U.S. NATIONAL COMMISSION ON LIBRARIES AND INFORMATION SCIENCE

THE ROLE OF LIBRARIES IN HIV/AIDS INFORMATION 

DISSEMINATION IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

SEPTEMBER 2005

NCLIS 

_______________________________________________________ U.S. NATIONAL COMMISSION ON LIBRARIES AND INFORMATION SCIENCE

1800 M STREET, NW, SUITE 350, NORTH TOWER, WASHINGTON, DC 20036-5841
U.S. NATIONAL COMMISSION ON LIBRARIES AND INFORMATION SCIENCE

1800 M STREET, NW, SUITE 350, NORTH TOWER, WASHINGTON, DC 20036-5841

Telephone: 202-606-9200; Fax: 202-606-9203; http://www.nclis.gov

The National Commission on Libraries and Information Science is a permanent, 

independent agency of the federal government, established in 1970 with the enactment of 

Public Law 91-345. The Commission is charged with: 

 Advising the President and the Congress on the implementation of policy 

 Conducting studies, surveys, and analyses of the library and informational needs 

of the nation 

 Appraising the adequacies and deficiencies of current library and information 

resources and services 

 Developing overall plans for meeting national library and informational needs. 

The Commission also advises Federal, state, and local governments, and other public and 

private organizations, regarding library and information sciences, including consultations 

on relevant treaties, international agreements and implementing legislation, and it 

promotes research and development activities that will extend and improve the national’s 

library and information handling capability as essential links in the national and 

international networks. 

C. Beth Fitzsimmons, Ph.D., Chairman 

Bridget L. Lamont, Vice Chairman 

Jose A. Aponte Sandra F. Ashworth Edward L. Bertorelli 

Joan R. Challinor, Ph.D. Carol L. Diehl Allison Druin, Ph.D. 

Jack E. Hightower, Esq. Patricia M. Hines Colleen E. Huebner, Ph.D. 

Stephen Kennedy Mary H. Perdue Herman L. Totten, Ph.D. 

James H. Billington, Ph.D. Mary L. Chute 

Librarian of Congress Acting Director, Institute

Carolyn T. Brown of Museum and Library

Alternate for Dr. Billington Services

Trudi Bellardo Hahn 

Executive Director 

 

 
U.S. NATIONAL COMMISSION ON LIBRARIES AND INFORMATION SCIENCE

THE ROLE OF LIBRARIES IN HIV/AIDS INFORMATION 

DISSEMINATION IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

SEPTEMBER 2005

NCLIS 

__________________________________________________ U.S. NATIONAL COMMISSION ON LIBRARIES AND INFORMATION SCIENCE

1800 M STREET, NW, SUITE 350, NORTH TOWER, WASHINGTON, DC 20036-5841
 

__________________________________________ 

ISBN 0-16-072950-5 

National Bibliography of U.S. Government Publications 

United States. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science. The Role of Libraries in HIV/AIDS Information 

Dissemination in Sub-Saharan Africa. September 2005 

Y 3.L 61:2 H 88 

RA643.86A357 

616.9792 
THE ROLE OF LIBRARIES IN HIV/AIDS INFORMATION DISSEMINATION IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Table of Contents i 

Foreword and Acknowledgements iii 

Figures and Tables v 

Executive Summary vii

Introduction 1

Status of HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan 

Africa 2 

Libraries in Sub-Saharan Africa 6 

National Libraries 6 

 Education Libraries 7 

 School Libraries 7 

 Public Libraries 7 

 Special Libraries 7 

 Library Staff 8 

 Registered Users 8 

 Loan Transactions 9 

 Library Collections 9 

Libraries in the African Context 11 

Library Development 13 

 Libraries and Grey Literature 14 

 Information and HIV/AIDS 14 

 Libraries and HIV/AIDS 15 

Library Roles in HIV/AIDS Information 

Provision 17 

 Regional Case Studies 18 

 West Africa: The African AIDS 

 Research Network and 

 Population Council Horizons 18 

 South Africa: The Southern African 

 Network of AIDS Service 

 Organizations (SANASO) 19 

 Country Reports 19 

Site Visit to Cameroon 20 

 Introduction 20 

 HIV/AIDS 20

 Libraries in Cameroon 22 

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U.S. NATIONAL COMMISSION ON LIBRARIES AND INFORMATION SCIENCE

 The “Living Library” 23

 Expanding ICT in Cameroon 25 

Summary of Activities for Libraries in 

HIV/AIDS Information 26 

Future Research and Action 29 

References 30 

Appendix A: Methodology 39 

Appendix B: Country Reports 43

Appendix C: Libraries in Sub-Saharan Africa 111

Appendix D: Other Information Agencies 

Involved in HIV/AIDS Information 

Dissemination 135 

Appendix E: Library Associations in 

Sub-Saharan Africa 137 

 

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THE ROLE OF LIBRARIES IN HIV/AIDS INFORMATION DISSEMINATION IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

FOREWORD AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Even though its roots in West Africa are obscure, the HIV/AIDS pandemic has affected, 

directly or indirectly, to a greater or lesser degree, nearly everyone in every country of 

the world. In recent years, some significant gains have been made in the global battle 

against the spread of the disease, in the form of new drugs, needle exchange programs, 

modifications in individual sexual behavior, and other developments. Other gains have 

been made in treating individuals already infected, which has improved their quality of 

life and enabled them to raise their families and be a positive part of their communities. 

The U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS), however, 

recognizes that much more needs to be done. One key weapon in the battle is education 

and information dissemination targeted to the general public. The goal of this NCLIS 

study was to explore how information is being disseminated in the part of the world 

where the impact of HIV/AIDS has been by far the greatest, and the resources of the 

countries impacted have been the smallest—Sub-Saharan Africa. The developing 

countries of this vast region have numerous challenges to overcome in all aspects of their 

society, but in the realm of public information dissemination, they must deal with high 

rates of illiteracy, how levels of information technology infrastructure, multiple 

languages, and cultural attitudes and practices that were better suited for centuries past, 

not for the 21st century. 

While many of these countries have implemented programs that are fighting AIDS by 

empowering women and girls, educating young people, and providing treatment, new 

weapons must be found to change the attitudes and behaviors that contribute to the spread 

of the disease. This study examined the role of libraries—and library-like institutions—

as change-agents. What are they accomplishing now and what else could they do? How 

does the African context influence the role of libraries? How will libraries themselves 

have to change in order to respond most effectively to community needs? 

The United States is waging its own battle against HIV/AIDS. NCLIS focused this study 

on Sub-Saharan Africa, however, not only because of the scale of the crisis is far greater 

there than in the U.S., but because we believe that lessons learned from this investigation 

will be useful in the U.S. and elsewhere, wherever there are pockets of poverty, illiteracy, 

poor information technology infrastructure, and lack of sufficient libraries and 

information institutions to meet the needs of the people. 

Funding for this research project was supplied by a UNESCO grant made possible by the 

U. S. Department of State. The Commission is deeply appreciative of this support. 

The Commission gratefully acknowledges the contributions to the research and writing of 

this report by Dr. Kendra S. Albright of the University of Tennessee and Mr. John Scott 

of the Center for Public Service Communications. Through a comprehensive literature 

review, analysis of statistical data, personal e-mail communications, and personal visits to 

countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, they gathered an enormous amount of valuable 

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U.S. NATIONAL COMMISSION ON LIBRARIES AND INFORMATION SCIENCE

information, organized it, and wrote draft reports. Most importantly, they offered 

creative ideas for further research and possible solutions to the dilemma of educating 

people in developing countries concerning the spread of HIV/AIDS and its prevention 

and treatment.

The Commission wishes to thank the many individuals in Africa who generously 

supplied information and observations to Dr. Albright and Mr. Scott. In particular, the 

U.S. Ambassador to Cameroon, Neils Marquardt, and his wife Judi provided invaluable 

assistance to Mr. Scott, facilitating and organizing his trip to Cameroon and helping him 

make important contacts with librarians, staff of NGOs, and government officials during 

his visit. 

We are indebted also to Dr. Trudi Bellardo Hahn, NCLIS Executive Director, and to Dr. 

Wanda Whitney, NCLIS intern, for their invaluable editorial assistance. We thank these 

colleagues for organizing and producing the final report.

Finally, the Commission wishes to recognize one of their, Dr. Joan Challinor, who led the 

Commission initiative, Libraries as Consumer Health Information Distribution Centers 

in Africa. Dr. Challinor was instrumental in securing the grant to support the background 

research and writing of this report and she monitored the study from start to finish. The 

Commission is sincerely appreciative of her substantive intellectual and personal 

contributions. 

Beth Fitzsimmons, Ph.D., Chairman 

 October 2005 

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THE ROLE OF LIBRARIES IN HIV/AIDS INFORMATION DISSEMINATION IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

FIGURES AND TABLES

FIGURES 

Figure 1. Adults and Children Estimated 

to be Living with HIV/AIDS, End 2004 2 

Figure 2. The Koo Tufoo Resource Library, 

Ghana, 2004 62

Figure 3. Anywhere Books Bookmobile 102 

Figure 4. Librarians from the Zambia Library 

Assn read books in local languages to FoH 

Children during National Library Week 107 

TABLES

Table 1. HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa, 

end 2003 3 

Table 2. Number of Libraries in Africa in 2001 7 

Table 3. Total Library Staff in Africa in 2001 8

Table 4. Number of Registered Users in Africa 

in 2001 8 

Table 5. Total Loan Transactions in Africa 

in 2001 9 

Table 6. Library Collections in Africa in 2001 9 

Table 7. Summary of Themes/Barriers to 

Library Involvement in HIV/AIDS Information 

in Sub-Saharan Africa 21 

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U.S. NATIONAL COMMISSION ON LIBRARIES AND INFORMATION SCIENCE

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THE ROLE OF LIBRARIES IN HIV/AIDS INFORMATION DISSEMINATION IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The U.S. National Commission on Library and Information Science (NCLIS) recognizes 

that timely and reliable health information is a crucial weapon in the war against AIDS. 

Those who provide this information have proven to be key warriors in this fight. 

Nowhere is this truer than in Sub-Saharan Africa, where AIDS threatens to decimate 

entire populations. In that part of the world, however, it has not been clear up until now 

whether libraries are playing a significant role in getting vital information about 

prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS into the hands of the people in the communities 

they serve. Thus the Commission’s created and initiative called Libraries as Consumer 

Health Information Distribution Centers in Africa. This report is the product of a study 

begun in the fall of 2004 and completed in August 2005. 

The study explored the role of libraries and information professionals in HIV/AIDS 

information dissemination in Sub-Saharan Africa. The report presents case studies from 

many countries and the activities and services offered by libraries and other information 

agencies. 

This report has three central purposes: 

1) To provide a broad overview of libraries in Sub-Saharan Africa that disseminate 

HIV/AIDS information, including identifying the numbers and types of libraries 

as well as understanding the nature of libraries within the African context. 

2) To explore the activities of libraries in HIV/AIDS information dissemination, 

particularly those that target pre-adolescents and adolescents. A summary and 

categorization of those activities are reported, along with a summary of observed 

patterns and trends found in the literature. 

3) To identify the best practices of those activities with the express purpose of 

exploring whether they can be replicated in other environments, such as other 

regions or countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. 

In order to examine the activities of libraries and information professionals in their fight 

against HIV/AIDS, it is necessary to understand the nature of library within the African 

context. This report: 

1) Examines the challenges for information practices within a traditionally oral 

society, with multiple languages and varying cultures 

2) Describes the historical development of libraries in Africa from its colonial roots 

to the current training and practice of its librarians 

3) Presents a statistical examination of the numbers and types of library institutions 

throughout the continent with attention to the types of services offered and the 

nature of their collections and staff 

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U.S. NATIONAL COMMISSION ON LIBRARIES AND INFORMATION SCIENCE

4) Examines the relationship between information and HIV/AIDS and provides an 

overview of the general structure of libraries or alternative information 

organizations that serve the information needs of local communities 

5) Describes the common characteristics of these information-related organizations. 

The conclusions and recommendations emanating from this study include: 

1) The role of libraries in disseminating HIV/AIDS information is strongest when 

libraries establish partnerships with other organizations already involved in 

dissemination and education activities. 

o The role of education appears to be increasingly appreciated and funded. 

Libraries, as related entities, could easily align themselves with educational 

organizations to step up the effectiveness of AIDS related information activities 

for both organizations. 

o The same is also true for libraries and communication organizations. The media 

has been a primary source of HIV/AIDS information dissemination across SubSaharan countries 

2) Libraries in Africa should expand the scope of information sources they collect 

and distribute to include information sources outside the role of traditional 

libraries. In an African context, the library must have flexible programs designed to 

meet the unique needs of the people: 

o Serving as a community center for addressing issues of relevance to the 

community, including agriculture, women and children, healthcare and AIDS 

o Taking a more central role in AIDS information dissemination activities via radio, 

mobile libraries, use of partnerships with other organizations and individuals in 

local communities

o Taking a leadership role in using Information and Communication Technologies 

(ICTs) for sharing digital materials

o Taking advantage of their unique position within their own cultures to provide 

access to HIV/AIDS information for children and young adults

o Providing HIV/AIDS information in formats that are accessible and interesting to 

children and young adults who are making decisions about their own sexual 

behavior

o Encouraging the development and production of information products and 

services appropriate in the unique African context, addressing issues of language, 

delivery, and publishing.

3) Redefine the role of African libraries and librarians. An opportunity for librarians 

and other information professionals now exists to take a strong lead in the 

dissemination activities of HIV/AIDS information. Not only is this an appropriate 

activity for librarians and information professionals, it has the potential to strengthen 

the role of those professionals. 

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THE ROLE OF LIBRARIES IN HIV/AIDS INFORMATION DISSEMINATION IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

THE ROLE OF LIBRARIES IN HIV/AIDS INFORMATION

DISSEMINATION IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

INTRODUCTION

The number of people living with HIV/AIDS has reached the level of a global pandemic. 

Currently, the disease has no cure and it kills millions each year. Sub-Saharan Africa is 

the hardest hit region of the world, with 10% of the world’s population but over 60% of 

the total number of HIV/AIDS cases. From the initial detection in the Rakai District of 

Southern Uganda in 1982, the number of people infected and affected by the disease has 

exploded. Women and youth are the populations most affected in Sub-Saharan Africa, 

with most new infections occurring in young adults between the ages of 15 and 24. 

Unlike the situation in the industrial countries, young women in developing countries are 

at greatest risk of contracting the disease. 

In response to the AIDS pandemic, President Bush announced his Emergency Plan for 

AIDS Relief initiative to turn the tide in the global effort to combat it. This initiative is 

helping some of the most affected countries to extend and save lives. IEC (Information, 

Education, and Communication) strategies provide goals for disseminating information 

from libraries, educational institutions, government, and non-governmental organizations. 

Through the widespread dissemination of information, the people of Sub-Saharan Africa 

can gain the knowledge needed to change their behavioral response to the epidemic. 

By increasing community knowledge and awareness of HIV/AIDS and the availability of 

HIV/AIDS-related services, spread of the disease may be slowed and the rate of 

transmission reduced. As gatekeepers of information, libraries can play a central role in 

disseminating HIV/AIDS information. Libraries in Sub-Saharan Africa, however, are 

constrained by certain factors that limit their involvement in information dissemination. 

NCLIS, recognizing that information is a change agent for preventing HIV/AIDS 

transmission, is offering this report as part of its Libraries as Consumer Health 

Information Distribution Centers in Africa initiative. This report summarizes literature 

and personal communications with knowledgeable people in Africa on the role of 

libraries in HIV/AIDS information dissemination in Sub-Saharan Africa. 

 

The report is organized into sections discussing the status of HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan 

Africa, an examination of libraries in the African context, specific activities ongoing in 

the region, including an eye-witness account of activities in Cameroon, analysis of those 

activities, identification of barriers to success, and suggestions for future research. A list 

of references appears at the end of the main text. Five appendices provide a description 

of the study methodology, individual country reports, a list of libraries and other 

information agencies involved in HIV/AIDS information dissemination, and a list of 

library associations in Sub-Saharan Africa. 

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U.S. NATIONAL COMMISSION ON LIBRARIES AND INFORMATION SCIENCE

STATUS OF HIV/AIDS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

Incidence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency 

Syndrome (AIDS) has now become a global pandemic. Kates (2005) reports that 

HIV/AIDS is likely to become the worst epidemic in history. Yet we may only be in the 

early phases of the disease. The poorest countries of the world, primarily those in SubSaharan Africa, have the greatest incidence of HIV/AIDS but the least resources to 

combat the disease. 

According to UNAIDS (2004b), Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for approximately 10% of 

the world’s population. Yet it accounts for nearly two-thirds of the population who are 

living with HIV/AIDS and 74% of deaths from AIDS worldwide. Out of the estimated 

39.4 million people living with HIV/AIDS at the end of 2004, 25.4 million live in SubSaharan Africa (Figure 1). 

