On January 11, the Capacity Project participated in a regional health education event in Teji, Ethiopia. More than 2,000 people attended the day-long event.

The opening ceremony included the BBC’s recent radio program about the Capacity Project’s prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) activities, highlighting the successful Mothers’ Support Groups. The Project provided information from a tent decorated with community message banners, and actors performed 15-minute dramas on the importance of PMTCT, the involvement of health workers and the value of engaging men.

Reporters interviewed three Capacity Project staff about the Project’s PMTCT and community mobilization activities. The interviews aired that night on Ethiopia National Television during the Oromiffa news, and again on January 22 during the Keyaktachaw program in Amharic. Currently the Project is expanding PMTCT services, strengthening the Mothers’ Support Groups and conducting training for pediatric HIV/AIDS linkages and referral.

February 2009