The use of the picture drama developed by JOICFP, UMATI and community volunteers in Ghana and Tanzania has been an extraordinarily powerful tool in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

The emotive capacity of the pictures with narration has led to successes such as youths who had previously declined Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) going to the clinic for testing, and a woman who had previously denied care to a young orphaned relative then giving it.

Furthermore, the picture drama is an eminently suitable format for use in rural areas since it needs no electricity or equipment, and can be delivered by only one person.

On 1st December, World AIDS Day, JOICFP launched a new domestic advocacy campaign to increase the reach of the picture drama not only in Ghana and Tanzania, but also in other countries in Africa.

To date, a total of 800 sets of the picture drama have been produced, and JOICFP would like members of the Japanese public to be aware of its success, and to support expansion of its production and training for health care volunteers on its use in the field.

The picture drama in use in the field draws a large crowd
to listen to the messages on HIV/AIDS prevention and care

Advocacy avenues

JOICFP has posted details on its web site explaining what the picture drama is, and how it was developed and tested.

After WWII, traveling storytellers on bicycles would use the picture drama to entertain people all over Japan. Now, rural health workers in Ghana and Tanzania are riding around on bicycles donated from Japan delivering health messages using the picture drama format. This mirroring of activities strikes a chord in the heart of many of Japan's post-war generation, and is highlighted in advocacy material.

The appeal has also been included in JOICFP's very popular mail magazine Tarte, which has gained a readership of nearly 6,000 in nine months.

An article on the new campaign was included in the Asahi Shimbun, one of Japan's leading daily newspapers, and this is expected to generate a great deal of support from the public.