Figure 1. Adults and Children Estimated to be Living with HIV/AIDS, End 2004 (Source: 

UNAIDS AIDS Epidemic Update, 2004a) 

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THE ROLE OF LIBRARIES IN HIV/AIDS INFORMATION DISSEMINATION IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

Regional variations exist within Sub-Saharan Africa as well (Table 1). In this regard, 

AIDS is considered to be more than a single epidemic; it is considered as multiple, 

regional epidemics. In East Africa, Uganda leads the way toward gradual decline in 

prevalence rates. Uganda has managed to combat the AIDS problem through prevention 

campaigns, reducing HIV/AIDS infection rates from 18.5% in 1995 to under 5% in 2004 

(UNAIDS 2004a). These declines, however, may have resulted from the mortality of 

infected persons rather than from a real drop in incidence. UNAIDS (2004a) reports: 

Adult HIV prevalence has been roughly stable in recent years. But 

stabilization does not necessarily mean the epidemic is slowing. On the 

contrary, it can disguise the worst phases of an epidemic when roughly 

equally large numbers of people are being newly infected with HIV and 

are dying of AIDS. 

Country

Adults (15-

49) Living 

with HIV

Adult 

(15-49) 

Rate %

Women (15-

49)

Children (0-

14)

AIDS 

Deaths 

(adults & 

children)

Orphans

due to AIDS

Angola 200,000 3.9 130,000 23,000 21,000 110,000

Benin 59,000 1.9 35,000 5,700 5.800 34,000

Botswana 330,000 37.3 190,000 25,000 33,000 120,000

Burkina Faso 250,000 4.2 150,000 31,000 29,000 260,000

Burundi 220,000 6.0 130,000 27,000 25,000 200,000

Cameroon 500,000 6.9 290,000 43,000 49,000 240,000

Central African 

Republic 230,000 13.5 130,000 21,000 23,000 110,000

Chad 170,000 4.8 100,000 18,000 18,000 96,000

Congo 80,000 4.9 45,000 10,000 9,700 97,000

Cote d'Ivoire 480,000 7.0 300,000 40,000 47,000 310000

Dem. Republic of 

Congo 950,000 4.2 570,000 110,000 100,000 770000

Djibouti 7,500 2.9 4,700 680 690 5,000

Eritrea 55,000 2.7 31,000 5,600 6,300 39,000

Ethiopia 1,200,000 4.4 770,000 120,000 120,000 720,000

Gabon 37,000 8.1 26,000 2,500 3,000 14,000

Gambia 6,300 1.2 3,600 500 600 2,000

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U.S. NATIONAL COMMISSION ON LIBRARIES AND INFORMATION SCIENCE

Country

Adults (15-

49) Living 

with HIV

Adult 

(15-49) 

Rate %

Women (15-

49)

Children (0-

14)

AIDS 

Deaths 

(adults & 

children)

Orphans

due to AIDS

Ghana 310,000 3.1 180,000 24,000 30,000 170,000

Guinea 100,000 3.2 72,000 9,200 9,000 35,000

Kenya 1,200,000 6.7 720,000 100,000 150,000 650.000

Lesotho 300,000 28.9 170,000 22,000 29,000 100,000

Liberia 80,000 5.9 54,000 8,000 7,200 36,000

Madagascar 98,000 1.7 76,000 8,600 7,500 30,000

Malawi 770,000 14.2 460,000 83,000 84,000 500,000

Mali 120,000 1.9 71,000 13,000 12,000 75,000

Mauritania 5,900 0.6 5,100 500 2,000

Mozambique 1,100,000 12.2 670,000 99,000 110,000 470,000

Namibia 190,000 21.3 110,000 15,000 16,000 57,000

Niger 51,000 1.2 36,000 5,900 4,800 24,000

Nigeria 3,100,000 5.4 1,900,000 290,000 310,000 1,800,000

Rwanda 220,000 5.1 130,000 22,000 22,000 160,000

Senegal 38,000 0.8 23,000 3,100 3,500 17,000

South Africa 4,800,000 21.5 2,900,000 230,000 370,000 1,100,000

Swaziland 190,000 38.8 110,000 16,000 17,000 65,000

Togo 94,000 4.1 54,000 9,300 10,000 54,000

Uganda 520,000 4.1 270,000 84,000 78,000 940,000

United Rep. of 

Tanzania 1,400,000 8.8 840,000 140,000 160,000 980,000

Zambia 800,000 16.5 470,000 85,000 89,000 630,000

Zimbabwe 1,600,000 24.6 930,000 120,000 170,000 980,000

Total SSA 22,000,000 7.5 13,100,000 1,900,000 2,200,000 12,100,000

Global 32,900,000 1.1 17,000,000 2,100,000 2,900,000 15,000,000

Table 1. HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), end 2003. (Source: UNAIDS, Report on 

 the Global AIDS Epidemic, 2004d) 

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THE ROLE OF LIBRARIES IN HIV/AIDS INFORMATION DISSEMINATION IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

Statistics about HIV/AIDS prevalence are often based on the incidence among pregnant 

women in urban antenatal clinics and are arguably representative of the entire population. 

Besides Uganda, the same pattern of gradual decline is seen in other East African 

countries. Despite the decline in the East African nations, however, HIV/AIDS remains a 

serious epidemic with the numbers of deaths from AIDS rising dramatically each year. 

Prevalence rates in West and Central Africa appear to have changed little, hovering 

around 5% or below. Cameroon and Cote d’Ivoire are the exceptions, with rates upwards 

of 10% among pregnant women at the antenatal sites. Similarly, most countries in 

Southern Africa are experiencing rates of around 10%, with the exception of Angola, 

where the rate remains steady at around 5% (UNAIDS 2004a). 

Among those infected with HIV/AIDS, certain populations appear to be more affected 

than others. Women are disproportionately affected by HIV, accounting for 57% of 

people living with HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa (UNAIDS, 2004c). In most 

countries in the region, the age of sexual debut for women is earlier than for men (Green, 

2003). This means that women are infected at earlier ages and more frequently than men. 

According to UNAIDS (2004c), “The differences in infection levels between women and 

men are most pronounced among young people (aged 15-24 years).” 

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U.S. NATIONAL COMMISSION ON LIBRARIES AND INFORMATION SCIENCE

LIBRARIES IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

The types of libraries found in Sub-Saharan Africa differ from those in the United States. 

The U.S. traditionally identifies four types of libraries: academic (college and university), 

school (K-12), public, and special (government, corporate and other libraries not 

elsewhere classified). In Sub-Saharan Africa, there are education libraries (comparable 

to academic libraries in the West), school (that is, those found in primary and secondary 

schools), public, and national libraries. Special libraries in Africa, as in other parts of the 

world, are more difficult to define. In general, they share the common characteristic of 

supporting the mission of the parent organization, regardless of its organizational 

classification. The four major classes of libraries in Africa, according to the United 

Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), as reported by the 

International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), include 

National, Education, School, and Public libraries. Each classification is defined below 

and includes the number of libraries for each type. 

NATIONAL LIBRARIES

The United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) defines 

a national library as: 

Libraries which, irrespective of their title, are responsible for acquiring 

and conserving copies of all significant publications published in the 

country and functioning as a ‘deposit’ library, either by law or under 

other arrangements. They will also normally perform some of the 

following functions: produce a national bibliography; hold and keep up 

to date a large and representative collection of foreign literature 

including books about the country; act as a national bibliographical 

information center; compile union catalogues; publish the retrospective 

national bibliography. Libraries which may be called “national” but whose 

functions do not correspond to the above definition should not be placed 

in the “national libraries” category (UNESCO 1970). 

Other similar definitions suggest that national libraries are large libraries funded by 

government funds and are publicly available (Kawooya 2005). Benge (1970) describes 

the purpose of a national library as 

Set up to preserve the literature produced in a particular country, and this 

function is carried out by means of legal deposit laws, which ensure that 

every item published is collected and preserved in one or more national 

collections. This concept is often extended to include material in all 

languages about a country (224). 

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THE ROLE OF LIBRARIES IN HIV/AIDS INFORMATION DISSEMINATION IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

IFLA reported 15 national libraries in Africa in 2001 based upon UNESCO data (IFLA 

2003). 

EDUCATION LIBRARIES

UNESCO defines libraries of higher education as those who primarily serve “students 

and teachers in universities and other institutions of education at the third level” 

(UNESCO 1970). They may also be open to the general public. IFLA (2003) reported 

that in 2001 there were approximately 266 education libraries in Africa. 

SCHOOL LIBRARIES

UNESCO defines school libraries as those “below the level of education at the third level 

and serving primarily the pupils and teachers of such schools, even though they may also 

be open to the general public” (UNESCO 1970). IFLA (2003) reported there were 51 

school libraries in 2001. 

PUBLIC LIBRARIES

Public libraries, also known as “popular” libraries, refer to those that “serve the 

population of a community or region free of charge or for a nominal fee” (UNESCO 

1970). Their users may include the general public or particular user segments such as 

children, military personnel, hospital patients, prisoners, or employees. In general, public 

libraries receive financial support from local, district/provincial, or national government. 

According to IFLA, there are 1,129 libraries total in Africa. Of these, nearly 800 are 

public libraries (Table 2). 

Public Education School National Total 

797 266 51 15 1,129 

Table 2. Number of Libraries in Africa1 in 2001 by Type of Library (Source: 

IFLA, http://www.ifla.org.sg/III/wsis/wsis-stats4pub_v.pdf) 

SPECIAL LIBRARIES

Special libraries are “those maintained by an association, government service, parliament, 

research institution (excluding university institutes), learned society, professional 

association, museum, business firm, industrial enterprise, chamber of commerce, etc. or 

other organized group, the greater part of their collections being in a specific field or 

 

1

Includes the following countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Kenya, 

Malawi, Nigeria, Reunion, Senegal, Togo, Tunisia, and Uganda. 

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U.S. NATIONAL COMMISSION ON LIBRARIES AND INFORMATION SCIENCE

subject, for example, natural sciences, social sciences, agriculture, chemistry, medicine, 

economics, engineering, law, history” (UNESCO 1970). Although UNESCO offers a 

definition, IFLA does not report a tally for special libraries. 

LIBRARY STAFF

IFLA (2003) reports a total of over 800,000 library staff worldwide. In Africa, the 

number of library staff is only 10,236. Similar to other regions of the world, the majority 

of African library staff work in education libraries, followed by public, national, and 

school (Table 3). While all categories are small compared to other regions of the world, 

the need for additional school library staff is apparent. Somerville (1998) noted that even 

Public Education School National Total 

4,396 5,403 89 348 10,236 

Table 3. Total Library Staff in Africa2 in 2001 by Type of Library (Source: 

IFLA, http://www.ifla.org.sg/III/wsis/wsis-stats4pub_v.pdf) 

in the U.S., an increasing shortage of school librarians is a problem. Library staff who 

work in schools account for 15% of the total library staff in U.S. The number of school 

library staff in Africa account for less than 1% of the total library staff, suggesting an 

even greater need for school librarians in Africa. Barongo (2004) and Setuwa (2005) 

reported that there is only one children’s librarian in the whole of Uganda. This is 

particularly relevant for HIV/AIDS information dissemination, where youth are one of 

the highest risk groups that are targeted for prevention efforts. 

REGISTERED USERS

IFLA (2003) reports the numbers of registered users in Africa by classification of library. 

They report a total of nearly four million registered library users in Africa in 2001 (Table 

4). By far and away the largest group of registered users is found in education libraries, 

with slightly over 3.5 million registered users. During the same year, IFLA reported 

nearly 9 million registered users of education libraries in North America (IFLA 2003). 

Public Education School National Total 

335,400 3,592,200 - - - - - - 24,000 3,951,600 

Table 4. Number of Registered Users in Africa in 2001 by Type of Library (Source: 

 IFLA, http://www.ifla.org.sg/III/wsis/wsis-stats4pub_v.pdf) 

 

2

 Includes the following countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Kenya, 

Malawi, Nigeria, Reunion, Senegal, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda. 

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THE ROLE OF LIBRARIES IN HIV/AIDS INFORMATION DISSEMINATION IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

LOAN TRANSACTIONS

There were over 1.5 trillion loan transactions worldwide in 2001 (IFLA 2003). Less than 

4% of these transactions occurred in Africa, most of which occurred in public libraries 

(Table 5). IFLA does not define “loan transactions,” but since their report claims to be 

based on UNESCO data, UNESCO’s definition is assumed. UNESCO defines a loan 

transaction as “the number of works loaned out” (UNESCO 1970). UNESCO further 

states that works loaned include books, periodicals and manuscripts, “counted by number 

of volumes” (UNESCO 1970). 

Public Education School National Total 

26,350,2000 8,870,000 410,597,000 43,000 42,214,502,000 

Table 5. Total Loan Transactions in Africa3 in 2001 by Type of Library (Source: 

IFLA, http://www.ifla.org.sg/III/wsis/wsis-stats4pub_v.pdf) 

LIBRARY COLLECTIONS

IFLA (2003) further reports the types of library collections by region of the world. In 

Africa, there are over 53 million traditional library media including 5 million books, 14 

thousand microforms, nearly 3.9 million audiovisual materials, and 8.9 million “other” 

types of materials (Table 6). This compares to the worldwide total of 29 billion 

traditional library media. Africa’s library collections account for less than 1% (.002%) of 

the world’s traditional media. 

Books Microforms Audiovisual Other Total 

5,226,000 14,600 3,877,900 8,961,800 53,689,970 

Table 6. Library Collections in Africa in 2001 by Type of Material (Source: 

IFLA, http://www.ifla.org.sg/III/wsis/wsis-stats4pub_v.pdf) 

In sum, the data show that Africa’s libraries are sadly lagging behind the rest of the 

world. While the numbers presented here are representative of the whole of Africa, it is 

clear that libraries in Sub-Saharan Africa are in a very poor position. This is an even 

greater challenge for Sub-Saharan Africa in light of the fact that it is the region of the 

world that is hardest hit by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. 

What fails to appear in these statistics is that libraries in Sub-Saharan African countries 

do not necessarily fall into the categories that UNESCO identified and defined. In 

 

3

 Includes the following countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Kenya, 

Malawi, Nigeria, Reunion, Senegal, Togo, Tunisia, and Uganda. 

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U.S. NATIONAL COMMISSION ON LIBRARIES AND INFORMATION SCIENCE

Africa, libraries are structured in different ways from the rest of the world. Libraries in 

Sub-Saharan Africa are faced with serious challenges not only in terms of financial 

resources, but also in establishing their identity within the African context. As a result, 

they respond in ways that make them difficult to measure, much less to define. Outreach 

activities, mobile services, and types of services are only a few ways in which African 

libraries differ from those in Western society. A brief examination of libraries in the 

African context is useful in order to understand how libraries are involved in HIV/AIDS 

activities. 

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THE ROLE OF LIBRARIES IN HIV/AIDS INFORMATION DISSEMINATION IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

LIBRARIES IN THE AFRICAN CONTEXT

UNESCO defines a library as “any organized collection of printed books and periodicals 

or of any other graphic or audio-visual materials, and the services of a staff to provide 

and facilitate the use of such materials as are required to meet the informational, research, 

educational or recreational needs of its users” (1970). But in the context of Sub-Saharan 

libraries, this definition is problematic for several reasons. Problems stem from 

characteristics of society including its oral tradition, illiteracy, a limited awareness and 

understanding of the information needs of people of Sub-Saharan Africa societies, and 

scarce resources. 

The need for libraries in a society based on oral tradition and where much of the 

population is illiterate is questionable. People in Sub-Saharan nations do not necessarily 

see a need for libraries and the question is raised whether libraries are necessary in Africa 

at all (Amadi 1981). Mchombu (1996) reports that 50% of the participants in a study of 

information needs in rural Tanzania, Botswana, and Malawi did not believe they had any 

information needs. However, he observed that when people were asked if there was any 

information they needed to help them do something better, their answers were much more 

revealing. He concluded that “Individuals seemed to articulate their information needs 

better if these needs were directly linked to what was going on around them; otherwise, 

information needs were seen in terms of direct inputs such as medicine, fertilizers, 

literacy materials, physical facilities, etc.”(78). The UNESCO definition of a library is 

too limited in an environment where much more active outreach activities are needed to 

creatively solve local problems. As Adimorah (1984, 25) suggests: 

 The public libraries still lack the interest or capacity for carrying out an 

analysis of the community, isolating its needs and satisfying them. They 

are yet to make a real commitment to the free flow of information, harnessing 

and providing ready access to information on rural development that would 

change the social circumstances of the rural poor. 

A second problem with the UNESCO definition of a library within Sub-Saharan Africa is 

that society there is based on oral tradition where information is exchanged through 

informal channels, from one person to another. Information was and is often exchanged 

in places where people meet, particularly in the village, marketplace, or in centers of 

public transportation (Sturges and Neill 1997). Mchombu (1992) suggests that it is more 

likely that an African will go to the marketplace or other location (for example, mosques, 

health centers) for informal information exchange. Further, information is commonly 

transmitted through oral media such as story, song, and poetry and is often delivered by 

designated persons within society. Benge (1996) refers to the information dissemination 

functions of the oral culture in pre-colonial Africa via village poets or griots (171). It is 

imperative when considering the role of libraries in Africa to consider the nature of oral 

tradition in African society, which is counterintuitive to the print-based culture of the 

West. 

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A third problem with the UNESCO definition is that this constrained perspective of a 

library may not meet the information needs of Africans. Libraries in Sub-Saharan Africa 

were developed based on the British model, where the focus is more on the collection and 

services, rather than the needs of the users. It assumes that if a library is made available, 

the users will automatically come. Even when libraries take users’ needs into account, 

the approach taken to identify those needs is often biased by a need to justify the library. 

