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Published on The Communication Initiative Network (http://www.comminit.com)

The Puppet has a Cough


Programme Summary: 
The Puppet has a Cough is a puppet show project meant to educate Ethiopians about HIV/AIDS. The puppeteers who launched this project are part of the HIV/AIDS Education Team at the Counselling and Social Services Center of the Medical Missionaries of Mary (MMM) in Ethiopia.
Communication Strategies: 

Utilising drama, music, video and other techniques, the puppeteers in this project perform for and work with students to pass on information about preventing HIV/AIDS and how to care for people with HIV/AIDS. Through the performances the puppets teach students how important it is to break down the social stigma of HIV/AIDS and they discuss how everybody in the community has a part to play in combating the epidemic.

“The patient puppet has a cough. The doctor puppet quickly finds out that there's a lot more to it than a plain old cough. The dialogue between the two touches on all the issues related to HIV /AIDS. Soon, a lively questions and answers session is under way, with a very inter-active audience.”

The puppeteers on the project say the personality of the puppets is important for the interaction with the audience. A lion takes on the role of the devastating virus that attacks the human immune system. On the other hand, the gentle zebra is the wise one, who takes a positive outlook and gives useful advice.

Development Issues: 

HIV/AIDS.

Partner Text: 

Medical Missionaries of Mary.

Contact Info: 
Source: 

MMM website on June 9 2005.


Source URL:
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/133450