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A Drive to End Discrimination — Cross-Border Caravan 2005 DVD Available Soon

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A 30-minute documentary showcasing the ground-breaking "Cross-Border Caravan against Stigma and Discrimination," produced with support from the USAID-funded Action for West Africa Region (AWARE) HIV/AIDS project is now available. AWARE is implemented by Family Health International and supported by Constella Futures and Population Services International.

The month-long caravan, which took place in November and December 2005, comprised of a six-country HIV awareness campaign with the main aim of reducing stigma and discrimination towards people living with HIV and AIDS. Organized by the Regional Coordination of Religious Networks (CRRR), this is the first time an activity of such scale has taken place in this region of Africa, and where religious leaders from both Muslim and Christian faiths have reached out to change attitudes towards HIV/AIDS.

Starting in Nouakchott, Mauritania, the caravan of five 4WD vehicles included religious leaders, people living with HIV, journalists, a medical doctor, technical advisers, and drivers. The convoy stopped off at 26 towns along the 6,000-kilometer route that journeyed through Mauritania, Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Nigeria.

In each town, the group held advocacy workshops encouraging religious leaders to direct the fight against stigma and discrimination. They also conducted large-scale HIV desensitization sessions for local communities. In total, the caravan’s message of tolerance and support reached 1,500 religious leaders through the workshops, more than 30,000 people through awareness campaigns and entertainment, and countless more through region-wide media coverage.

"As religious leaders, the synergy of the caravan has not only redoubled our spirit of collaboration, but it has also increased our respective expectations of a more effective fight against HIV/AIDS," commented Imam Sabi Isah, a religious leader from Nigeria who was involved in the caravan.

"Several dignitaries and religious leaders, including the first person to publicly declare his HIV status in Mauritania, were at the opening ceremony of the Cross-Border Caravan 2005 in Nouakchott," said Martin Laourou, Constella Futures’ Senior Technical Adviser for the AWARE-HIV/AIDS project, explaining why he thought the caravan was such a success. "Everyone involved supported each other and communicated a strong message against stigma across all countries visited."

A film crew followed the caravan throughout its incredible journey and produced a documentary covering its successes. The film was distributed to national television stations in 18 countries across the West and Central African regions.

"The caravan was an outstanding example of communication in action to reduce stigma and discrimination and enhance regional and community responses to HIV and AIDS," concluded Farley Cleghorn, Director of Constella Futures’ Center for HIV/AIDS. "The DVD will help to reinforce those messages and continue to encourage ongoing support for people living with HIV and AIDS in the West Africa region."