As a result, when libraries attempt to understand the users’ needs, they tend to ask 

leading questions that support their own needs, rather than identifying the actual needs of 

those interviewed (Sturges and Neill 1997). If more appropriate questions were asked, 

claim Sturges and Neill, they would discover that users’ needs are “seldom library needs, 

which is what many investigators have been seeking” (1997, 50). The information needs 

of many Africans are more related to the need to solve practical problems than for the 

mere sake of seeking knowledge. Benge (1996, 171) suggests that public libraries in 

Africa need to be “more closely geared to African realities.” 

A fourth problem with the UNESCO definition of a library is that libraries in SubSaharan Africa are faced with limited funding, resources, and staff. As a result, libraries 

look for alternative solutions to providing information to their users. Funding is scarce 

not only because of the limited finances, but also because of the perception of libraries in 

these countries. Because of the poor appreciation for library resources and services, SubSaharan governments are less likely to fund libraries than to fund something that appears 

more critical such as agriculture or health care. The reputation of libraries to contribute 

to something as critical as prevention of HIV/AIDS is rarely even considered in the 

literature of the field, much less by governments of African nations. Therefore, already 

struggling libraries are faced with limited finances compounded by a poor reputation. 

Library materials are also scarce not only because of limited financial resources for 

purchasing books and other materials, but also because of the limited availability of 

culturally appropriate materials for Sub-Saharan societies. The publishing industry in 

African nations has been constrained by the lack of a market for African works. Foreign 

publishers have historically been unwilling to take a financial risk on investing in African 

authors.4

 When combined with the already strained financial resources, African libraries 

are often left with little choice and size of acquisitions. Book donations from other 

countries, while well intentioned, often result in materials that are also not appropriate for 

African collections and can have additional costs for discarding the materials. 

Libraries in a Sub-Saharan context, then, have a different meaning than the one proposed 

by UNESCO. Without the materials that are useful to address the information needs of 

its population, libraries in Africa are less meaningful and useful than their perception in 

other societies where libraries are considered to be a cornerstone of democracy and 

education. To better understand the notion of “library” in an African context, it is useful 

to trace its historical development. 

4

The lack of African publications stems from problems in the publishing industry that are outside the scope 

of this paper. It is important to note, however, that lack of materials that originate in Africa to address 

uniquely African problems is a serious limitation for libraries. 

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THE ROLE OF LIBRARIES IN HIV/AIDS INFORMATION DISSEMINATION IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

LIBRARY DEVELOPMENT

Benge (1996) identifies four phases of library development in Africa. The first phase 

pertains to the early colonization of Africa, where practitioners were sent from the 

colonizing country to establish the early libraries. Benge implies that selection of 

personnel for these libraries was based upon “social background and/or moral 

behaviour,” for what was considered less-than-desirable placement in Africa (172). 

The second phase of library development arose around the time of national independence 

from the colonial experience. Public libraries were given the most emphasis and carried 

on British library tradition despite national liberation from their colonizers. Issues of 

collection development became a focal point. General public library policy excluded the 

acquisition of textbooks; this was considered to be the responsibility of other educational 

agencies. Instead, the focus of acquisitions was on “imaginative literature,” which 

precluded African literature since little existed at that time (172). 

The third stage of library development in Africa is characterized by increasing interest 

from international organizations. UNESCO introduced the national library concept, 

NATIS (National Information Systems), which became the model for library planning in 

Africa. Sturges and Neill (1997) consider this program, however, to have “contributed 

almost nothing to the development of Africa’s information environment” (122). The 

model for national libraries developed by NATIS was an integrated system of library and 

information services. Problems resulted, however, because the model did not consider the 

needs of the people; rather it focused on a design based on Western library experience. 

The fourth stage of library development is characterized by the role of librarians educated 

in library schools in Africa. Here, the needs of the African people are taken into 

consideration, but limitations come from resource sharing (Rosenberg 1993), living 

conditions (malnutrition, death) (Durrani 1985), and poverty (Raseroka 1994). 

These problems are still current, and librarians in Sub-Saharan Africa continue to face 

complex challenges related to their cultural context and limited resources. Batambuze 

(2005) concludes that the British model of library training in Sub-Saharan Africa 

Ensured that graduates would at the end of the day stock libraries with 

British books. The selling of books to former British colonies was the major 

drive behind the starting of libraries in most of Africa. It was not because of 

any other considerations. Over the years, post independence governments 

with all their nationalism have not changed this philosophy that much. African 

LIS academics have failed to come up with an African LIS hybrid. 

Therefore, the library profession is not perceived as particularly useful except 

by those who are already fairly educated. 

Current library responses to this and other challenges, however, are creative and varied, 

and are slowly contributing to the unique identity of African libraries and librarians. The 

types of services and their delivery offered by libraries in Sub-Saharan Africa reveal the 

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U.S. NATIONAL COMMISSION ON LIBRARIES AND INFORMATION SCIENCE

early formation of a professional identity. The same creative and innovative approach to 

sources and services is found in HIV/AIDS information activities offered by libraries. 

Although the literature is scarce on these activities, it is reasonable to assume that more is 

going on than is revealed in the published literature. 

LIBRARIES AND GREY LITERATURE

A perspective on the role of libraries that did not emerge in the literature review is the 

role of libraries in the dissemination of grey literature (literature not formally available 

through commercial channels). Because the publishing industry in Sub-Saharan Africa is 

not robust, African authors and organizations often make materials available only to a 

limited distribution that is often local in scope (Sturges and Neill 1997). 

This is further compounded by a little considered possibility that because Africans have 

little in the way of natural resources that are leveraged in the global market, they are less 

than enthusiastic about giving away their indigenous knowledge to publishing companies 

in the industrialized countries (Kawooya 2005). In other words, perhaps Africans are 

concerned about sharing their knowledge through formal publications when it might give 

them something to leverage with later. 

This potential value affords libraries an opportunity to take a leadership role in the 

management of grey literature on HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan nations. Because librarians 

are trained in the management of grey literature, this is an area at which they naturally 

excel. Although it is impossible to know, it is likely that a substantial amount of 

important HIV/AIDS information exists in the grey literature of Sub-Saharan Africa. 

Libraries, therefore, should consider this unique capability in their pursuit of stronger 

involvement in HIV/AIDS activities. This could also be a key determinant in persuading 

governments and the public about the importance of libraries in this vital information 

campaign. 

INFORMATION AND HIV/AIDS

Information is a vital weapon in the fight against AIDS. Information is important to 

educate and raise awareness of how and why HIV is transmitted, who is at risk, and what 

can be done to prevent the spread of the disease. Without a cure or vaccination available 

to curb the spread of the virus, “communication and information can help to fight 

HIV/AIDS by changing young people’s behaviour through preventive education 

schemes” (UNESCO n.d.). One of the most common approaches to promoting behavior 

change to fight against HIV is IEC programs designed to educate and raise awareness 

about HIV/AIDS. IEC programs promote behavioral change, helping people to avoid 

behaviors that could lead to HIV infection (UNAIDS 1999). 

There are several types of information that are needed to promote behavior change, 

leading to reduced chance of HIV transmission. Information about the disease itself is 

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THE ROLE OF LIBRARIES IN HIV/AIDS INFORMATION DISSEMINATION IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

necessary to help people understand its causes through sexual transmission, mother-tochild transmission, intravenous drug use, and other methods of transmission. It is 

important to have information about how to care for someone infected with HIV or 

AIDS. Local available resources, nutritional information, testing and counseling, social 

and financial support, etc. are all necessary and vital information to the local community. 

Information is also necessary to combat the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS. Relevant 

and accurate information helps to combat HIV and AIDS by reducing fears, increasing 

awareness and compassion, and helping to change behaviors leading to increased risk of 

exposure to HIV and infection. 

LIBRARIES AND HIV/AIDS

Because the notion of “library” differs in the African context, and because information 

flows are different within the oral traditions of African society, variations in where and 

how HIV/AIDS information is disseminated are accommodated through alternative 

constructions. Where libraries may not be commonplace, information professionals can 

be found in community information centers; resource centers; documentation centers, and 

other information agencies, both standalone and as part of a parent organization. 

Despite the variations in the names of these agencies, they share certain common traits. 

Mchombu (2002) identifies four key functions of a resource centre: 

• Gathering data and information 

• Acquiring and processing information materials 

• Sharing and disseminating information 

• Mobilizing the community. 

Gathering data and information from the community is vital to their information needs. 

The collection of local community information in addition to local and international data 

can reveal trends within the community. Resource center staff should share this 

information with local community leaders in order to facilitate change. 

Acquiring and processing information materials are other key functions of a resource 

center. Materials should be acquired that include research and statistical data, IEC and 

other government materials regarding HIV/AIDS. Formats should include books, videos, 

audio materials, pamphlets, brochures, reports, fact sheets, etc. Although current 

information is vital to the resource, it should only be collected if accuracy of the 

information can be verified and the type of material is suitable for the community. 

Materials may need to be translated into local languages or to be repackaged in order to 

serve the needs of the local community. For example, the cultural context of the 

information needs could suggest that information is better portrayed through a “pictorial, 

story board and poster format” (Mchombu 2004, 95). Methods of payment for all costly 

materials and storage of materials received needs to be taken into consideration. 

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According to Mchombu (2004), there are two ways to disseminate information to users. 

The first is through a “push process” (95), which provides timely messages to many 

people or groups without their having to initiate the communication. Examples of the 

push process include information/advertising campaigns and drama. The second method 

is through a “pull process” (95), which targets the needs of an individual or organization 

and delivers it to them on demand. Examples of this method include lectures and talks, 

and loaning selected materials. In addition, resource centers may choose to create 

HIV/AIDS materials for use in their own communities. These materials might include 

story boards, posters, translations into a local language, booklets compiled from 

newspaper clippings, and recordings of radio and television programs (Mchombu 2004). 

Finally, despite the best efforts to increase community knowledge about HIV/AIDS, it is 

only successful if the community embraces and launches effective HIV/AIDS prevention 

programs. Therefore, the fourth key function of a resource center is to mobilize the 

community. In order to accomplish this, it is necessary for everyone in the community to 

be educated about HIV/AIDS and to participate in its solution. Mchombu (2004) adds 

that a necessary component is that everyone must be “emotionally involved” (97). 

Further, local community efforts need to be coordinated with national and international 

efforts, organizations, and policies. 

Mchombu (2004) also offers practical suggestions for the location of the resource center. 

As part of a community center or library, resource centers need to address issues of space 

and appropriate messages for the community. In order to accommodate the space 

limitations, resource centers should plan to offer their materials on a table top or in a 

display. HIV/AIDS messages can be posted on a notice board for posting information 

about relevant events in the community. 

When the resource center is part of a faith community (within a church or mosque), 

different considerations guide its activities. As a special library, the resource center 

needs to reflect the values and beliefs of its parent organization. Information on 

abstinence and faithfulness may reflect a broader view of family planning and appropriate 

behavior between married adults. Within an organization, the resource center is often 

located within a department that is involved in HIV/AIDS activities. “The focus on 

information provision activities should promote the whole range of HIV prevention 

strategies of abstinence, faithfulness, and condom use, as well as family planning and 

how to deal with infections” (Mchombu 2004, 100). 

Finally, the resource center will sometimes be a standalone facility, offering services to 

its users in the community. Mchombu (2004) suggests that it is often helpful to create a 

committee or forum to advise and guide the center’s activities. In addition, the 

committee or forum can assist in obtaining the necessary resources such as display table, 

audiocassette tape player, or other. 

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THE ROLE OF LIBRARIES IN HIV/AIDS INFORMATION DISSEMINATION IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

LIBRARY ROLES IN HIV/AIDS INFORMATION PROVISION

IEC is considered central to the fight against HIV/AIDS (Batambuze 2003). Uganda is 

thought to be the most successful country in the world in reversing the prevalence of the 

disease (Albright and Kawooya, 2005). In 1992, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni 

set precedence by establishing a formal IEC strategy that included the ABC model 

(Abstinence, Be Faithful, and Condoms) and that is credited with reducing HIV 

prevalence rates to less than 5% in 2004, according to UNAIDS. It is believed that the 

success of Uganda’s strategy has been largely because of the widespread messages about 

AIDS throughout society. 

A gap appears to exist, however, between the recognition of the importance of 

information in combating HIV/AIDS and the role of libraries as sources of useful 

information. The IEC strategies that are becoming more common throughout SubSaharan Africa in prevention efforts (see Antwi and Oppong Yaa, 2003, for example) do 

not appear to have a direct policy connection with libraries or information/documentation 

centers in any formal capacity. In addition to cultural barriers for libraries in general, a 

national HIV/AIDS policy that directs and supports library participation in HIV/AIDS 

information activities is lacking (Batambuze 2003). This does not imply, however, a lack 

of activity surrounding HIV/AIDS information. Despite the lack of reported library 

activity, many other activities currently are reported in Sub-Saharan Africa involving the 

dissemination of HIV/AIDS information. Educational institutions and youth 

organizations target the youth population. For example, the integration of HIV/AIDS 

information into the school curriculum is a common approach. Batambuze (2003) reports 

that President Museveni of Uganda directed all head teachers of primary and secondary 

schools to discuss HIV/AIDS with their students at least once a week. 

Similarly, libraries have attempted to integrate HIV/AIDS educational information into 

their general services. Many public and school libraries have created HIV/AIDS 

“corners” that include mostly pamphlets and ephemeral material. These tend to be lost, 

however, in large collections. (Baffour-Awuah 2004). In the HIV/AIDS corners, children 

are introduced to materials about HIV/AIDS and are given the opportunity to talk about 

the disease through guided discussion with peers. Matoksi (n.d.) suggests that public and 

school libraries discuss HIV/AIDS issues on a daily basis in the HIV/AIDS “corners.” 

There are regional variations in library participation in HIV/AIDS information activities. 

In Uganda, for example, school libraries lag behind other libraries in the provision of 

HIV/AIDS information (Batambuze 2003). Even within a given country, the level of 

services will vary, depending upon local, district/provincial, and national conditions. An 

outdated colonial model and lack of a useful alternative, lack of professional training, 

deficiencies in conducting needs analyses, and lack of cooperation with other agencies 

exacerbate the situation (Mostert 2001). 

Despite their limitations, libraries in Sub-Saharan Africa participate in HIV/AIDS 

information activities in a variety of ways. They hold community forums for discussion 

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of local issues, including HIV/AIDS, among others. They contribute to discussion and 

potential solution of local community issues by serving as a central meeting point. 

Libraries disseminate information through a variety of media. Drama, poetry, singing 

and dancing are some of the ways HIV/AIDS information is disseminated. Albright and 

Kawooya (2005) found that radio and drama are the two most widely formats used for the 

dissemination of HIV/AIDS information in Uganda. Both methods of dissemination are 

reflective of the oral culture that is predominant throughout Sub-Saharan Africa. 

Batambuze (2003) suggests that libraries can take a strong lead in the provision of 

HIV/AIDS information dissemination and its activities, focusing specifically on children 

and young adults. But what constitutes library involvement is not always clear. The 

difference between information activities of non-library organizations in Sub-Saharan 

Africa and those of libraries depends upon how libraries are considered. Definitional 

problems with what constitutes a library make identification and analysis of library 

activities difficult to extract. The UNESCO definition of a library yields little 

information about library initiatives in HIV/AIDS information dissemination in Africa. 

By taking a broader approach of incorporating information and documentation centers 

and library associations, examples of specific information activities can be found in the 

literature to investigate the role of libraries in HIV/AIDS information in Sub-Saharan 

Africa. The following examples are grouped together alphabetically by country with the 

exception of the first example, which is from the West African region. Not all examples 

are from “libraries,” but may also include services often associated with libraries or 

because they are targeting youth populations. 

REGIONAL CASE STUDIES

WEST AFRICA: THE AFRICAN AIDS RESEARCH NETWORK AND POPULATION COUNCIL 

HORIZONS 

In West Africa, the African AIDS Research Network and Population Council Horizons 

(AARN) reports a project designed to create and disseminate HIV/AIDS information to 

individuals and organizations involved in AIDS work (2002). In addition to designing 

information media for their audience, AARN established a Documentation and 

Information Center to link information and communication between national AIDS 

programs and donors, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and associations. In 

order to design information for their Francophone audience, they recognized the language 

barriers and translated research results into French. They disseminated the information 

media they designed using the postal service as well as ICTs to Africa and elsewhere. 

Documents were created for use by organizations that disseminate HIV/AIDS activities. 

Many of the documents were designed to target youth and included topics such as 

behavioral change, sexually transmitted infections, and barrier methods to prevent 

sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV, among others. 

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THE ROLE OF LIBRARIES IN HIV/AIDS INFORMATION DISSEMINATION IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

SOUTH AFRICA: THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN NETWORK OF AIDS SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS 

(SANASO)

The Southern African Network of AIDS Service Organizations (SANASO) “is a Network 

of NGOs, Faith based organisations FBOs, Community based Organisations (CBOs) and 

People living with HIV/AIDS (PWAs) involved in HIV/AIDS work in Southern Africa” 

(Southern African Network of AIDS Service Organizations 2005). Members of 

SANASO include Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South 

Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe, with over 1,000 participating organizations. 

