The Drum Beat 151 - Communication for Development News and Base Line

This issue pulls together recent stories and data from around the world on democracy in Iran, ICTs in Africa, progress against AIDS, desertification, cross border reporting, indigenous peoples’ use of the Internet, and much more...Links are provided for more information. Stories are featured on the home page of The CI web site and change every Tuesday and Friday.

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NEW COMMENTARY

Tarisai's Story

Tarisai is a Zimbabwean woman who is HIV positive. In this interview with Dr Sunanda Ray of SAfAIDS, she discusses how she has pulled her life back together after her husband and children died.

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COMMUNICATION FOR DEVELOPMENT NEWS

1. Democracy in Iran

March 22 2002 index on censorship. In a project called Dialogue Among Civilizations Iranian writers gathered to meet foreign authors and thinkers. Most of the Iranians agree that though censorship remains strong, recent yrs have seen steady liberalisation. Satellite dishes and western music are again allowed, the use of the Internet is growing, and bookstores are full of previously censored titles. These changes have come since reformist President Mohammad Khatami's re-election in 2001.

2. WHO Report Finds Few TB Patients Get Proper Care

March 22 2002 WHO. A strategy that can cure up to 90% of all TB cases is reaching only 27% of the world’s TB patients. The strategy known as DOTS has produced an average cure rate of 80% where it has been used properly. The WHO Report 2002: Global Tuberculosis Control also points out that while the 22 low income countries accounting for 80% of all TB cases shoulder 70% of the costs of treatment themselves, the 30% shortfall hampers full implementation of the approach.

3. Nigeria: ICT Agenda Depends on Skilled Practitioners

March 20 2002 A West African IT expert told a workshop in Nigeria that if the media is to have impact on government policy or the dissemination of ICT tools and skills it must be up-to-date on global IT trends. Dele Ajisomo, of PC World West Africa said, 'without adequate ICT research and training for media practitioners, the country's quest for advancing ICT initiatives as matters that occupy a vital position in the agenda of government and other relevant bodies will be far fetched'.

4. HIV Counselling & Testing Promote Behaviour Change

April 2002 PSI. 3 yrs ago an experiment in the social marketing of voluntary HIV counselling and testing called New Start was begun in Zimbabwe. It has become the 2nd largest effort of its kind in Africa and sees an average of 4000 clients per month in a network of 12 centres. The programme uses targeted culturally sensitive multi-media communication campaigns with television, radio, print and interpersonal methods. Services are also targeted to specific groups and offered at affordable prices.

5. Crisis Communication & the Internet

April 2002 First Monday. A new report asks does the Internet increase or decrease the risk of a communication breakdown during a crisis. It concludes that while the Internet limits access to certain kinds of information and increases the spread of rumours, hoaxes, false information, and bias, it also decentralises information sources, enables personal journalism, accelerates the spread of information, acts as a watchdog on official information, creates global archives, and establishes virtual communities.

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Call for Participation

Complete a survey seeking to find ways to respond more effectively to HIV/AIDS through the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to promote international "twinning" partnerships.

Available in English, French & Spanish

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6. 2 New Reports Examine Wireless Infrastructure in Africa

May 2 2002 iconnect. IICD has published 2 reports on wireless applications in Africa. Wireless Communication - deals with the set-up of wireless connections between computers and between local and international networks and lists resources on the Internet. Internet via Satellite in Africa - explains the basics of satellite communication, gives some technical options to use satellites and lists providers of satellite communication in Africa.

7. Regional Network to Halt Spread of Southern African Deserts

May 13 2002 UNDP Newsfront. Communities facing land degradation and the spread of deserts often find themselves isolated with no access to information and support for improving livelihoods and conserving drylands. A new initiative, Desertification 2002 - is linking communities, field practitioners, governments and scientists through a regional network countering desertification using a web site, conferences, workshops, training, and community exchanges to enhance rural livelihoods.

8. Indigenous Communities Discuss the Internet

June 6 2002 APC. Computers, Internet and specialised Web servers are increasingly part of indigenous community networks. In Mexico initiatives are being proposed by government, foundations, companies and indigenous communities to increase access to these tools. Representatives from 40 indigenous communities recently met to discuss how to ensure the technologies are used to 'feed not damage their identity and self-determination'. For information contact info@laneta.apc.org at LaNeta

9. Our Mekong: A Vision amid Globalisation

June 7 2002 IPS. A fellowship programme that allows journalists to shed the national boundaries that normally dictate coverage is looking at cross-border issues in Indochina at a time of globalisation. The fellows are 11 writers and 5 photographers from China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam working on cross-border issues. The website Our Mekong - will profile their stories and pictures.

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Share Stories/Lessons Learned in Southeast Asia

The Foundation for Media Alternative is mapping innovative Knowledge Networking/ICT4Dev/Community Networking projects/stories in Southeast Asia prior to designing a regional workshop in late 2002. They will choose the most relevant stories from around the region and will include them as input to the workshop.
Contact Anne Lim advokat77@yahoo.com

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BASE LINE

10. Africa Online

Source: Benton Communications-related Headlines 3/13/02

• # of Internet users worldwide - 513 million
• # of Internet users in Africa - 4 million
• # of Internet users in South Africa - 2 million
• Population of the African continent - 800 million

11. Children's Vaccine Supplies Shrinking

Source: UNICEF [PDF]

As new and more expensive vaccines are adopted for use in wealthy countries, the supply of old vaccines previously used for children everywhere are shrinking and their prices are going up as the number of manufacturers goes down.

In 2001 the availability of the traditional DTP combination, tuberculosis and measles vaccines dropped to the lowest levels in 10 yrs.

Between 1998 & 2001, 10 of 14 manufacturers partially or totally stopped production of traditional vaccines.

Between 2000 & 2001, the cost of vaccines for DTP rose by 15%, BCG by 27%, measles by 10% and TT by 23%.

12. Being a Mother in Niger vs. Switzerland

Source: State of the World's Mothers 2002 - Save the Children US

In Switzerland:

• Trained personnel attend virtually all births
• 78% of women use modern contraception
• 3 out of 1000 infants die before their 1st birthday

In Niger:

• Trained health personnel attend 18% of births
• 5% of women use modern contraception
• 159 infants out of 1000 die before their 1st birthday

The lifetime risk of a woman dying in childbirth is nearly 1000 times greater in Niger than in Switzerland.

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This issue compiled by Chris Morry cmorry@comminit.com

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The Drum Beat seeks to cover the full range of communication for development activities. Inclusion of an item does not imply endorsement or support by The Partners.


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