During a visit to Japan, Dr. Fwasa Singogo, Executive Director, and Albertina Muloongo, Program Officer, Planned Parenthood Association of Zambia (PPAZ), and Nicolina Mtatifikolo, Community-Based Service Manager, Family Planning Association of Tanzania (UMATI) took part in a special lecture at JOICFP on 12th May.

(from left) Mtatifikolo, Muloongo, and Singogo at JOICFP

The lecture meeting, organized by JOICFP, aimed to inform NGOs, health professionals, media representatives, academics and other interested parties of the HIV/AIDS situation in Africa, and especially how the JOICFP/UMATI picture drama, "The Endless Goodbye" is being used to combat the pandemic. Representatives of the Foundation for International Development and Relief (FIDR), who supported the implementation of ATOMM in Zambia, and NYK, the shipping line that assists JOICFP to deliver reconditioned bicycles around the world to community-based SRH project sites, also attended.

After a welcome speech by Sumie Ishii, Executive Director, JOICFP, Nobuhiro Kadoi, Senior Program Officer, JOICFP, spoke about JOICFP's activities to integrate reproductive health with HIV/AIDS activities in Africa, using the concept of HIV/AIDS Total Management Model (ATOMM).

He was followed by Dr. Singogo who explained PPAZ's activities, and how stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS inhibited individuals from going for voluntary testing and counseling (VCT). PPAZ, he said, addressed this by increasing information dissemination on HIV/AIDS, promoting confidential VCT, and working to mainstream HIV/AIDS activities into all areas.

Muloongo then spoke on how ATOMM was being implemented by PPAZ within the framework of the community-operated reproductive health (CoRH) project, and how community representatives at all levels and local governments had been empowered to combat HIV/AIDS. She explained that the picture drama, recently introduced in Zambia, was expected to have a strong impact, stimulating awareness and discussion, as well as use of VCT services.

The picture drama has been used since the end of 2003 in Tanzania, and Mtatifikolo told the meeting how it had been developed with community participation, and volunteers trained to effectively use it. She said that the picture drama was easy to use, could be used anywhere, had a strong emotional impact, encouraged the use of VCT services, including among those planning to marry, and was responsible for the spread of correct information on HIV/AIDS, leading to a decline of stigma.

Kadoi demonstrates the picture drama
to the participants while the narrator tells the story

Feedback from the participants was positive, with some saying they wished to buy the picture drama for use in Japan for international education.