The network was established over ten years ago and was created to facilitate contacts and 

communication among participating organizations. Information sharing, common policy 

statements and cooperation are central to the organization’s goal of strengthening 

responses to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Country level networks include: 

• Angola Network of AIDS Service Organisations (ANASO) 

• Botswana Network of AIDS Service Organisations (BONASO) 

• Lesotho Network of AIDS Service Organisations (LENASO) 

• Malawi Network of AIDS Service Organisations (MANASO) 

• Mozambique Network of AIDS Service Organisations (MONASO) 

• Namibia Network of AIDS Service Organisations (NANASO) 

• Swaziland Network of AIDS Service Organisations (SwaNASO) 

• Zambia Network of AIDS Service Organisations (ZNAN) 

• Zimbabwe Network of AIDS Service Organisations (ZAN) 

Contact information and Web addresses for each of the networks can be found on the 

SANASO Web site at http://www.sanaso.org.zw/about.htm. 

COUNTRY REPORTS

Activities in individual countries are reported in Appendix B. Descriptions are compiled 

from Web sites, published literature, grey literature, and from e-mail responses to 

requests for information about projects in Sub-Saharan Africa. In addition to the project 

descriptions, relevant national government offices are reported. Contact information for 

Ministries of Health and AIDS Commissions are included. 

It is not known whether all of the projects reported employ trained library or information 

professionals. They all claim, however, to be involved in HIV/AIDS information 

activities. Ikoja-Odongo (2005) suggested that if LIS professionals are not involved in 

these projects, there is opportunity for them to become involved. 

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SITE VISIT TO CAMEROON

INTRODUCTION

In July 2004 the Commission asked Mr. John Scott of the Center for Public Service 

Communications in Arlington, Virginia to undertake an assessment of the role of libraries 

in disseminating HIV/AIDS prevention information in Africa in support of the NCLIS 

initiative on Libraries as Consumer Health Information Distribution Centers in Africa. 

Scott made a two-week site visit to Cameroon facilitated by the U.S. Ambassador to that 

country, Mr. Niels Marquardt and his wife Judi. This section of this report is based 

entirely on Scott’s observations and the information he collected from Cameroonian 

officials and librarians. 

Cameroonian history is long and rich in culture. “Cultures” is probably more accurate, 

for within its relatively small geographic area Cameroon is said to have a representative 

sample of many of the cultures and topographies of the continent—desert, mountain, 

savannah, jungle and coastline. Eight of Cameroon's ten provinces are Francophone and 

two are Anglophone. Though French and English are the primary languages of 

Cameroon, many dialects are spoken and regional patois, or pigeon, seems to be most 

commonly spoken. Islam and Christianity, the two dominant religions of Cameroon, not 

only influence spiritual life but also guide much of community development. Cameroon 

has only a few densely populated urban areas, but has many small towns and rural 

villages. 

Cameroon is a poor country, with per capita income of $640 (based on the World Bank 

GNI Atlas method), and nearly 50 percent of the people in the capital city of Yaoundé are 

out of work. The health of many Cameroonians is not good and the instance if HIV and 

AIDS is high. AIDS and Malaria alone probably account for the biggest drain on all 

sectors of society, though many Cameroonians would say that corruption has done nearly 

as much damage to the economy and to morale. 

HIV/AIDS PREVENTION IN CAMEROON

The rising trend in Cameroon's prevalence (currently about 11%) poses a serious threat to 

the country's economic recovery and development. However, treatment of individuals 

with HIV and AIDS has come a long way in recent years. According to its strategic 

HIV/AIDS plan (2000-2005), the Government of Cameroon aims to increase condom use 

among high risk groups, make voluntary HIV counseling and testing services more 

widely available nationwide, and expand the antiretroviral program for people living with 

HIV/AIDS. 

Some prominent physicians in Cameroon’s Northwest Province argue that the cost of 

antiretroviral drugs is now within the range of affordability for many people. But 

20 
THE ROLE OF LIBRARIES IN HIV/AIDS INFORMATION DISSEMINATION IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

prevention is still the key to control, and public education is of paramount importance. 

Communicating “modern” public health and disease prevention strategies to the public, 

including ways to reduce the transmission of HIV/AIDS, is challenging in many ways. 

Not the least of these is the relative non-existence of reliable repositories of consumer 

health information, such as libraries. 

HIV/AIDS information is available through public health offices and clinics in the form 

of counseling and handing out of printed materials. Most people do not go into clinics, 

however, until they already have a problem and are looking for a cure. 

Use of the Internet as a means to convey information to the public and share information 

within the health sector is still in the dream stage. Many health professionals are aware 

of the potential of health information technology, but the Internet has only recently begun 

to be available—increasingly through the proliferation of private sector cyber cafés. 

More recently, HIV/AIDS is an occasional topic talked about in churches. An open 

discussion is problematic, however, because of the inherent conflict between religious 

beliefs and some methods of prevention, and sex before marriage is not an acceptable 

practice by either Christians or Muslims. Also challenging is the struggle to get past 

many traditional health practices and myths that confound attempts to promote effective 

modern prevention strategies. 

One such myth is that having sex with a virgin will cure AIDS; the younger the virgin, 

the more potent the cure. Examples where the conflict with traditional beliefs has been 

well documented include relatively recent cases of cholera and meningitis outbreaks that 

happened because of the traditional cultural practice of Wake Keeping. In many villages 

it is a common practice to lay a deceased person out for viewing so that family and 

friends can pay their last respects, which often include kissing and caressing the corpse. 

Grieving wives will wipe the mucus from the nose of their dead husbands and, 

unwittingly transmit cholera, meningitis or other diseases to themselves as their hands 

come in contact with their own noses or eyes while wiping away tears. 

Changing behavior like this is a long process. In the case of Wake Keeping, which is 

now a banned practice, cessation started at the community level. Communities or 

districts within each of Cameroon’s ten provinces were divided into zones. Each zone 

elected community representatives to serve on a community health committee. The zone 

committees in turn elected representatives to a district committee and then to a provincial 

committee. In the case of Wake Keeping, it was the provincial committee that decided 

that the practice should be banned in the NW Province of Bamenda. 

Taking the community-level focus a step further, the Cameroonian Association of 

Women’s’ Health, a community health advocacy group, realized that the regional zones 

were too big and, since cultures vary even from village to village, decided to group zones 

into divisions of 2,000 people and develop peer-to-peer counseling and education 

programs that take local cultural differences into account. 

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U.S. NATIONAL COMMISSION ON LIBRARIES AND INFORMATION SCIENCE

 

Having learned the importance of cultural appropriateness of public health messages, and 

wanting to ensure accuracy in the promotion of prevention strategies, the Ministry of 

Health began to regulate public information about HIV/AIDS5

 

LIBRARIES IN CAMEROON

Although rich in many ways, Cameroonian culture does not emphasize the use or support 

of libraries. Even some Cameroonian librarians acknowledge that the two best 

collections of Cameroonian history are in the U.S. and French embassy libraries. Books 

are scarce and expensive to produce, relative to their worth (cost) in the market. 

The challenges to homogeneity—the remnants of the colonial past, including language 

and religion, as well as the isolated rural nature of the population—have resulted in a rich 

oral culture where national, community and family histories have been passed from 

generation to generation by the telling of stories. To understand the current status and 

history of libraries in Cameroon, it is not particularly helpful to make comparisons with 

libraries in the United States. While the library has been a fixture in the United States for 

many years, helped considerably by the efforts and support of Andrew Carnegie, 

Cameroon has enjoyed no such patronage and library services taken for granted in the 

U.S. are scarce or non-existent in Cameroon. 

The libraries in Cameroon come in several varieties, including a “national library” and 

seven university libraries. Many of the larger foreign embassies have libraries, NGOs 

have information resource centers (like libraries), and there are private school libraries, 

public school libraries, and “livres poteau”—street market "bookstores" where lowerincome community residents buy used books. 

Most libraries with collections of (relative) size or significance charge the public a fee for 

use. Ten dollars a year seems to be the most common rate that public and university 

libraries charge. This fee seems to be more to “protect” the collections; the idea being 

that only people who take care of their books would be willing pay so much. Some 

national collections (for example, the Library Information Centre of the British Council) 

also charge user fees, but these include the additional benefit of access to computers with 

Internet access. The U.S. Embassy does not charge a user fee, but access to the embassy, 

as to other embassies, is problematic. Normal embassy security procedures makes 

informal use of libraries difficult even if they were open to the public; and most of the 

general public would not even think of going to an embassy to read books. 

5

 This represents a relatively new approach for Cameroon. Most public health information does not receive 

the scrutiny that HIV/AIDS material does. Cameroon has no public protection agencies such as the FDA or 

FCC in the United States. This need becomes evident in the lack of regulation of communications media 

dissemination of medical claims for cures or medicines. 

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THE ROLE OF LIBRARIES IN HIV/AIDS INFORMATION DISSEMINATION IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

Most books and probably all journals available in libraries are not authored by 

Cameroonians. In fact, not many books at all are formally published each year in 

Cameroon. It is more common for authors to self-publish. For example Jean-Pierre 

Ghonda, a Cameroonian and the head of the U.S. Embassy’s Information Resource 

Center, has written seven or eight books, but none of them has been formally published. 

The principal reason is the cost of printing. Authors who publish are asked to give four 

copies of their work to the national library so they can be recorded. Theoretically, two of 

them are publicly available and two are saved. Many authors, however, do not comply; 

some do not know the law and some ignore it. One result of this is that writers are 

discouraged from publishing. Another is the poor state of bibliographic control of books 

by Cameroonian authors. A national bibliography does not exist and little is known 

about books Cameroonians have written—how many, what they are, or where they can 

be found. 

The university libraries of Cameroon have poor collections—measured in numbers of 

volumes, currency, and condition of the books. Even the collection at the Yaoundé 1 

University Library (reputed to be the best in Cameroon) is not large, and the usable

collection is even smaller than it appears. Many of the books that sit side-by-side on the 

shelves are in several languages (French, English, Dutch, Spanish, German and others), 

thereby limiting their value to students, most of whom read only French or English. 

Students use university libraries primarily in the final years of study, for their 

dissertations and theses. Even then libraries are not convenient, and access to collections 

is controlled. A few years ago when collections were publicly available, the library 

shelves were open to students and faculty and the collection at Yaoundé 1 numbered 

120,000 books. Within a year and a half the collection was down to 54,000 due to theft 

and destruction; to students or faculty ripping out the sections of books they needed. 

Now, students and faculty have only controlled access to the collections. As for the 

general public, even if they were interested, they would not gain much access to the 

library, in part because of the access fees, which are not entirely prohibitive, but high 

enough to be out of reach of many. 

Because of (and despite) this state of affairs, the Association for the Promotion of Library 

Information Resources (ASPID) was recently formed. ASPID members are hopeful and 

engaged and are looking for ways to promote literacy and improve the lot of libraries. Its 

objective is to promote reading and the dissemination of knowledge in Cameroon. 

By American standards, the lack of libraries and adequate collections may be considered 

a sad state, and in fact many Cameroonians would agree. It would be an 

oversimplification, however, to think that addressing the public’s needs for information is 

only an issue of erecting more buildings and filling them with books. 

THE “LIVING LIBRARY”

Libraries as traditionally conceived in Cameroon have not been much help with 

disseminating health information. However, if redefined, libraries—not just as buildings 

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U.S. NATIONAL COMMISSION ON LIBRARIES AND INFORMATION SCIENCE

and books, but as places (even temporary and nomadic) where health information is 

available in the form of books, oral storytelling or theatrical presentations—might have a 

chance to make a difference. Particularly in this oral culture, “librarians” might, then, 

include storytellers, actors and students who go into communities and share information, 

in addition to the librarians who build libraries, collect books and promote literacy. 

ASPID librarians are excited about the idea of redefining libraries as a way to breathe 

new life into their library programs. The U.S. Ambassador is also enthusiastic and 

supportive; his wife is already engaged in early planning of possible strategies as is the 

U.S. Embassy Information Resource Center and the HIV/AIDS Task Force. As a 

demonstration of the interest on the part of the Cameroon Government, the director of the 

Comité National de Lotte Contre le SIDA (the National AIDS Control Committee of the 

Cameroon Ministry of Health) has even named the idea: the “Living Library.” 

Preliminary discussions are already taking place that could lead to a pilot project to outfit 

a mobile van (much like a “bookmobile” in the United States) that would drive to 

locations throughout Cameroon and set up temporary “libraries” where people regularly 

congregate, such as village markets on market day. Volunteers from ASPID and 

governmental and non-governmental HIV/AIDS organizations would accompany the 

van. Books would be available, as would AIDS prevention materials and counseling. 

Storytellers and drama troupes would help promote the message and encourage reading. 

Mrs. Chantal Biya, the wife of President Paul Biya and First Lady of Cameroon, created 

Synergies Africaines (African Synergies), a non-profit organization that focuses on AIDS 

prevention. Synergies Africaines is a member of the U.S. Embassy-sponsored HIV/AIDS 

Task Force and the board of directors of Synergies Africaines is comprised of first ladies 

from many countries in Africa, and this augurs well for the future visibility and 

sustainability of the Living Library initiative. 

Many details will have to be worked out and challenges overcome before the Living 

Library concept can be realized. Funding will be the principal challenge. It is estimated 

that a budget of US$150,000 – US$200,000 would cover the purchase, maintenance, and 

operation of a suitable “van, ” program expenses for a year—including costs for salaries 

or other compensation for personnel—and books and other materials. Despite their 

energy, enthusiasm, and excitement and the potential of the initiative, none of the 

protagonists currently has sufficient resources, or immediate access to them, to take on 

the Living Library. Help will be required. 

Other details will also have to be worked out before the Living Library comes alive. For 

example, recognizing that most Cameroonians have little or no experience with 

borrowing and returning books, a scheme that would combine lending and giving books 

will likely have to be considered. Over the course of a year, as the Living Library visits 

and revisits communities, it may be determined that certain sites would be good 

candidates for future investment in permanent library infrastructure. 

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THE ROLE OF LIBRARIES IN HIV/AIDS INFORMATION DISSEMINATION IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

EXPANDING ICT IN CAMEROON

It should also be recognized that access to communications technologies is improving and 

costs are dropping. Cell phone use can be seen throughout Cameroon and cyber cafés are 

proliferating in Yaoundé, Bamenda, Limbe and other urban locations throughout the 

country (though by no means is either cell phone or Internet use ubiquitous). A growing 

number of community-based organizations and NGOs also have access to the Internet. 

After his visit to Cameroon, it seemed clear to Scott that attention to improving access to 

the Internet and enhancing the quality of Internet service, as well as training in how to 

use the Internet effectively, would be an important and worthwhile investment in 

promoting literacy and reading in Cameroon. The potential for using the Internet and 

other low-cost information technologies as a way to provide access to information and 

literature is great, and enthusiasm would be high for the development of pilot projects in 

schools and community centers. These technologies could also provide valuable and 

needed support and training for teachers and librarians. It might even be feasible to 

integrate these technologies into the Living Library concept. 

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U.S. NATIONAL COMMISSION ON LIBRARIES AND INFORMATION SCIENCE

SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES FOR LIBRARIES IN HIV/AIDS

INFORMATION DISSEMINATION

What do these case studies reveal about the role of libraries in the dissemination of 

HIV/AIDS information? Several themes recur throughout the projects that can be 

summarized into general categories of content, programs, and structure (Table 7). 

Content Programs Structure Other 

Language Reading Collaboration Policy 

Illiteracy Peer education Partnership Publishing 

Audience Community center Funding Perception 

Format Needs analysis Training 

Table 7. Summary of Themes/Barriers to Library Involvement in 

HIV/AIDS Information in Sub-Saharan Africa 

The content of the activities described in these projects addressed issues of language, 

illiteracy, audience, and format. It is clear that one of the primary needs for information 

in general in Sub-Saharan Africa is for materials to be available in the local languages. 

Despite the official languages of English, French, and Portuguese, which are colonial 

legacies, many indigenous languages are spoken throughout the Sub-Saharan world. 

Without the necessary translations, even the best information is useless. This is a service 

that appeared in the project reviews as one that could be provided by libraries. 

Illiteracy is another area that has implications for library service. Because a significant 

portion of the population in Sub-Saharan Africa is illiterate, materials need to be 

available in many formats in addition to print. Some of the projects mentioned the use of 

audio (for example, audio books, and radio), drama, story, and song as methods used to 

deliver HIV/AIDS messages. Libraries in Sub-Saharan Africa appear to recognize the 

need to include many of these formats in their information services. The same 

considerations need to be taken into account when designing and selecting materials for 

specific audiences. The use of fiction, for example, is recognized as a means to make 

HIV/AIDS information more interesting especially to children and youth. Libraries need 

to consider additional formats for collections and services that are culturally appropriate 

in the oral cultures of Sub-Saharan Africa. 

A variety of programs were mentioned throughout the projects reviewed in this study. 

Again, because illiteracy is common, basic reading programs integrated with the 

dissemination of HIV/AIDS information, were considered to be effective. Opportunities 

for library staff to work with local communities on reading were common and certainly 

fit within the scope of library activities. 

A related theme that appeared throughout the projects was peer education. This was 

considered particularly important when providing services targeted to young people. 

