IEC & Awareness
Communication continues to be one of the most important strategies in the fight against HIV/AIDS. In the absence of a vaccine or a cure, prevention is the most effective strategy for the control of HIV/AIDS. IEC is the tool of behavior change by combined use of mass media, traditional and interpersonal media having the effect of behavior change and de-stigmatizing HIV/AIDS.
In Orissa, more than 99% of the population is still uninfected. It therefore becomes imperative to continue intensive communication efforts that will not only raise awareness levels but also bring out behavioural change.
Knowledge is power. Information is a tool. Behaviour is action. Change is a process. But both information and knowledge is only a necessary but not sufficient condition for behaviour change. IEC is the tool of behavior change by combined use of mass media, traditional and interpersonal media having the effect of behavior change and de-stigmatizing HIV/AIDS.
Mass Media
Television (Video spots, talk shows, Live-phone-in Programmes, serials)
Radio (AIR, FM) (Talk shows, phone-ins, spots, sponsored programs)
Print (newspaper, magazine, Posters, Flip books, Handbills, stickers)
Tele-counseling (1800 3456 778)
Web site (www.orissasacs.nic.in)
Interpersonal Media
School (SAEP), College and university (UTA, VTA) based programs
ICTC - Integrated Counselling & Testing Centres
Listeners Programme through All India Radio
Outdoor Media
Hoarding
Wall Paintings
Kiosk
Folk Media
Street play
Magic shows
Palla / Daskathia / Ghodanachha1
Mela Festivals
Television Programmes:
Docudramas (Katha Rakhiba), interactive programme like LIVE panel discussions, Phone-In and TV awareness spots are being telecast at regular intervals in various electronic media like Doordarshan, ETV and OTV from time to time. Regional specific TV documentaries are also being produced and telecast considering local specific culture and needs.
Radio Programmes:
Radio plays an important role in any development communication as it has a high reach with minimum cost. Panel Discussions, LIVE Phone Ins, radio jingles are also being broadcast to have a direct link with listeners in the stat hook up as well as regional stations like Berhampur and Jeypore. Special Interactive Programmes Mita Janitha from AIR, Berhampur and Jeypore. Radio Jingles in respective dialects are also being broadcast during important listening chunks.
Private FM Radio channels also play a great role in influencing youth opinion and disseminating awareness on HIV/AIDS in urban areas. Special Interactive sessions with celebrities and experts on HIV/AIDS have been broadcast in Radio Chokolate, Big 92.7 FM in the state.
Print Media: News Paper, Magazines, and Souvenirs etc.:
To create awareness on HIV/AIDS in general public, OSACS publishes messages on HIV/AIDS during special events/occasions in the Souvenirs / Magazines / Weekly / Oriya dailies from time to time.
Print Media: Posters, Leaflets, Booklets, Stickers, and Danglers:
OSACS has developed Posters, Leaflets, Booklets, Exhibition Kits, Stickers and Flex Banners etc to disseminate messages on HIV/AIDS for General Population and BCC materials like Flip Charts and Penis models for the High-Risk Groups (HRG). These materials are being disseminated to all service centers like ICTCs, STD Clinics, ART Centre, Community Care Centre, Drop-in-Centre including all organizations/institutions and NGOs who are undertaking awareness activities in the state.
Mid-Media Activities:
Messages on HIV/AIDS are also being disseminated through Wall Paintings, hoardings and tin sheets. Wall paintings are being done in all the medical premises up to CHC level in the state. Permanent hoardings are also being fixed in all districts and important public places of the state.
Inter Personal Communication (IPC):
OSACS sets up stalls at various Melas, local Mahotsavs etc. to increase the reach of the awareness campaigns. Activiites include distributing IEC materials and condoms, as well as counseling to HRGs & general population. To encourage and ensure maximum participation, on-the-spot quiz competitions and prize distribution is done at a number of places.
An innovative programme i.e all Orissa Cycle Yatra has been done by Shri Pratap Chandra Padhy of Ganjam. He covered 314 Panchayat Samiti and 500 Police Stations of the state and aware people, High Risks Groups on roads, FSW sites. He started his Cycle Yatra from 01.12.2006 on the occasion of World AIDS Day 2006. OSACS has supported him by giving financial assistance for his travel.
Village/ULB level HIV/AIDS Awareness Campaign
In the previous years, OSACS covered 17 districts i.e. Koraput, Rayagada, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Ganjam, Khurda, Balasore, Kendrapara, Puri, Bhadrak, Gajapati, Malkanagiri, Nuapada, Nawarangpur, Cuttack , Jagatsingpur & Deogarh districts under Village/ULB level HIV/AIDS awareness activities, conducting 14,857 programmes covering 14,187 villages and 67 Urban Local Bodies of 188 Blocks, 3749 Gram Panchayats. Under the programme, traditional folk media i.e Street Play, Palla, Daskathia were adopted. Meetings, Rally, distribution of IEC Materials were also done. During the last and current years, Special Interactive Programmes (SIP) are being conducted by Directorate of Field Publicity(DFP) and Song & drama Division the districts of Bhadrak, Bolangir, Boudh, Gajpati, Ganjam, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Keonjhar, Malkanagiri, Mayurbhanj, Nawarangpur, Nuapada, Puri, Sambalpur, Sundargarh, , Balasore, Khurda, Jajpur & Sonepur.
Observance of Events:
Special Events like, World AIDS Day, Voluntary Blood Donation Day, International Women's Day and International Drug Abuse & Illicit Drug Trafficking Day Vigilance week, World Health Day, International Youth Day, National Youth Day etc. are being observed throughout the state in collaboration with line Govt. departments, agencies under the umbrella of OSACS.
“ ICTC Campaign” was launched on 16th of August, 2007 in the Conference Hall of SIH& FW, Bhubaneswar to raise the intake at ICTCs in the state
