Rotary documentary spotlights HIV/AIDS prevention and health care in Africa
Film will air on SABC ahead of Rotary Family Health Days 2014; a project that brings free health services into underserved communities in six countries over three days
EVANSTON, Ill. (March 28, 2014) - The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) will air a 24-minute documentary about a
project that brings free health care to African families on Sunday, March 30, 2014 at 9 a.m. (SABC3) and 12.30 p.m. (SABC1) in South
Africa. It will be rebroadcast in April on affiliate stations throughout Africa.
The film, produced by Rotary International, documents the tremendous burden HIV/AIDS has had on African families and
communities, and covers the journeys of two women: South African grandmother Me Maria, who is raising her two grandsons after their
parents died of AIDS; and Marion Bunch, an American woman who drew strength from personal tragedy after losing her son to AIDS to
become a global advocate and the inspiration behind the creation of Rotary Family Health Days. The project, now in its fourth
year and supported by Rotary clubs throughout Africa, delivers free basic health care - including HIV/AIDS screening and
other preventive services -- to families in underserved communities.
The documentary captures an emotional meeting between Bunch and Me Maria as the women reflect on how the disease has impacted
their lives and families and the steps they are taking to fight it.
"The tremendous burden on the families of those infected by HIV/AIDS - particularly for older people caring for their
terminally ill children and raising their grandchildren, and for children orphaned by this disease is incalculable," said Bunch.
"This is a story of people coming together to help fight this global killer and other preventable diseases."
The film will air ahead of Rotary Family Health Days 2014, which will take place in Uganda, Ghana, South Africa, Swaziland,
Lesotho and Nigeria throughout the month of April. To view the trailer, click here .
In addition to airing the documentary, SABC will broadcast messages and information across Africa on SABC television
channels and radio stations in eleven languages to promote participation in Rotary Family Health Days in April 2014.
About Rotary Family Health Days 2014
Rotary Family Health Days - an innovative international campaign providing free health care to underserved families -- launches
its fourth edition in April 2014, aiming to reach 350,000 people in Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Swaziland and Lesotho. The program
addresses Africa's most pressing health challenges, including HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and reproductive health, as well as diabetes
and hypertension. An important component is immunizing children against polio, measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases.
- South Africa, Swaziland, Lesotho: April 2-4 (160 sites)
- Ghana: April 10-12 (30 sites)
- Uganda: April 10-12 (120 sites)
- Nigeria: April 24-26 (150 sites)
About Rotary
Rotary brings together a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world's most pressing humanitarian
challenges.Rotary connects 1.2 million members of more than 34,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas. Their work
improves lives at both the local and international levels, from helping families in need in their own communities to working toward
a polio-free world. For more information, visit Rotary.org .
Note to journalists:
Video and still images on upcoming Rotary Family Health Days will be available on the Rotary Media Center .
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Contacts:
Rotary: Stéphanie Tobler, +41 44 387 714 16, stephanie.tobler@rotary.org
Rotary (Johannesburg): Sue Paget, 083-456-3923 spaget@rffa.org
SABC : Leo Manne, leo@sabc1.co.za
Source: https://www.rotary.org/en/node/123096
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