AFEW Projects  

1^st  Mass Media HIV Prevention Campaign in Moldova

Project duration: June 2004- June 2007

Donors: Swedish International Development and Cooperation Agency,  SIDA

Partners: Noah’s Ark, Ministry of Health and Social Protection, UNAIDS, UNICEF, Soros Foundation Moldova, World Bank, governmental and non- governmental organizations working in HIV/AIDS field.

Country and regions: National coverage of the Republic of Moldova (special activities in pilot regions: Chisinau, Tiraspol, Balti, Edinet, Comrat).

Background:

Communication is a component of the overall effort of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection and healthcare institutions to offer the population both services (preventive, medical, social, and psychological) and commodities (e.g., drugs, tests, condoms, needles and syringes) to fight HIV/AIDS and STIs: so that persons can reduce their level of risk or change their behavior (understand basic facts about HIV and AIDS, adopt key attitudes, learn a set of skills and be given access to appropriate products and services).  Statistical data for the past several years shows a change in the ways the infection is transmitted, from a predominant transmission among injecting drug users to an increase in the rate of sexual transmission. Sexual transmission of HIV (total number of diagnosed persons) has increased from 20% in 2001 to 55,36% in 2004. Accessibility to counseling and testing of pregnant women in 2004 has considerably increased the number of pregnant women diagnosed with HIV/AIDS – 35. This data is alarming. The HIV infection is on the verge of spreading from small groups into the general population. At this moment it is crucial to work together with all social groups. The Ministry of Health and Social Protection recognizes that there are successful experiences implemented in other countries using communication to reduce the number of infections, raise societal awareness of this issue and adapt safe behaviors.

Target audience: young people aged between 15 and 29

Overall goal:

To contribute to the decrease of HIV/AIDS epidemic in Moldova    

Main specific objectives:

To implement the unified national communication strategy, by creating a multi-sectoral platform  and by implementing the media campaign regarding safe sexual relations and destigmatization of people living with HIV/AIDS according to international standards.