Since 2003, the Andrew Lees Trust (ALT) has collaborated with the National HIV AIDS Awareness Committee of Madagascar (Commite Nationale Lutte contre le SIDA - CNLS) to deliver HIV information via radio to rural populations in southern Madagascar. ALT also distributed 2,000 radios for the CNLS across the Provinces of Toliara and Fianarantsoa, setting up dedicated listening groups to receive national broadcasts about HIV/AIDS as well as locally produced radio programmes on the subject. According to the organisers, explaining complex medical issues to an illiterate audience is challenging, particularly in this region where traditional beliefs attribute illnesses to spirit possession.

An evaluation of the project found that radio is the most important source of information on HIV/AIDS in Madagascar. During the evaluation, radio was mentioned by 89% of the respondents as such. Amongst the urban population, 96% mention radio, in rural areas the percentage is slightly lower at 82%. In addition, 71% of the participants mentioned having heard a radio programme on HIV/AIDS made by Project Radio.

Many respondents indicated that hearing about HIV and AIDS on the radio and in public discussions has led them to believe in its existence.

The evaluation also found that the programme increased knowledge of three modes of transmission of HIV. Of those surveyed, 75% mentioned both sexual relations and blood, 96% mentioned sexual relations, and 78% mentioned blood as methods of transmission. Only 38% mentioned mother to child transmission. The survey also found that some false beliefs on transmission continue to be held. The most frequent being transmission by mosquitoes (15%), and some people also still feared transmission through water, or through sharing of clothes.


The evaluation also indicated sound knowledge of methods of prevention. Of the respondents, 77% mentioned both condoms and being faithful, 95% mentioned condoms, 81% being faithful, and only 28% abstinence as methods of prevention.

The evaluation suggests that programmes on stigma and discrimination have a major impact on populations’ attitudes towards people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA). It states that people’s first reaction is to isolate and make public the identity of PLWHA, as the community is considered more important than individuals. According to the organisers, after hearing a programme on stigma and discrimination, attitudes changed very fast. Listeners agreed with the messages, wanted to feed, help, and cheer up PLWHA (though some still maintain a desire for distance based on misconceptions on transmission).