26 
THE ROLE OF LIBRARIES IN HIV/AIDS INFORMATION DISSEMINATION IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

Regardless of other programmatic activities, peer education appeared to be the most 

common approach to spreading the HIV/AIDS message. Libraries could recruit 

volunteers from their local communities and train them to provide support these services. 

Another common theme was the notion of an information clearinghouse that serves local 

community needs. This approach was reflected in the rise of community centers, youth 

centers, documentation centers, multipurpose telecenters, and other names for a similar 

idea. These centers serve as more than just a collection of resources, but also as a 

community center where local forums and meetings can be conducted, both formal and 

informal. In order to assess the unique needs of a particular community, libraries should 

conduct a needs analysis. Not specific to HIV/AIDS information activities, needs 

analysis was identified as a common failing of libraries in Sub-Saharan Africa in general. 

The project reviews also suggested some patterns in approach to the way that libraries in 

Sub-Saharan Africa are structured that have implications for the delivery of HIV/AIDS 

information and services. Because of the cultural uniqueness of African libraries, 

flexibility and responsiveness are necessary to provide quality service within the SubSaharan region. Given the limited resources, however, means that libraries need to look 

outside the traditional scope of the library to provide a broader range of services that will 

better serve their communities. Partnerships and collaborations with other organizations 

was a common approach used in many of the projects. Working closely with schools and 

educational NGOs, for example, was common practice. Additional collaborations that 

were mentioned include working with media such as radio stations to include more 

programming content made available to wider audiences. Not only does this offer 

libraries access to a broader range of formats, but it also allows libraries to participate in 

a much needed support role for other organizations besides their local communities. 

Charles Batambuze, Chair of the Uganda National Library Association, suggests, “I think 

that libraries have had a limited and sometimes an indirect role in the dissemination of 

HIV/AIDS information. For example communication experts who develop radio and 

other mass media messages for the general public get their facts by undertaking research 

in a library of some kind” (Batambuze May 31, 2005). 

In order to accommodate the greater demands for flexibility and responsiveness, library 

staffs need better training. This was another theme that appeared in the broader literature 

of African libraries in general and is outside the scope of this study. It is important to 

note, however, that library and information science education in Sub-Saharan Africa is 

vibrant and developing its own cultural identity. For example, currently underway are 

efforts to establish a consortium of East African library and information science programs 

that will allow for resource sharing, faculty and student exchange, and collective buying 

practices. There is demand for more graduates of these programs, particularly at the 

Bachelor’s level, since that is considered to be the professional degree. In addition, 

Makerere University has just started a doctoral program with four students in its initial 

cohort (Kigongo-Bukenya 2005). 

Other themes were revealed in the review. The lack of national policy to direct library 

participation in HIV/AIDS information activities was identified. Without guidance and 

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U.S. NATIONAL COMMISSION ON LIBRARIES AND INFORMATION SCIENCE

support from national, district/provincial, and local government, funding remains 

constricted, staffing shortages continue, and poor perceptions of the library persist. 

Financial assets are a particular problem for academic libraries. Universities typically 

contribute less than 1 percent of their budgets to their libraries (Sturges and Neill 1997). 

This translates into a severe shortage of materials and staff who have the necessary skills. 

Problems exist within the African publishing industry itself. Foreign publishers have 

historically demonstrated little interest in publishing works by African authors (Sturges 

and Neill 1997). Again, the issues involved in the publishing industry are complex and 

outside the immediate scope of this study. It is important, however, to note two points 

that emerged from the review. First, many materials that are distributed on HIV/AIDS do 

not originate in Africa and may not be as culturally appropriate as those that originate 

within Africa. Materials developed by Africans themselves may be more effective in 

transmitting the HIV/AIDS information. Second, the costs of printing are extremely high 

(for example, paper, colored prints, reproduction), which usually renders them out of 

range for library budgets. 

The fact that libraries are not as involved in HIV/AIDS information activities in SubSaharan Africa as much as they could be has raised concern among the library and 

information professional community. As Moshoeshoe (2005), Acting University 

Librarian at the University of Lesotho, observed, “We have noted with concern that 

substantial studies on HIV/AIDS profusely continue, yet with no significant involvement 

of Libraries or Librarians. Let me hasten to suggest that, ideally, any research team 

should have a librarian in it. Why? S/he would ensure that relevant information stored in 

[a] formal collection is used. As well, the final reports would be deposited. At [the] 

present moment, it is likely that some externally-funded research output is never acquired 

within the country.” 

In addition to the opportunity for library and information professionals to take a stronger 

lead in HIV/AIDS information activities, the opportunity is at hand to advance the 

information profession in the community. Information professionals provide a wide 

range of information services in a variety of environments throughout Sub-Saharan 

Africa. By taking a lead in HIV/AIDS information efforts, they are afforded a unique 

opportunity to strengthen their visibility, contribution, and establishment as a recognized, 

respected profession. 

Libraries may not be perceived as the main source for information, but the value of 

HIV/AIDS information is nonetheless well recognized. According to one African citizen, 

“We have the knowledge; we have information on HIV/AIDS, we know there is no cure 

for it. We know the information is the only way of preventing the disease and that’s 

where the challenge is. If we can take that out into the communities, let them understand 

the whole thing” (UNICEF Radio n.d.). 

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THE ROLE OF LIBRARIES IN HIV/AIDS INFORMATION DISSEMINATION IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

FUTURE RESEARCH AND ACTION

The recognition of the importance of information in combating HIV/AIDS, coupled with 

the poor perception of libraries as information providers is troubling. The formal IEC 

strategies common throughout Sub-Saharan Africa in prevention efforts do not appear to 

have a strong formal connection with libraries or information/documentation centers. 

Libraries do not appear to take a predominant role in the IEC strategies sanctioned by 

national governments. The reasons for this were addressed only in part in this report. 

Although the sources included published literature, selected grey literature sent from 

individuals currently living and working in the Sub-Saharan countries, and African 

library associations and librarians, time constraints limited the breadth and depth of data 

collection. Although over 400 e-mails were sent to contacts in Africa, many were 

returned to the sender, resulting in a smaller yield than would have been possible if more 

time had been available for follow up. 

Given these limitations, several next steps could be taken to expand this report. It would 

be useful to incorporate additional grey literature, which is extremely important in the 

African context. Another step would be to conduct a more formal, in-depth survey of 

library associations in Sub-Saharan Africa. The members of these organizations were 

extremely helpful in providing information about their HIV/AIDS information and 

activities. A list of the associations that were contacted is in Appendix C. 

An additional methodology would be to add search terms using French terminology (for 

example, bibliotheque for library and Cameroun for Cameroon). Although this report 

accounted for British-American spelling differences, it purposefully excluded French and 

Portuguese language materials. Since much of Western Africa is Francophone, it would 

be useful to examine these materials as well. 

Since communications between the U.S. and Africa are limited by such a great distance 

and constrained by e-mail, it would be useful to gather information in Africa. This could 

be done in conjunction with a conference such as the Standing Conference of Eastern, 

Central and Southern African Library and Information Associations (SCECSAL). 

Surveys of the membership and attendees and focus groups could be conducted at this 

type of conference to learn more details about HIV/AIDS information activities. 

 

Libraries in Sub-Saharan Africa are in a difficult position. Unlike their governments, 

they have not yet gained their independence from their European models. They remain 

constrained to providing resources and services limited by a foreign perspective. 

Additional problems facing libraries are barriers to use such as illiteracy, language, and 

access, as well as lack of policy and poor public perception. Librarians in Africa do 

realize the vital need for their involvement in HIV/AIDS information dissemination. 

Despite this recognition, it is not clear to what extent libraries can become involved. 

Further research is needed to examine this issue more closely. Mchombu says, “Library 

and information services cannot sit on the fence when their nation’s young people are 

being decimated by the enemy from within who strikes silently and in darkness” (2002).

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2005]. 

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UNAIDS (2004b). Sub-Saharan Africa. Geneva: United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS 

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UNICEF Radio (n.d.). PGM_001: The Global Struggle against HIV/AIDS. UNICEF. 

http://www.unicef.org/videoaudio/video_unicef_radio.html. [Accessed May 29, 2005]. 

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APPENDIX A: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 

Several sources provide a definition and list of countries that comprise Sub-Saharan 

Africa. The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) considers the 

Sub-Saharan Africa region to include: 

• Angola 

• Benin 

• Botswana 

• Burkina Faso 

• Burundi 

• Cameroon 

• Central African Republic 

• Chad 

• Comoros 

• Congo, Republic of the 

• Cote d’Ivoire 

• Democratic Republic of the 

Congo 

• Djibouti 

• Eritrea 

• Ethiopia 

• Gabon 

• Gambia 

• Ghana 

• Guinea 

• Guinea-Bissau 

• Kenya 

• Lesotho 

• Liberia 

• Madagascar 

• Malawi 

• Mali 

• Mauritania 

• Mauritius 

• Mozambique 

• Namibia 

• Niger 

• Nigeria 

• Rwanda 

• Senegal 

• Sierra Leone 

• Somalia 

• South Africa 

• Sudan6

• Swaziland 

• Tanzania 

• Togo 

• Uganda 

• Zambia 

• Zimbabwe 

Sources used for the literature review included databases, print sources, and the Internet. 

Internet searches of government and non-governmental organization (NGO) sites were 

also conducted to identify relevant information including current and historic surveillance 

reports. In addition, key sources were used for cited reference searches in order to expand 

the search and capture additional materials that may have been missed in the initial sweep 

of the literature. Using both forward chaining and backward chaining methods, a 

comprehensive search of the literature was completed.7

 Cited reference and cited author 

6

 Sudan was not included in the UNAIDS list but is included in this report. 

7

 Backward chaining refers to following the references cited in an initial source. Forward chaining refers to 

the process of following sources that cite the initial source. This is the process used for cited reference or 

cited author searches. 

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searches were also conducted where appropriate in order to expand the search and ensure 

the inclusion of relevant documents. 

Databases searched included: 

• AIDSinfo 

• MEDLINE 

• PsycINFO 

• Emerald Fulltext 

• Academic Search Premier 

• LISA 

• Library Literature Full Text 

• ERIC 

• Web of Science 

• Education Full Text 

• Social Science Electronic Data 

Library (SSEDL) 

• ERIC 

• Inspec (1969+) 

• NTIS: National Technical 

Information Service 

• Social SciSearch 

• Dissertation Abstracts Online 

• Gale Group Magazine Database 

• British Education Index 

• Gale Group Trade & Industry 

Database 

• Education Abstracts 

• Library Literature 

• African Journals Online 

In addition, requests were posted to selected listservs, asking for information on library 

and information agency activities in HIV/AIDS. Listservs utilized included: 

• Library associations 

o Uganda Library Association 

o Tanzania Library Association 

o Nigeria Library Association 

o Association of Health Information and Libraries in Africa (AHILA) 

o International Association of School Librarianship School Libraries Online 

• AIDS organizations 

o Children Affected by AIDS 

o Nigeria AIDS e-Forum 

• Media listservs 

o Journalists Against AIDS 

Other associations that were contacted and searched included: 

• Southern Africa HIV/AIDS Dissemination Service (SAFAIDS) 

(http://www.safaids.org.zw) 

• Southern African Network of AIDS Services Organizations 

(http://www.sanaso.org) 

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Members of individual libraries were contacted as identified in Appendixes C and D and 

from their respective library Web sites. Additional library and information professionals 

were identified from directories of information professionals from various associations 

(for example, AHILA). Government and other Web sites were also included and 

searched by country for “library,” “libraries,” “information center/centre,” 

“documentation center/ centre,” “resource center/centre,” “community center/centre,” and 

“HIV/AIDS.” Sources included in this report can be found in the References section. 

Included also were Ministries of Health, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and 

academic institutions. 

The results of these searches are used to highlight and compare different approaches and 

practices employed by libraries in Sub-Saharan Africa to disseminate HIV/AIDS 

information. The report focuses primarily on the activities of libraries and on their 

possible replication from one country to another. Appendix C provides a recent list of 

libraries in Sub-Saharan Africa compiled from the Internet. Appendix D offers a list of 

library associations found in Sub-Saharan Africa, also compiled from the Internet. 

Appendix B provides selected examples of HIV/AIDS information that are disseminated 

in Uganda. Kendra Albright collected these materials while attending the National AIDS 

Conference in Uganda in March 2005. 

Additional projects that are included in this report came from electronic mail requests. 

As more people learned about the report and the request for information about their 

projects, additional e-mail messages were received from people sharing the work on 

projects throughout Sub-Saharan Africa. Four hundred and twenty-five e-mail messages 

were sent requesting information. There were sixty-eight responses and eighty-three 

were returned because of invalid e-mail addresses. 

STUDY LIMITATIONS

An important limitation of this study is that it was conducted mostly from a distance. 

Other than the site visit to Cameroon and attendance at an African conference, the 

information available for this report was collected either through traditional literature 

searching of both print and electronic sources, or from individuals who were willing to 

share their information via electronic mail. This suggests that those libraries without the 

resources necessary to afford electronic connectivity could not participate. Libraries in 

Sub-Saharan Africa may not, therefore, be well represented by this sample. 

Another limitation is that it only includes materials published in English. Many countries 

in Sub-Saharan Africa, however, use French and Portuguese as their official languages, 

particularly those in West Africa. Therefore, it is possible that this study is 

unintentionally biased toward materials about the Anglophone countries located in East 

Africa. In addition, although English, French, and Portuguese languages are the official 

languages of many African nations, these are often not the predominant languages that 

are spoken. To the contrary; there are many indigenous languages that are more 

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commonly spoken within regions or countries, which have also been excluded because of 

the researchers’ limited knowledge. 

Another possible limitation is the differences in spelling between U.S. and British 

spelling. English language materials are likely to use British spellings because the British 

and other European countries colonized much of Africa. We attempted to compensate for 

these differences by including both spellings wherever possible. For example, the British 

spelling of “behaviour” and the U.S. spelling of “behavior” were both included in 

relevant searches. 

Because of cultural concerns about the historical development of libraries in Africa being 

based upon the British model, more relevant materials for this report would be those that 

come from Africans themselves, rather than those that come from international 

organizations such as the United Nations. Preliminary searches of the international 

organizations were included but not in great depth. Other sources were more likely to 

provide information originating within Africa. 

Finally, two assumptions are made in the development of this report. First, it is assumed 

that a link exists between information and behavior change that leads to prevention or 

reduction of HIV/AIDS. This has not been proven but is evidently assumed throughout 

the literature and rhetoric of policy worldwide. 

Second, this report assumes that the reader understands the meaning of grey literature. 

The topic and issues surrounding grey literature in developing countries are outside the 

scope of this report. Because of the importance of this topic, however, it is assumed that 

the reader has a basic understanding of the issues involved in grey literature, indigenous 

knowledge, and development. 

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APPENDIX B: COUNTRY REPORTS 

ANGOLA

Ministry of Health 

Rua 17 de Setembro 

Luanda, Angola 

Tel: +244 2 338 052 

National AIDS Programme

Luanda, Angola 

Tel: +244 2 390 485 

Fax: +244 2 390 485 

There appears to be no library or resource center in Angola that is specifically designed 

to address issues of HIV/AIDS, according to Maria José Ramos (2005), Director General 

of the National Library of Angola. Since the end of Angola’s 27-year civil war, more 

people are traveling within the country, raising concerns about the spread of HIV/AIDS. 

According to Eisenstein (2003), “almost 33% of Angolans have ‘never heard’ of HIV.” 

With almost 70% of the population under the age of 24 and the high fertility rate, this 

combination suggests a dangerously high rate of HIV/AIDS in the country. UNICEF has 

established several youth centers designed to reach young people and educate them about 

the virus and offer them better education, reducing their chance of contracting HIV. 

Associação Angolana de Luta Contra a Aida (AALSIDA) 

However, according to the Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN) (2005), the 

Associação Angolana de Luta Contra a Aida (AALSIDA) in Luanda provides 

“Information; education and communication materials for prevention; counselling and 

psychological and sociological support especially aimed at young people, drug users, 

lorry drivers, soldiers and the police; advocacy.” 

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Population Services International (PSI) 

IRIN (2005) also reports that Population Services International (PSI), also located in 

Luanda, “uses social marketing to deliver health products, services and information that 

enable low-income and other vulnerable people to lead healthier lives.” 

Angola Network of AIDS Service Organisations (ANASO) 

Part of the SANASO organization, the Angola Network of AIDS Services Organization 

(ANASO) provides a national network of information exchange, access to resources, and 

technical assistance to its members. It serves to influence policy and advocacy, capacity 

building and fighting the spread of HIV. 

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BENIN

ABMS (Association Beninoise pour le Marketing Social et la 

Communication pour la santé) 

08 BP 0876 

Cotonou, Benin 

Tel.: +229 30 77 00 

Fax: +229 30 77 03 

Action, Espoir Et Vie 

01BP5344 

Cotonou, Benin 

Tel.: +229 68 37 37 

Fax: +229 31 63 87 

African Network Of People Living With Hiv/Aids (Rap+) 

071 BP 20 

Cotonou, Benin 

Tel.: +229 31 54 88 

Fax: +229 31 63 87 

Centre De Coopération Internationale en Santé et en Développement 

(CCISD) /Centre For International Cooperation in Health and 

Development 

Projet SIDA 3 - Bénin 

BP 08-0900 

Cotonou, Benin 

Tel: +229 31 36 02 

Fax: +229 31 36 05 

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Jeunesse Beninoise et Sida (Jb-Sida) 

BP 1584 

Porto Novo, Benin 

Tel.: +229 9 05 57 97 

Fax: +229 21 25 25 

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BOTSWANA

Ministry of Health 

Personal Bag 00451 

Gabarone, Botswana 

Tel: +267 391 2492 

Web site: http://www.gov.bw

National AIDS Coordinating Agency 

Personal Bag 00463 

Gaborone, Botswana 

Tel: +267 390 3188 

Fax: +267 371 0312 

Web site: http://www.naca.gov.bw

The National AIDS Coordinating Agency has a small resource center that makes its 

publications available on the NACA Web site (Moelenyane 2005). 

