HIV/AIDS Planning Workshop for Theological Institutions

Family Health International (FHI) in Nigeria organised and facilitated an HIV/AIDS Planning Workshop for Theological Institutions on September 10, 2003, supported by religious leaders of six different Christian denominations. The workshop was a step toward creating an HIV/AIDS seminary-training document called "The Life Line Curricula."

The document will be adapted and used as a standard feature of theological education in Nigeria. The planning process produced a 26-week, two semester series of two hour class lesson plans on HIV/AIDS.

" Participants felt that every effort should be made to urge seminaries, Bible colleges and other religious-focused schools to make the HIV/AIDS course mandatory for all their students."

A USAID funded film ‘AWAKENING' released in 2000 was reaching millions of Nigerians in Kano State with important anti-AIDS messages. Filmmakers have taken careful measure to marry script and scripture in this movie romance that entertains while it discourages risky sexual behaviour. In this highly conservative Muslim region of the country where AIDS is a growing problem, this popular film is proving an effective medium to communicate sensitive sexual information to large numbers of people in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Awakening was filmed in the bustling, dusty city of Kano in one of the 12 northern Nigerian states adhering to the strict Islamic law, Shariah, where sex between the unmarried can lead to public flogging and an adulterer can be executed. Juxtaposed upon this reality is yet another—a ‘zone of freedom' in the city where high-risk behaviour drives the rising incidence of HIV/AIDS and along with it an urgent need to confront taboo subjects regarding sex. Official government estimates of HIV prevalence at 5.8 percent among adults aged 15–49 nationwide are considered very low, especially given the reluctance of persons to be tested for HIV out of fear of rejection by their families and the searing social stigma that surrounds the disease. Sensitive to the complex religious and cultural environment in Kano and at the same time aware of Nigerians' taste for soap-operatic movies two organisations, that have been working on HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and support in focused areas of the country, decided to take a bold step.

Importantly, the film has people talking about previously unspeakable topics. With backing from the U.S. Agency for International Development, Family Health International and Program for Appropriate Technology in Health approached Kano's highly successful film industry, "Kannywood," with an idea: Produce a feature film that appeals to a youthful audience and dares to talk openly about risky sexual behaviours and the potential consequences of HIV/AIDS. Experienced in working with community-based organisations and aware of the importance of their approval and buy-in if the film was to be a success, the team went into action organising a "behaviour change committee" that included stakeholder representatives from key government, religious, and nongovernmental organisations in Kano.

The committee's work was twofold: Critique the script to ensure there were no offending or contradictory messages, and promote the film among their memberships. The preparations also included the identification and training of peer educators who were available after showings to answer questions and guide the inevitable immediate and longer-term discussions that the film generated. In just a few months, at nominal cost, Awakening has reached an audience estimated to number in the millions. Through theatres, member committee showings, television broadcasts, and black market videos, the message about AIDS and the need to practice safe sex is getting out. Importantly, the film has people talking about previously unspeakable topics. . With talk will also come new knowledge and information to help change behaviour. The film's overwhelming success has led to a sequel, Awakening 2, now in production, and the plot of Awakening 3 is just being hatched.