Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Brothers For Life series 2

                               2 May 2012
                               SABC Radio Talk Show 2012

Background:
Brothers for Life is a national men’s campaign primarily for men aged 30 and over, but also younger men, women, political, traditional, cultural and religious leaders. The campaign is a holistic lifestyle campaign to improve the health and wellbeing of all South Africans. The issues that the campaign addresses are risks associated with the promotion of men’s and family health; gender based violence, male involvement in maternal, child and women’s health; promoting health seeking behaviours amongst men including HIV testing, medical male circumcision, TB and treatment, care and support.

The campaign is a collaborative effort led by South African National AIDS Council, the Department of Health; USAID/PEPFAR; Johns Hopkins Health and Education in South Africa, Sonke Gender Justice, UNICEF; The Interdepartmental Team on Gender Based Violence and over 100 other civil society partners working in the field of HIV prevention and health whose vision is to create a movement that draws upon the spirit of brotherhood existing amongst South African men to encourage men to positively influence each other as partners, parents and leaders.

Focus on men’s health, combination HIV prevention and community building:
Brothers For Life radio supports the NSP (2012-2016) goals of reducing new HIV and TB infections by half by 2016 through a combination of interventions.  Medical Male Circumcision (MMC) has been identified as a major health priority in the next four years by government. A national target of 4.3 million medical male circumcisions by 2015 has been set.  Brothers For Life prioritises MMC in line with the national goals but in the context of broader men’s health and HIV prevention.  Brothers For Life promotes MMC in the context of broader male health focus including key elements such as the promotion of HIV testing and counselling, the consistent use of condoms, sexual partner reduction and supporting pregnant partners.

Description of the project:
The 2012 Brothers for Life talk show is constructed on the foundations of the 2011 talk show which addressed a number of men’s health topics and established the first ever national recognition of Male Community builders through the Man of the Month programme that culminated into the Men of Year event. MMC is the key objective of this series; the Man of the Month component continues.

The primary objectives of the show is to mobilize men to take active measures to improve their and their family’s health, these include:
-       Regular HIV Counselling and Testing
-       Consistent use of condoms
-       Partner reduction
-       Regular health check-ups
-       Undertaking MMC
-       Promoting MMC in communities
-       Understanding the evolution of HIV
-       Relationships

Man of the Month:
SABC Education / SABC Radio Brothers for Life programmes mobilise communities to identify men in their communities that espouse the spirit of brotherhood in their communities.  Listeners will submit written nominations. The Man of the Month programme is NOT a competition but an awards programme recognising men who contribute to their communities.

Each radio station selects one nominated man and focuses on the contribution he has made to his community as a Brother for Life. The nominated Brothers will be featured on the Brothers for Life website and a Brother of the month will be chosen by listeners.  

Brothers For Life, SABC Radio, SABC Education in partnership with collaborating partners will host a national event to recognise the nominated men from the communities as nominated by the listeners as part of the International Men’s Day celebrations of 19 November 2012.

Proposed Man of the Month Award Prizes:
Each monthly winner per station will nominate a community project of their choice that will receive a R1000 donation from Brothers for Life and an all-expenses paid trip to Johannesburg for the Man of the Year event. The value of the prize ranges from R3000–R8000

All winners will go into the final draw in November where one lucky Man of the Month will win R10000 for his chosen community project and R5000 for himself in addition to an all-expenses paid trip to Johannesburg for the Man of the year event. The total prize value for the lucky winner ranges from R15000-R23000

Participating SABC Radio Stations:
Lesedi FM, Ukhozi FM, Umhlobo Wenene FM, Thobela FM, Motsweding FM, Ligwalagwala FM, Munghana Lonene FM, Ikwekwezi FM, Phalaphala FM, TRU FM and XK FM.

Linking with Social Mobilisation:
The campaign will work closely with MMC provision sites through Community Action Teams (CATs) that are tasked with social mobilisation for health services specifically MMC. These CAT’s will organise community events and activities such as clinic open days, door to door to activities and participatory community dialogues.

Further information:
Jo Neethling – Commissioning Editor
SABC Education Public Information and Social Development Unit
Tel: 011 714 6419 or Email: neethlingj@sabc.co.za

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