adminThe Herald, 16 January 2000
PROMINENT personalities from different spheres will come together under the project dubbed “Ray of Hope” and tour about 40 growth points to raise money through musical concerts for the formation of an HIV and Aids fund aimed at helping children orphaned by the disease.
The idea to form the fund was mooted yesterday when local artistes and representatives from different Aids organisations met in Harare yesterday at a three-day workshop.
The project, organised by Rooftop Promotions involves the launching of musical concerts where businessmen, sportsmen and artistes will compose songs that have an HIV and Aids-related theme.
In an interview with The Sunday Mail, the project co-ordinator, Maria Hatzipantelis, pointed out that the involvement of prominent personalities in the campaign would help in raising awareness, thereby reducing the rate of infection.
“People want to identify with the causes for which noble personalities stand up to fight.
“So, by involving the high profile role models, we hope to reach out to as many people as possible”, she said.
She said so far, her organisation had approached singers Oliver Mtukudzi, Busi Ncube, Andy Brown and Chiwoniso Maraire who showed great interest in the exercise.
LESSONS FOR TODAY
National hero Dr Oliver Mtukudzi played a major role in HIV and Aids awareness.
In this period of the widespread pandemic of Covid-19, raising awareness is crucial. Below are key issues to consider:
1. Awareness raising campaigns are recognised as the most efficient and effective means of communicating information especially to the general public.
2. Campaign developers are advised to pick suitable partners with well-established sectoral networks within their field of competence or area of influence so that they can act as efficient multipliers and complement each other when implementing campaign activities.
3. Another essential characteristic of effective awareness-raising campaigns on health is deliberate and careful targeting.
4. Awareness raising campaigns, which have clearly defined target groups are more effective and have results that are measurable.
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