Botswana Networks of AIDS Service Organisations (BONASO) 

Part of the SANASO organization, the Botswana Network of AIDS Services 

Organization (BONASO) provides a national network of information exchange, access to 

resources, and technical assistance to its members. It serves to influence policy and 

advocacy, capacity building and fighting the spread of HIV. 

Population Services International (PSI) 

IRIN (2005) reports that Population Services International (PSI), located in Gabarone, 

“uses social marketing to deliver health products, services and information that enable 

low-income and other vulnerable people to lead healthier lives.” 

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BURKINA FASO

Ministry of Health 

Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso 

Tel: +226 50 32 4160 

Web site: http://www.primature.gov.bf 

Association Ammie 

The Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN) (2005) reports that Association 

Ammie provides “Information communication and education; prevention; medical, 

psychological and practical support; care and home visits; hospital visits; voluntary and 

anonymous testing; training.” Association Ammie is located in Ouahigouya. 

Association Laafi La Viim (ALAVI)

Integrated Regional Information Networks (2005) reports that the Association Laafi La 

Viim (ALAVI), located in Ouagadougou, offers services including “Information; 

education; care and support of PWAs; advocacy; counseling.” 

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BURUNDI

Ministry of Health 

Bujumbura, Burundi 

Tel: +257 24 6265 

Fax: +257 24 4758 

Conseil National de Lutte contre le SIDA (CNLS) 

B.P. 2717, Kigali 

Tel: +250 78 471 

Fax: +250 78 473 

Web site: http://www.cnlsburundi.org

Association Nationale De Soutien Aux Séropositifs Et Sidéens Du 

Burundi 

The Association Nationale De Soutien Aux Seropositifs et Sideens du Burundi provides 

services including “prevention and awareness; voluntary testing and counselling; medical 

and psychosocial care; advocacy and lobbying; drop-in centre (NAM n.d.). 

La Famille Pour Vaincre Le SIDA 

Located in Bujumbura, La Famille Pour Vaincre le SIDA offers “prevention education 

aimed at young people and couples; awareness sessions; training of community workers; 

production of education material; care of orphans; support for families” (NAM n.d.).

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CAMEROON

Ministry of Health 

Yaoundé, Cameroon 

Tel: +237 222 2901 

Programme Nationale de Lutte Contre le SIDA: 

B.P. 13810 

Yaoundé, Cameroon 

Tel: +237 222 5758 

Fax: +237 223 1653 

Centre Info Jeune 

Centre Info Jeune is a documentation centre for Presse Jeune, an “apolitical, nonpartisan 

network of youth organizations designed to foster the development of communication 

among youth” (Okomze 2001). Presse Jeune focuses on AIDS in youth media. 

Among other activities, members participated in the election of the youth network against 

AIDS in Cameroon. In 2001, Presse Jeune organized the International Conference of 

Youths' Media on AIDS in Cameroon, where the youth of 15 countries were represented. 

That same year, Presse Jeune held an awards ceremony to “reward Cameroonian 

journalists who have taken steps to make people more aware of suffering and loss due to 

HIV/AIDS” (Okomze 2001). The Minister of Health and the Executive Deputy Director 

of UNAIDS attended. 

Presse Jeune has several publications, one of which, Agir Magazine ̧focuses on the health 

of youth. In addition, Presse Jeune operates a computer and language training centre, an 

information centre, the Centre Info Jeune documentation centre, and an Internet centre. 

They also run workshops and a multimedia information centre on HIV/AIDS for young 

journalists. 

Cameroon Link 

Located in the Grand Hangar- Bonabéri neighbourhood of Douala for the past five years, 

Cameroon Link has a resource center that collects and disseminates HIV/AIDS 

information (Achanyi-Fontem 2005). A similar project is underway in the city of 

Bonabéri, with the assistance of the City Council of Strasbourg, France. 

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Synergies Africaines

Siège: Yaoundé 

Boîte Postale 3526 – Yaoundé, Cameroun 

Téléphone: (237) 223 09 15 

Fax: (237) 223 11 63 

http://www.synergiesafricaines.org 

E-mail: contact@synergiesafricaines.org 

Mrs. Chantal Biya, the wife of President Paul Biya, and First Lady of Cameroon, created 

Synergies Africaines (African Synergies), a non-profit organization that focuses on AIDS 

prevention. Synergies Africaines is a member of the U.S. Embassy-sponsored HIV/AIDS 

Task Force and the board of directors of Synergies Africaines is comprised of first ladies 

from many countries. 

FESADE (Femmes-Santé-Développement en Afrique Sub-Saharienne) 

B.P 724 

Yaoundé, Cameroon 

Tel.: +237 223 42 32 

Fax: +237 223 42 32 

The documentation center supports the mission of FESADE to focus on women’s health, 

training and information, access to publications, adolescent health, and care of children. 

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CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

Ministry of Public Health and Populations 

Ministère de la Santé Publique et de la Population 

P.O. Box 823 

Bangui, CAR 

Tel: +236 61 16 35 

National Programme to Fight AIDS 

Programme National de lutte contre le Sida 

P.O. Box 1416 

Bangui, CAR 

Tel: +236 61 17 32 

Fax: +236 61 29 40 

HIV/AIDS Documentation Centre 

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and UNAIDS have funded an HIV/AIDS 

documentation, information, education and communication centre in the Central African 

Republic (CAR) capital of Bangui. The purpose of the project is “to reduce the number 

of HIV-positive people in CAR," according to Enoch Senzongo, Director of the Centre 

(Integrated Regional Information Network, 2003). Funded for an initial three years 

beginning in September 2002, the Centre will work in partnerships with NGOs and youth 

and women’s associations focusing on HIV/AIDS. It houses a library with a capacity of 

10,000 books, most of which are provided by UNFPA, UNAIDS, UNDP, and the Central 

African Republic Ministry of Health. The library will house books about tuberculosis 

and other infectious diseases in addition to HIV/AIDS. In addition, the Centre will 

disseminate anti-AIDS information and hold educational seminars about HIV/AIDS in 

both urban and rural locations in order to reach as many people as possible. The Centre 

also received computer and audiovisual equipment from UNAIDS, allowing connection 

to the Internet (Integrated Regional Information Network, 2003). This connection 

benefits researchers, students, and other NGOs. 

 

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THE ROLE OF LIBRARIES IN HIV/AIDS INFORMATION DISSEMINATION IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

CHAD

Ministry of Health

Ndjamena, Chad 

Tel: 235 52 3407 

Tel: 235 25 4040 

Association Fraternité 

Al-nadjma 

BP 6236 

N'Djamena 

+235 526084/291560 

+235 526514/523407 

(Lazarus Foundation n.d. 

The Association Fraternité offers services including “advocacy/rights; information 

exchange; capacity building; health promotion” (NAM n.d.). 

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DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF 

THE CONGO (DRC)

National Programme against AIDS (Programme National de Lutte 

Contre le Sida)

B.P. 5806 

Kinshasa 

Tel: +243 88 016 44 

Fax: +243 88 436 75 

Central Network of AIDS Service Organisations (CANASO)

The Central Network of AIDS Service Organisations (CANASO) includes 9 HIV/AIDS 

national networks in the Central African countries (Burundi, Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, 

Equatorial Guinea, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda 

and Chad) (Integrated Regional Information Network 2005). Its purpose is to increase 

community awareness and response to HIV/AIDS in Central Africa. In order to 

accomplish this goal, it promotes the development of sustainable networks that offer 

leadership in advocacy, development of programs, and increased participation by people 

living with HIV and AIDS. 

CEDITA - Centre D'encadrement pour le Développement, Information 

- Initiatives sur la Technologie Appropriée 

CEDITA offers information dissemination and documentation services, support to small 

organizations, including training and equipment supply (NAM n.d.). 

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THE ROLE OF LIBRARIES IN HIV/AIDS INFORMATION DISSEMINATION IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

CONGO, REPUBLIC OF

Ministry of Public Health and Social Affairs 

Ministère de la Santé et des Affaires Sociales 

B.P 13115 

Brazzaville, Congo 

Tel: +242 83 55 53 

National Programme to Fight Against aids 

Programme Ntional de lutte Contre Le sida 

P.O. Box 1186 

Brazzaville, République du Congo 

Tel: +242 42 90 76 

Fax: +242 81 34 47 

French to Fund HIV/AIDS Centres 

The Republic of Congo and France have signed an agreement to develop an HIV/AIDS 

information and documentation center, funded by France. The center will cost an 

estimated 20 million CFA. The center is part of the National Sanitary Development Plan 

(PNDS), which identifies national strategies to achieve the national 'Health for All' goal. 

An estimated 86,000 women and children in the Republic of Congo are living with HIV 

infection, according to UNAIDS statistics (Integrated Regional Information Network 

2000). 

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ERITREA

Ministry of Health

P.O. Box 212 

Asmara, Eritrea 

Tel: +291 1 117549 

Fax: +291 1 122899 

National AIDS and TB Control Division

Tel: +291 1 121562 

Fax: +291 1 122899 / 125835 

 

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THE ROLE OF LIBRARIES IN HIV/AIDS INFORMATION DISSEMINATION IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

ETHIOPIA

Ministry of Health

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 

Tel: +251 1 517 011 

National AIDS Council

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 

Tel: +251 1 159 988 

Fax: +251 1 519 366 

The Tigrai Development Association 

Regional development associations have taken on the role of providing services to 

communities that are otherwise not available. The Tigrai Development Association 

(TDA) is a regional development association in Ethiopia. In addition to building 82 

primary schools, they have refurbished local public libraries that serve an estimated 

140,000 readers. In addition, the TDA distributes books to schools, public libraries, 

vocational and health centres, and Tigrai’s university as part of an HIV/AIDS awareness 

campaign. The TDA works with other NGOS to build reading rooms and stock them 

with reading materials, as well as provide library training and the production of 

community newsletters. They have also “produced a number of children's publications in 

local languages which were the result of a regional children's writing competition” 

(BookAid International n.d.). 

The Ethiopian AIDS Resource Centre (ARC) 

The AIDS Resource Centre (ARC) located in Addis Ababa provides AIDS information to 

Ethiopia (AIDS Resource Center n.d.). Founded in 2002, the ARC was established 

through a partnership between the Ethiopian government’s HIV/AIDS Prevention and 

Control Office (HAPCO), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Johns 

Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health/Center for Communication Programs 

(CCP), and the Constella Group. The ARC is a central library and clearinghouse for upto-date and accurate local and international multimedia materials on HIV/AIDS, sexually 

transmitted diseases (STDs) and tuberculosis (TB). These resources serve a wide range of 

health and policy professionals involved in HIV/AIDS policy activities (Integrated 

Regional Information Network, 2003). 

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A second information HIV/AIDS information center was opened in the city of Adama in 

the Oromia region of Ethiopia, as an expansion of the national ARC in Addis Ababa. 

The new center is funded by President George W. Bush’s Emergency Plan for AIDS 

Relief through the CDC, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria 

through HAPCO. The new center is housed in the Oromia HAPCO office and local staff 

interact with staff at the national ARC. The two centers will share information and 

resources, including the ARC Web site and databases. In addition, the Oromia ARC 

offers high-speed Internet access to users needing information on health issues, and to 

support HAPCO and Health Bureau activities in HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted 

diseases (STDs) and tuberculosis (TB). The new ARC also offers journalists information 

on HIV/AIDS from local perspectives. Additional services offered by the new ARC 

include a multimedia library of HIV/AIDS information, voluntary counseling and testing 

(VCT), prevention of mother to child HIV transmission (PMTCT), antiretroviral therapy 

(ART), STDs, TB, and other information. Other programs and activities are available 

including local and international HIV/AIDS conference databases, news, material, 

organizations, and opportunities for funding. It will house a comprehensive multimedia 

library of materials on HIV/AIDS, voluntary counseling and testing (VCT), prevention of 

mother to child HIV transmission (PMTCT), antiretroviral therapy (ART), STDs, TB and 

other health-related issues. Audio-visual equipment for viewing media and utilizing for 

HIV/AIDS programs and activities will also be made available, as well as databases of 

local and international HIV/AIDS-related events and conferences, news, materials, 

organizations, and funding opportunities (AIDS Resource Center, 2005). 

Care Ethiopia

The Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN) (2005) reports that Care Ethiopia, 

located in the capital of Addis Ababa, offers “Home-based care; paediatric AIDS 

research; voluntary counseling and testing; information education and counseling.” 

Centro Volontari Marchigiani

Also located in Addis Ababa, Centro Volontari Marchigiani offers services to the 

community including “Information; education; STD control; blood safety services; 

education/training; clinical care; counseling (IRIN 2005). 

Family Guidance Association

The Family Guidance Association provides “Information; education; communication; 

condom distribution; STI diagnosis and treatment; counselling; voluntary HIV testing; 

treatment of opportunistic infections” (IRIN 2005). It is located in the capital of Addis 

Ababa. 

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THE ROLE OF LIBRARIES IN HIV/AIDS INFORMATION DISSEMINATION IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

Integrated Service for AIDS Prevention and Support (ISAPSO)

 IRIN (2005) reports that the Integrated Service for AIDS Prevention and Support 

(ISAPSO) offers “Training of peer educators; seminars; condom promotion and 

distribution; development and distribution of IEC material.” 

The MESOB HIV/AIDS Networking Project 

Located in Addis Ababa, The MESOB HIV/AIDS Networking Project offers 

“Networking and information-sharing; education” (IRIN 2005). 

Organisation for Social Services For AIDS (OSSA)

IRIN (2005) reports that the Organisation for Social Services for AIDS (OSSA) is an 

umbrella NGO offering “information and education materials; community based care; 

testing and counselling; programmes for orphans; support; community economic 

project.” 

Pro Pride

Pro Pride, located in Addis Ababa, offers “Health education on HIV/AIDS and STDs; 

publication of monthly newspaper, brochures, posters and other IEC materials; radio 

sensitization programme; drama and musical shows on HIV/AIDS; counselling services; 

psychosocial support of HIV/AIDS patients; voluntary counselling and testing” (IRIN 

2005). 

Save Your Generation Association

Located in Addis Ababa, Save Your Generation Association provides “Information; 

education; condom programming; empowerment of vulnerable groups; community 

economic project; advocacy” (IRIN 2005). 

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GABON

Ministry of Health

P.O. Box 50 

Libreville, Gabon 

Tel: +241 763611 

National AIDS Control Programme 

BP 20 449 

Libreville, Gabon 

Tel: +241 761 060 

Fax: +241 734 365 

 

Association Gabonaise d'Assistance et Actions aux PVVIH (AGAAS)

The Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN) (2005) reports that the Association 

Gabonaise d’Assistance et Actions aux PVVIH (AGAAS), located in Libreville, provides 

services including “Awareness campaigns, including in schools and colleges—also in 

rural areas. Also provides support to AIDS orphans.” 

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THE ROLE OF LIBRARIES IN HIV/AIDS INFORMATION DISSEMINATION IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

GHANA

Ministry of Health

P.O. Box M44 

Accra, Ghana 

Tel: +233 21 666 151 

Fax: +233 21 663 810 

Web site: www.ghana.gov.gh 

Ghana AIDS Commission

Tel: +233 21 678 458 

Web site: www.ghanaids.gov.gh 

CARE International

The Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN) (2005) reports that CARE 

International offers “Information; education; information provision; organisational 

support” services from its location in Accra. 

GTZ Regional Aids Programme for Africa 

GTZ Regional AIDS Programme for Africa, located in Accra, provides services 

including, “Technical advice and support to transnational initiatives for HIV prevention; 

technical and financial support to NGOs; promotion of information exchange; creation of 

a network of consultants; documentation centre” (Integrated Regional Information 

Network 2005). 

Books for Africa 

Based in the U.S., Books for Africa has supported seventeen libraries in seven 

communities in Ghana (Figure 2). Working with the local community Boards of 

Trustees, Books for Africa has supplied medical texts and computers. The organization 

requires that each community must “provide and maintain a library building, appropriate 

furniture, lighting and pay the wage of a librarian” (Bromley 2005). Each library must 

also be governed and supported by a local Board of Trustees. This approach promotes 

sustainability for the libraries after the donor has gone. Books for Africa targets library 

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development in poor rural areas where funding for libraries is scarce, if not non-existent. 

Books for Africa also provides on-going support through the provision of additional 

books and training for librarians. During the summer of 2004, for example, the 

organization organized a one day training seminar which was attended by library staff. 

Figure 2. The Koo Tufoo Resource Library, Ghana, 2004. (Source: Reprinted with 

permission from Books For Africa Library Project, Kirt Bromley, 

http://www3.uakron.edu/src/DataServ/SocServ/Summit/Books_for_Africa.html).

