of HIV in Ghana occur among females.


One reason for the higher rates among females appears to be the migration of Ghanaian female sex workersto and from neighboring countries, particularly Ivory Coast and Togo, and the general break down of socio-cultural attitudes and values, especially those that pertain to premarital sex. Many young people adhere to the Ghanaian cherished cultural value of abstinence from pre-marital sexual only in principle.


Because of this context, CEDPA decided to work with women traditional leaders, Queen Mothers and Magajias in the fight against HIV/AIDS. As community leaders theycommand much respect and have the power to mobilise, educate and inform youth and other community women about HIV/AIDS as well as other reproductive health issues.


Training in leadership skills and HIV/AIDS was given to the female leaders. This paper describes the activities of the Queen Mothers and Magajias following the Women's Leadership Training to establish the extent to which they have followed their action plans, and to document the accomplishments they made."


Click here to read the full report in PDF format


Source: Development CEDPA