New infos from Population Services International (PSI)
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Zimbabwe Soap Opera Stars Get Tested
Cast and crew members of Studio 263, the most popular soap opera
in Zimbabwe, publicly received HIV counselling and testing at a
New Start Center as part of a month of community outreach. The
soap opera and the network of New Start Centers were both devel-
oped by Population Services International (PSI). The soap opera
incorporates issues related to HIV/AIDS, such as abstinence,
stigma and HIV testing, into its storylines. The popular actors
have become role models for youth and hope that will set an ex-
ample by learning their status. For more information, visit
http://www.psi.org/news/1104f.html
Phone Cards in Mali Spread Health Messages
Population Services International (PSI)/Mali and the country's
premier cell phone company have launched a one-year health com-
munication campaign that will send text messages with PSI-
created health slogans twice a month to all of its 350,000 cli-
ents free of charge. It will also print HIV and malaria preven-
tion slogans on at least one million of its least expensive pre-
paid phone cards, the one most used by low-income customers. For
more information, visit http://www.psi.org/news/1104e.html
Brochure Examines VCT Programs in Zimbabwe, Mozambique and India
A new brochure published by Population Services International
(PSI) and AIDSMark, with funding from the U.S. Agency for Inter-
national Development, takes a look at PSI's New Start, Resascer
and Saadhan voluntary HIV counselling and testing (VCT) projects
in Zimbabwe, Mozambique and India respectively. PSI implements
voluntary HIV counselling and testing programs and promotion in
more than 20 countries. With the use of rapid test kits, mobile
clinics and franchised networks, PSI is ensuring that afford-
able, high quality counselling and testing from trained profes-
sionals are available in countries affected by the HIV/AIDS epi-
demic. Since 2001, PSI VCT programs have averted over an esti-
mated 52,000 HIV/AIDS cases. For more information, download
brochure as Adobe PDF file (2 pp. 603 kB) at:
http://www.psi.org/resources/pubs/AM-VCTbrochure.pdf
African Religious Leaders Mobilize Against AIDS
A training seminar was held in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of
Congo Nov. 22-25 to prepare religious leaders from 10 French-
speaking countries of West and Central Africa to mobilize their
congregations against AIDS. Technical assistance for the semi-
nar, conducted under the auspices of the All Africa Conference
of Churches (AACC), was provided by Population Services Interna-
tional (PSI) with funding from USAID. The AACC and PSI will work
together to train church leaders to develop policies and pro-
grams regarding HIV/AIDS prevention, care, support and stigma
reduction for people living with HIV/AIDS. The event follows the
HIV/AIDS summit of heads of denominations held earlier this year
in Nairobi, Kenya, also supported by PSI and USAID. For more in-
formation, visit http://www.psi.org/news/1104a.html
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Karrie Carnes
Population Services International (PSI)
mailto:KCARNES@psi.org