Save the Children Fund 

Located in Accra, the Save the Children Fund provides “Education; prevention; 

information; work in partnership with local organisations with the view to building and 

strengthening their capacity in prevention work” (Integrated Regional Information 

Network 2005). 

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THE ROLE OF LIBRARIES IN HIV/AIDS INFORMATION DISSEMINATION IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

Drama Network 

The Drama Network is located in Akosombo and offers “Home based care & support for 

PWLHAS; behaviour change communication; HIV/AIDS information resource centre; 

condom sales; voluntary counselling & testing” (NAM n.d.). 

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GUINEA-BISSAU

ALTERNAG 

ALTERNAG, a local NGO in the capital of Bissau, runs an AIDS information center 

(Integrated Regional Information Network 2004). 

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THE ROLE OF LIBRARIES IN HIV/AIDS INFORMATION DISSEMINATION IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

IVORY COAST (COTE D’IVOIRE)

Ministry to Fight AIDS

Tel: +225 21 24 43 06 

 

Ministry of Health 

Abidjan Immeuble Tour C 16e Etage BP V4 

Tel: +225 20 21 08 71 

Living Positively 

A program in French-speaking Africa called “Living Positively” has developed a comic 

book and video designed to alleviate the stigma and discrimination of people living with 

HIV/AIDS. Supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development, the program 

focuses on behaviors, attitudes, and recommended practices for people infected with or 

affected by HIV/AIDS. Part of the HIV/AIDS communication strategy for the Family 

Health and AIDS (FHA) program developed by Johns Hopkins University, the program 

also addresses people who do not yet know whether they are infected. It also teaches 

people how to tell their loved ones that they are infected, how to find and join an 

association for People Living with HIV/AIDS, how to accept someone else who is living 

with HIV, and how to follow a healthy lifestyle (Johns Hopkins University Center for 

Communication Programs, 2003). 

CIPS Centre d’Information pour la Prévention du SIDA 

Located in Abidjan, CIPS (Information Center for the Prevention of AIDS) offers 

“support; advice; information; education; prevention” (NAM n.d.). 

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KENYA

Ministry of Health

Afya House, Cathedral Road, 

P.O. Box 30016 

Nairobi, Kenya 

Tel: +254 20 717 077 

Web site: www.kenya.gov.ke 

National AIDS and STD Control Programme (NASCOP)

Tel: +254 2 555 977 

National AIDS Control Council

P.O. Box 61307 

Nairobi, Kenya 

Tel: +254 202 711 261 

Fax: +254 202 711 072 

The National AIDS Control Council is responsible for setting the policy and strategic 

framework for the coordination of resources in HIV prevention programs and for the care 

and support for those infected and affected by HIV (Integrated Regional Information 

Network 2005). 

Kenya National Library Service 

The Kenya National Library Service is associated with an AIDS awareness project that 

repackages and translates information from foreign sources (Sturges, 2001, 47). The 

AIDS service includes provision of books, brochures, screening of videos and seminars 

that target user groups who include young adults and children (Issak, 2000, 138). 

Materials are also offered in braille. The AIDS service maintains a useful Web site 

located and advertises the following services: 

• Answering reference questions on HIV/AIDS and its related fields 

• Using KNLS mobile trucks, distributing HIV/AIDS publications freely within the 

KNLS branches, government offices, other institutions and members of the public 

during exhibitions and weekly lectures, as well as at market centers 

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THE ROLE OF LIBRARIES IN HIV/AIDS INFORMATION DISSEMINATION IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

• Lending publications on HIV/AIDS to readers 

• Disseminating information on HIV/AIDS through folk media such as drama, 

songs and dances 

• Translating documents from English to local languages in order to reach a wider 

audience 

• Conducting a get together among peer groups to discuss various issues related to 

HIV/AIDS 

• Showing videos on HIV/AIDS 

• Delivering lectures on HIV/AIDS 

• Offering postal services 

• Participating in seminars, exhibitions and other related forum such as World 

AIDS Day celebrations that address issues on HIV/AIDS 

• Providing preventive devices such as condoms 

• Organizing with The Association of People with AIDS in Kenya (TAPWAK) for 

free voluntary HIV testing 

• Encouraging personal testimonies by those infected with HIV/AIDS, which are 

powerfully effective in disseminating HIV/AIDS information, as no room is left 

for doubting Thomases. HIV/AIDS is given a human face. 

(http://www.knls.or.ke/aids.htm). 

Regional AIDS Training Center 

The Regional AIDS Training Center (RATN), established in 1997, is a network of 

twenty-nine organizations involved in training HIV/AIDS program managers. Together, 

these organizations develop courses aimed at mid-level program managers in the region. 

Courses offered by RATN are designed to teach skills in counseling, HIV/AIDS clinical 

management, adult education, youth interventions, communication and behavior change, 

and management and administration, among others. Based in Nairobi, RATN also has an 

information center that houses a collection of information on HIV/AIDS and sexually 

transmitted diseases (STDs). The information center is also tasked with facilitating the 

exchange of information between partner organizations (Regional AIDS Training 

Network n.d.).

Family Health International (FHI) 

The Integrated Regional Information Network (2005) reports that Family Health 

International (FHI), located in Nairobi, provides services including “Research studies; 

capacity building; prevention programmes; training and education of country researchers, 

service providers, programme managers and health communicators; scientific publishing; 

information dissemination.” 

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Kenya AIDS and Drugs Alliance (KADA) 

The Kenya AIDS and Drugs Alliance (KADA), located in Nairobi, offers “Information 

and education forums on HIV treatments and herbal medicine; advocacy and lobbying for 

treatment access; awareness; counselling and testing; income generating projects; 

resources centre; home based care and hospital visits” (Integrated Regional Information 

Network 2005). 

Kenya AIDS NGO Consortium (KANCO) 

The Kenya AIDS NGO Consortium is a primary national HIV/AIDS network in Kenya. 

Its goal is to build the capacity of organizations to respond to HIV/AIDS. In addition, it 

participates in policy development and advocacy, grant giving and management, and 

provides practical HIV/AIDS information and documentation, offers education and 

training (Integrated Regional Information Network 2005). 

Kenya Evangelical Lutheran Church 

The Integrated Regional Information Network (2005) describes the services offered by 

the Kenya Evangelical Lutheran Church as including “Prevention; awareness; 

information; education; policy and strategic plan for HIV/AIDS work that puts the issue 

of AIDS on top of the church's agenda.” 

Network of African People Living with HIV/AIDS (NAP+) 

Services offered by the Network of African People Living with HIV/AIDS (NAP+), 

located in Nairobi, include “peer education; support and information services; lobbying 

for access to effective treatments and services” (Integrated Regional Information 

Network 2005). 

Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) 

The Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) offers “support; advice; information; education; 

prevention” (Integrated Regional Information Network 2005). 

SOURCENET 

Located in Nairobi, SOURCENET has a documentation center that offers “Education; 

lobbying and advocacy; training; counselling; research; documentation” (NAM n.d.). 

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LESOTHO

Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOHSW)

Department of Health 

P.O. Box 514, Maseru 100 

Lesotho 

Tel: +266 22 314 404 

Fax: +266 22 310 667 

Web site: www.lesotho.gov.ls

Lesotho AIDS Programme Coordinating Authority (LAPCA)

P.O. Box 11232, Maseru 100 

Lesotho 

Tel: +266 22 326 794 

Fax: +266 22 327 210 

Christian Health Association of Lesotho (CHAL) 

Christian Health Association, located in Lesotho, provides “Medical care; advice; 

support; exchange of information; access to resources; policy influence and advocacy; 

capacity building and providing technical assistance on HIV/AIDS” (Integrated Regional 

Information Network 2005). 

National University Library, University of Lesotho (NUL) 

The National University Library at the University of Lesotho is involved in several 

HIV/AIDS activities. First, the NUL is finalizing its policy on HIV/AIDS to direct its 

activities toward “intensifying the education and awareness on the pandemic to the 

University community” (Moshoeshoe 2005). Second, the NUL Library disseminates 

HIV/AIDS information and other health-related information to NUL Information Flash, a 

Web-based news service for the University community. Third, a University Steering 

Committee on HIV/AIDS has representatives of the academic staff of all faculties and the 

University Library, demonstrating the University’s recognition of the leadership role of 

the library in HIV/AIDS activities. Fourth, a newly established Development 

Information Centre (DIC) is located within the University of Lesotho Library network. 

The DIC offers HIV/AIDS as one of the topical areas in their collection. DIC is the result 

of a partnership between the NUL and the World Bank, FAO, UNICEF, DFID, 

SAFAIDS. Finally, the NUL Library collection has a special collection of videos on 

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stories, films and cases on HIV/AIDs. These may be borrowed for instruction by 

academic staff at the University, used for demonstrations by the HIV/AIDS Counseling 

Unit on HIV/AIDS Day, or be viewed by library users during hours of operation 

(Moshoeshoe 2005). 

Positive Action – Lesotho 

Positive Action in Lesotho “uses social marketing to deliver health products, services and 

information that enable low-income and other vulnerable people to lead healthier lives” 

(Integrated Regional Information Network 2005). 

Red Cross Society – Lesotho 

“Training; technical assistance; education; information; awareness; support; care; income 

generation activities; advocacy” are services offered by the Red Cross Society in Lesotho 

(Integrated Regional Information Network 2005). 

Society of Women and AIDS in Africa (SWAA) 

Located in Lesotho, the Society of Women and AIDS in Africa offers “Counselling; 

training; education; information; awareness; support; care; income generation activities; 

advocacy” (Integrated Regional Information Network 2005). 

Lesotho Network of AIDS Services Organization (LENASO) 

Part of the SANASO organization, the Lesotho Network of AIDS Services Organization 

(LENASO) provides a national network of information exchange, access to resources, 

and technical assistance to its members. It serves to influence policy and advocacy, 

capacity building and fighting the spread of HIV (Integrated Regional Information 

Network 2005). 

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 LIBERIA

Ministry of Health and Social Welfare

P.O. Box 9009 

Monrovia, Liberia 

Tel: +231 377 31 3790 

Fax: +231 377 231 226317 

National AIDS Control Programme

JFK Hospit al Compound 

1000 Monrovia 

Montserrado County, Liberia 

Tel: +231 226193 

Fax: +231 226210 

Liberia Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS 

Headquartered in Monrovia, Liberia Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS is the 

“regional coordinating network for people with HIV/AIDS: advocacy/rights; information 

exchange; capacity building; health promotion” (NAM n.d.). 

Liberian Youths against HIV and AIDS 

Located in Monrovia, the mission of the Liberian Youths against HIV and AIDS 

organization is to promote and protect the rights of youths and children living with 

HIV/AIDS. It “advocates for programs and facilities for youths infected and affected by 

HIV/AIDS; provides information on prevention and educates young people on 

HIV/AIDS” (NAM n.d.). Liberian Youths against HIV and AIDS is on the Web at 

http://www.liberianyouthsagainstaids.org. 

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MADAGASCAR

Ministry of Health

Tel: +261 20 222 3697 

Conseil National de Lutte contre le SIDA (CNLS)

Tel: +261 32 023 2101 

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) 

Catholic Relief Services in Antananarivo, offers “Community awareness campaigns, 

support for people living with HIV/AIDS and food security projects” (Integrated 

Regional Information Network 2005). 

Population Services International (PSI)

Located in Antananarivo, Population Services International provides “Condom 

distribution, HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns, STI treatment, family planning services” 

(Integrated Regional Information Network 2005). 

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MALAWI

Ministry of Health and Population

P.O. Box 30377 

Lilongwe 3, Malawi 

Tel: +265 1 789 400 / +265 1 788 849 / +265 1 789 195 

Fax: +265 1 789 431 

E-mail: health@malawi.gov.mw 

National AIDS Commission of Malawi

P.O. Box 30622 

Lilongwe, Malawi 

Tel: +265 1 727 900 

Fax: +265 1 843 363 

Web site: www.aidsmalawi.org 

Malawi Network of AIDS Service Organisations (MANASO) 

The Malawi Network of AIDS Services Organizations specializes in “Networking; 

information sharing, training workshops; grants management aimed at building the 

capacities of community based organizations” (Integrated Regional Information Network 

2005). 

Malawi Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS 

The Malawi Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS, located in Lilongwe, provides 

“Support groups; information; training programmes; conferences” (Integrated Regional 

Information Network 2005). 

National Association of People with HIV/AIDS in Malawi (NAPHAM) 

According to the Integrated Regional Information Network (2005), the National 

Association of People with HIV/AIDS in Malawi is located in Lilongwe and offers 

“Home-based care; counselling; education; condom promotion; information; support; 

advocacy.” 

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Population Services International (PSI) 

Population Services International “Uses social marketing to deliver health products, 

services and information that enable low-income and other vulnerable people to lead 

healthier lives” (Integrated Regional Information Network 2005). 

Salima HIV-AIDS Support Organization (SASO) 

The Salima HIV/AIDS Support Organization specializes in “Networking; information 

sharing, training workshops; grants management aimed at building the capacities of 

community-based organizations” (Integrated Regional Information Network 2005). 

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MALI

West African Network of AIDS Service Organisations - WANASO 

Headquartered in Bamako, WANASO is a network of sixteen HIV/AIDS national 

networks in the Western African countries including Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, 

Ivory Coast, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, 

Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo. Its mission is to “enhance the community response to 

HIV/AIDS in Western Africa by promoting the development and existence of sustainable 

and effective country networks that provide leadership and capacity building in advocacy, 

programme development, and enhanced greater involvement of people living with HIV 

and AIDS” (NAM n.d.). WANASO is on the Web at http://www.wanaso.org/. 

Programme National de Lutte Contre Le SIDA (PNLS) 

PNLS offers “prevention; information provision; support; coordination” (NAM nd). 

Enda Tiers Monde 

Located in Bamako, Enda Tiers Monde provides “awareness; prevention; information; 

support/advice; training of educators” (NAM n.d.). 

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MAURITIUS

Ministry of Health & Quality of Life

5th floor 

Emmanuel Anquetil Building 

Port Louis, Mauritius 

Tel.: +230 201 2175 

Fax: +230 208 7222 

E-mail: moh@mail.gov.mu

AIDS Prévention and Information Centre (P.I.L.S.)

The AIDS Prévention and Information Centre, located in Port Louis in Mauritius, offers 

“information; prevention campaigns; free condom distribution; documentation centre; 

Helpline; advocacy; support; counselling; training; outreach; peer education” (NAM nd).

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MOZAMBIQUE

Ministry of Health

National STD/AIDS Control Programme (PNC DTS/SIDA) 

Tel: +258 1 421 095 

Fax: +258 1 430 970 

National Council for AIDS

C.P. 106/114 

Maputo, Mozambique 

Tel: +258 1 495 396 

Fax: +258 1 495 395 

ActionAid Stepping Stones Program 

ActionAid, a development agency headquartered in the United Kingdom, offers a “a 

training programme which helps women and men explore their own sexual health needs, 

discuss the changes that they want, and find ways of making those changes” 

(http://www.actionaid.org.uk/1201/stepping_stones.html). Stepping stones refers to the 

methodology used by ActionAid to provide information and skills to communities about 

HIV/AIDS (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development 2003). Located in 

the Maputo Province of Mozambique, it holds meetings once a week for groups divided 

by age and gender. These include young women, young men, older women, and older 

men. Community issues are identified and discussed including, among others, gender 

issues and HIV/AIDS. Information is presented through drama, dance, and song, and 

attendees are invited to participate in the activities. Potential, workable solutions are 

discussed and shared with the other groups. The meetings close with personal promises 

about individual behavior and commitment to the community. 

Mozambican Network of AIDS Services Organization (MONASO) 

Part of the SANASO organization, the Mozambican Network of AIDS Services 

Organization (MONASO) provides a national network of information exchange, access 

to resources, and technical assistance to its members. It serves to influence policy and 

advocacy, capacity building and fighting the spread of HIV. 

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UNFPA and Pathfinder International: Geração Biz, Youth-Friendly 

Health Clinics 

Geração Biz is a health service of the United Nations Population Fund that targets 

schools and communities to increase “awareness of sexual and reproductive health issues 

and to encourage the adoption of safe, responsible, and gender-sensitive sexual and 

reproductive behavior (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development 2003). 

Youth, ages 15-24, receive counseling from nurses and doctors on sexually transmitted 

diseases, contraception, condoms, and relationships. Peer educators also meet with youth 

to discuss safe sex and HIV/AIDS. Started in 1999, the Geração Biz program has six 

centers in Maputo. 

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NAMIBIA

Ministry of Health and Social Services

Personal Bag 13198 

Windhoek, Namibia 

Tel: +264 61 203 9111 

Fax: +264 61 227 607 

Web site: www.grnnet.gov.na 

National AIDS Coordination Programme (NACOP)

Tel: +264 61 203 2218 

Fax: +264 61 224 155 

 

Health Services for Youth 

Mchombu (2002) summarizes the findings of an earlier study he conducted in Namibia 

(Mchombu 2000). He reports that HIV/AIDS workers in the field claim to not have 

sufficient quantities of materials available to disseminate to their users. Mchombu 

considers this to be the result of a distribution problem that libraries can help to solve. 

