StarTimes, Africa’s leading pay TV operator and UNAIDS have today signed a memorandum of understanding to raise awareness about HIV in Ghana and to work together to end the AIDS epidemic.
According to the MOU, the two parties created a strategic partnership with the aim of achieving a shared objective and common goal, which is to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030.
The two will work together to increase awareness of HIV and to reduce stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV and whose lives have been affected by HIV in the country.
Through this cooperation, there will be regular dissemination of HIV/AIDS prevention information on TV programming as well as social media platforms with key messages targeting the young and adolescent viewers and mobilizing young people to learn about HIV/AIDS services in the country.
StarTimes’ Country Director, Leo Hao, speaking at a short ceremony to announce the partnership, indicated that his outfit will leverage its media power and reach to create awareness to help fight the AIDS epidemic.
“It is a great honour to join hands with the UNAIDS and the Ghana Aids Commission to show our commitment to such a course.
As a brand, we will use various platforms—including our broadcast of the Ghana Premier League—to promote the message of HIV prevention,” he noted.
On her part, the UNAIDS Country Director, Angela Trenton-Mbonde, expressed her delight at the new partnership that will push the global advocacy for ending HIV AIDS by 2030.
She said through the partnership, the two institutions have formed a strong force towards ending the epidemic.
She indicated: “I’m excited about this because StarTimes has the reach to disseminate life changing messages to the young people, who are the future generation.
Their strong social media presence is a positive medium to get people to protect themselves, check their HIV AIDS status and access treatment.”
StarTimes has agreed to provide media support during UNAIDS campaigns, notably World AIDS Day 2017 slated for December 1, 2017 and Zero Discrimination Day 2018.
StarTimes is the leading digital-TV operator in Africa, serving nearly 10 million subscribers in 30 African countries through DTT and DTH platforms with 480 authorized channels.