Because many organizations are involved in the production of and distribution of 

materials on HIV/AIDS, including Government ministries, UN Agencies, NGOs, donor 

agencies, and personal companies, libraries and information centers can serve as 

clearinghouses to reduce the bottlenecks between producer and user in the distribution of 

HIV/AIDS materials (Mchombu 2002). Mchombu also suggests that locally-produced 

materials complement the role of the media in disseminating vital information about 

HIV/AIDS. Library services, he claims, “can a makes a major contribution towards 

managing and ultimately defeating this terrible disease. The library and information 

services can thus play an important role by disseminating useful information directly to 

the public, as well as providing forums for debate and discussion, which enables people 

to learn how to avoid the disease” (Mchombu 2002, 2).

Namibian Network of AIDS Service Organisations (NANASO) 

Part of the SANASO organization, NANASO provides a national network of information 

exchange, access to resources, and technical assistance to its members. It serves to 

influence policy and advocacy, capacity building and fighting the spread of HIV. 

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Health Communication Partnership/Johns Hopkins University 

The Health Communication Partnership with Johns Hopkins University is centered on 

research and communication development, including a 26-part radio series called “The 

Suzie and Shafa Show.” This radio program “aims to explore relationships between 

youth lifestyles and HIV/AIDS” (Integrated Regional Information Network 2005). Other 

services offered by the partnership include research on the prevention of mother-to-child 

transmission and voluntary counseling and testing services. Particular areas of emphasis 

include “strategic planning, trust building, multi-sectoral partnerships, multi-channel 

approach, engaging men, mass media and branding of services, community mobilization, 

capacity building, audiences, contextual messages and gender issues” (Integrated 

Regional Information Network (2005). The target audience for the partnership is youth, 

people living with HIV/AIDS, and orphans. 

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NIGERIA

Ministry of Health

Tel: +234 9 523 8190 

National AIDS Programme

Tel: +234 9 523 8950 

Nigeria Library Association 

The Nigeria Library Association has an AIDS Information Centre at its office in Abuja 

(Onyekatu 2005). 

Nigerian Institute of Medical Research 

The Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, funded by a U.S. Pepfar grant, has a center 

devoted to HIV/AIDS information in Nigeria (Abolarinwa 2005). 

Centre for Adolescent Research Education and Sexuality (CARES) 

Located in Delta State, CARES offers research on social and medical problems of youth, 

provides reproductive health information, reproductive health care for youth, a 

documentation center, risk reduction programs, and research into “women controlled 

options, especially Microbicides and community-based vaccine trial education” 

(Integrated Regional Information Network 2005). 

CARES Centre for Adolescent Research Education and Sexuality 

Microbicide Advocacy Network 

The CARES Network is located in Agege and offers “multidisciplinary research into 

social and medical problems facing adolescent; community based reproductive health 

information; training, advocacy and reproductive health care for youth; documentation 

centre; risk reduction programmes at oil locations and surrounding communities; research 

into women controlled options especially Microbicides and community-based vaccine 

trial education” (NAM n.d.). 

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The Center for Health, Education And Development Communication 

(CHEDCOM) 

Located in Lagos, CHEDCOM implements and monitors programs on reproductive 

health and HIV in order to raise awareness and disseminate HIV/AIDS information. It 

also designs and distributes IEC materials, conducts peer education training, offers 

counseling, conducts information campaigns and seminars and public education, and 

serves to mobilize communities. 

Family and Adolescent Health Initiative (FAHI) 

FAHI, located in the Plateau State of Nigeria, provides services including “Adolescent 

sexuality and reproductive health; outreach programmes on HIV/AIDS awareness; 

prevention; home care services; behavioural interventions; community health education; 

training of health care providers; research; counselling and library services for health 

personnel” (NAM n.d.). 

Global Health & Awareness Research Foundation (GHARF) 

The Global Health & Awareness Research Foundation, located in Enugu, offers services 

including dissemination of reproductive health information (for example, prevention, 

treatment and care). It also trains peer educators and training for women and adolescents. 

Living Hope 

The Living Hope Organization offers support group services, voluntary counseling and 

testing (VCT), referrals and education, advocacy services, home-base care and support 

services, an awareness and enlightenment program, and a resource center (NAM n.d.). 

Mgbala Agwa Youths Forum: Community Library Resource for 

HIV/AIDS, STI

Mgbala Agwa Youths Forum is a community- based organization (CBO), located in 

Mgbala Agwa, in Imo State. It is the first resource center in Nigeria to offer research into 

history, prevention, control and management of HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted 

diseases. The organization plans to target roughly 450,000 Nigerians in rural extension 

service. Their areas of information and services include HIV/AIDS, educational 

awareness, and environmental technology (Mgbala Agwa Youths Forum n.d.). 

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Virtual Volunteers - AIDS Library (Mgbala Agwa) 

Online volunteers from UN Volunteers and NetAid donated reading materials on 

HIV/AIDS and STIs to stock a library at the village health center in Mgbala Agwa. 

Currently about 3,000 volumes are in the library, housed in the small town of Mgbala 

Agwa in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Due to financial constraints, the library is 

staffed by volunteers on a rotating basis. According to Anselm Uche Ononogbo, 

President of the Mgbala Agwa Youth Forum, “Despite the absence of a librarian or a 

catalogue, no book has been pilfered, lost or defaced” (Iyare 2003). The project has also 

received support from the World Health Organization, UNAIDS, Johns Hopkins 

University, The Hesperian Foundation, among other organizations in Australia, Canada, 

India, South Africa, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Zambia. The online 

volunteers also donate “virtual fieldwork” by contributing time towards fundraising, Web 

site management, translating, research and writing, and marketing via e-mail and 

telephone. Because of the many books that have been received by the library, there is 

increasing desire to expand its scope and share resources with other libraries in the area. 

The center serves as a meeting place for the community and for jobless youth “who tend 

to congregate there to meet and share ideas” (Iyare 2003). The services of the library are 

also complemented by a local HIV/AIDS awareness campaign. 

Journalists against AIDS (JAAIDS) Nigeria (Media Resource Centre on 

HIV/AIDS and Reproductive Health) 

JAAIDS, headquartered in Lagos, offers media training, research and analysis, seminars 

and workshops, information technology services to journalists and NGOS (Integrated 

Regional Information Networks 2005). It also has a documentation and resource center 

and provides information networking on HIV/AIDS and advocates for policy issues. 

Stop AIDS 

Located in Lagos, the Stop AIDS documentation center offers “education focusing on 

long distance drivers; training for peer health educators; counselling; drop-in centre 

providing information; support groups; health advice sessions; free therapies; 

seminar/workshops for corporate bodies, government institutions, religious groups, etc.” 

(NAM n.d.). 

Youth Awareness Campaign against AIDS (YACAA) 

YACAA, located in Lagos, provides “support, advocacy and education to youths who are 

infected or affected by HIV; outreach and information centre” (NAM n.d). 

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RWANDA

Ministry of Health 

PO Box 84 

Kigali, Rwanda 

Tel: +250 577 458 

Fax: +250 577 458 

 

National Commission against HIV/AIDS (CNLS) 

Tel: +250 582 018 

Fax: +250 583 325 

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SENEGAL

Ministry of Health, Hygiene, and Prevention: 

Dakar, Senegal 

Tel: +221 822 9045 

Fax: +221 822 1507 

Conseil National de Lutte contre le SIDA et les MST (CNLS) - National 

Council for the Struggle Against AIDS and STDs 

Tel: +221 822 9045 

Fax: +221 822 1507 

The Group for the Study and Teaching of Population Issues (GEEP): 

An Experiment to Prevent the Spread of HIV/AIDS among 

Schoolchildren 

Established in May 1989, the Group for the Study and Teaching of Population Issues 

(Groupe pour l’Etude et l’Enseignement de la Population [GEEP]) is an NGO designed 

to conduct “population education and family life education (FLE) clubs designed to bring 

population issues, notably sexual and reproductive health of adolescents, prevention of 

sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and understanding of HIV/AIDS, into the 

classroom and to situate them within the framework of socioeducational and 

extracurricular activities” (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development 

2003). In late 1994, GEEP began a program targeting middle and secondary school 

students, aged 12-19, to encourage responsible sexual behavior. It conducts training 

activities, peer education, and information materials to support its mission. Shortly after 

the creation of the “Promotion of Family Life Education,” Youth Information and Advice 

Centers were also created to focus specifically on reproductive health issues, sexually 

transmitted diseases, and HIV/AIDS. 

Africa Consultants International (ACI) AIDS Resource Center 

Since 1990, the AIDS Information and Resource Center in Dakar has collected 

information on HIV/AIDS and development. Information is publicly available and used 

by non-governmental organizations, community-based organizations, and other African 

organizations. The AIDS Documentation Center houses over 3500 materials on 

HIV/AIDS including books, CD-ROMs, pamphlets, training manuals, etc. Over 250 

video and audiocassettes are available. There is also an AIDS database that contains 

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resources for Africa and a directory for Senegal. Posters are available in French, English, 

and local language from Africa and other parts of the world (Africa Consultants 

International, n.d.). 

Ceffeva/Coswfeva - Comité D'études Sur les Femmes, la Famille et 

L'environnement en Afrique 

Located in Dakar, services offered by this organization include research programs and 

interventions in reproductive health, evaluation and implementation of programs in 

reproductive health, training, information sharing and promotion of information 

technologies (Integrated Regional Information Networks 2005). 

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SIERRA LEONE

Ministry of Health

 Fourth floor Youyi Building, 

Brookfields, Sierra Leone 

Tel: +232 22 242 119 

Fax: +232 22 241 283 

National AIDS Secretariat

 Tel: +232 22 235 842/849 

Sierra Leone Library Association 

The Sierra Leone Library Association, working with the Public Library, Freetown, is 

providing users with Internet access, particularly students, teachers, and other public 

library users. Prior to the civil war, information to rural communities used to be 

disseminated through local resource centers. These centers were destroyed during the 

war. The Library Association is attempting to raise funds to rebuild resource centers in 

selected rural mountain communities that will serve to disseminate information to the 

public. Information will include HIV/AIDS as well as education, health, agriculture, 

rural development, micro credit, and governance. Community centers are defined as “an 

all inclusive information facility that should include print information like books, 

periodicals, posters, magazines, newspapers, charts, maps etc., non-print materials like 

audio and video cassette players including radio, tape cassette players, walkman; 

electronic information facilities like television, computers, CD-ROMS, typewriter, 

photocopier and scanner. It could even have games, e-mail, and fax and internet 

facilities” (Gorvie, 2005). Currently, the Sierra Leone Library Board is restricted to 

offering films for children and football games for adults and is only available to a small 

percentage of the population in Freetown. The current estimated cost for the 

establishment of a resource center at Leicester is $18,000. 

Action Group for Family Health and Development (Agfhad) 

Located in Freetown, the Action Group for Family Health and Development has a 

documentation center that offers information on sex and reproductive health. The overall 

organization also offers educational services, training of peer educators and counselors, 

and community development (NAM n.d.). 

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SOUTH AFRICA

Ministry of Health 

HIV/AIDS and STDs 

Personal Bag X399 

Pretoria 0001, South Africa 

Tel: +27 12 312 0713 

Mobile: +27 82 787 0202 

Web site: www.gov.za 

Department of Health

HIV/AIDS and TB Unit 

Tel: +27 12 312 0121 

Fax: +27 12 312 3122 

 

South African National AIDS Council (SANAC)

Tel: +27 82 782 2575 

Langa Library 

A panel discussion was held at the Langa Library in Cape Town, South Africa in March 

2001 to discuss the role of libraries in targeting youth for HIV/AIDS information efforts 

(Hart 2001). The issues that were addressed at this meeting include availability of 

HIV/AIDS information in Cape Town libraries, school library involvement in AIDS 

education, and the changing role of the public library. Discussion focused on the need 

for school libraries to take a more active role in HIV/AIDS education, the need for public 

libraries to be more responsive and flexible by assuming broader roles as clearinghouse 

and resource center, and increasing the marketing efforts of libraries in the gathering, 

organizing and disseminating of HIV/AIDS information. Additional discussion focused 

on partnerships with schools, health workers and nongovernmental organizations. 

AIDS Consortium 

The AIDS Consortium is located in Johannesburg and offers “networking; advocacy; 

lobbying; policy development; human rights; resource centre; information reference 

service; materials distribution” services (Integrated Regional Information Network 2005). 

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The Consortium is on the Web at 

http://www.ac.org.za/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1. 

AIDS Training, Information & Counselling Centre (ATICC) 

Located in Bloemfontein, the AIDS Training, Information & Counselling Centre offers 

information on safe sex, counseling, testing, training, and serves as an advocacy 

organization. They also provide a resource center. 

Children’s HIV/AIDS Network (CHAIN) 

The Children’s HIV/AIDS Network provides information and education on prevention 

and serves as an advocacy and lobbying organization. In addition, they provide 

counseling services (Integrated Regional Information Network 2005). 

National Association of People Living with HIV/AIDS (NAPWA) 

The National Association of People Living with HIV/AIDS, located in Germiston, offers 

services including self-help, information and education on prevention, and serve as an 

advocacy and lobbying organization. They also offer counseling services. 

Vukani AIDS and Youth Development Project 

Located in Captetown, the Vukani AIDS and Youth Development Project offers 

information and education on HIV/AIDS prevention. They also serve as an advocacy and 

lobbying organization (Integrated Regional Information Networks 2005). 

AIDS Training Information and Counseling Centre 

About fifteen years ago, June Bowman, Periodicals Librarian for the Msunduzi 

Municipal Library in KwaZulu-Natal, was approached to assist the local City Health 

Department and a budding AIDS Interest Group in compiling information about 

HIV/AIDS. Since then, she has been actively identifying, photocopying and collating 

articles on relevant articles that have appeared in selected South African journals. In 

addition to creating and maintaining the original files which are now housed in the local 

AIDS Training Information and Counselling Centre, she has created and maintained a 

duplicate set of articles for the general public to use in the library. She also supplies 

copies of these articles to other organizations to support their research activities. For the 

past five years, she also compiled and distributed annual bibliographies of the articles she 

compiled, although this has recently stopped. She reports, “I hope to be in a position to 

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resume this work when I retire (in about 10 months time), as I have all the information on 

record” (Bowen 2005). 

University of KwaZulu-Natal 

One of the libraries at the Howard College campus of the University of KwaZulu-Natal in 

Durban serves the Faculties of Science, Engineering, Human and Social Sciences, and 

Management Studies. They also serve the College of Health Sciences that includes the 

School of Nursing. They offer materials on HIV/AIDS, indexed in their online catalog 

and available on the Web at http://www.library.und.ac.za/catalogue.htm (Dubbeld 2005). 

The College of Health Sciences also includes the Faculty of Health Sciences at 

Westville campus and the Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, on its own campus in 

Durban. Both of these faculties are supported by library collections on their respective 

campuses. Beginning in May 2005, a virtual library, the Victor Daitz HIV/AIDS 

Information Gateway, was started at the Doris Duke Research Institute School of 

Medicine (Dubbeld 2005). See also 

http://www.ukzn.ac.za/focus/pdf/vol14no2/FOCUS_28.pdf). Its mission is to provide 

“customized, timely and expert information services to support HIV/AIDS research in the 

Medical Research Institute” (Makalima 2005). Services offered by the Information 

Gateway include: 

• Collection development (based on the needs of the researchers, both print and 

electronic materials) 

• Reference services (designed to provide ready access to requested materials and 

to advise researchers on relevant resources) 

• Training/User Education 

• Orientation tours (designed to acquaint researchers and visitors with services and 

resources available at the HIV/IADS Information Gateway) 

• Information skills training (to educate users in effective access, evaluation and use 

of information) 

• Literature searching (designed to assist researchers in identifying and acquiring 

relevant literature using the different electronic resources available at the 

Information Gateway 

• Current awareness/alert services (offered to researchers to alert them to new 

information relevant to their current projects and to stay abreast of new 

developments in their areas of focus) 

Two major initiatives at the University also support research and information on 

HIV/AIDS: 

1) HEARD (Health Economics and HIV/AIDS Research Division) in the Faculty of 

Management Studies 

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2) HIVAN (the Centre for HIV/AIDS Networking) links all the campuses and offers 

information services to students and staff (http://www.hivan.org.za/). 

HEARD has a resource center that has recently gained greater attention, due to the hiring 

of a professionally trained Library and Information Specialist in March 2002. 

Located on the Web at 

http://www.ukzn.ac.za/heard/aboutheard/aboutheardResourceCentre.htm, the HEARD 

Resource Centre supports the HEARD mission to conduct “research on the socioeconomic aspects of public health, especially the HIV/AIDS pandemic” and to conduct 

“inter-disciplinary research to produce scientific knowledge and effective interventions” 

(Health Economics And HIV/AIDS Research Division 2005). 

HEARD offers access to library items at the Resource Centre; the materials do not 

circulate, however. Photocopying can be arranged for visitors for a fee. Due to budget 

constraints, however, the Resource Centre is only open and staffed 15 hours per week. 

The main categories used to classify materials in the Resource Centre include: 

1. Socioeconomic sectors: HIV/AIDS impact and response 

2. "Societal" sectors: HIV/AIDS impact & response 

3. Disciplines: HIV/AIDS impact & response 

4. HIV/AIDS and Law 

5. HIV/AIDS Education 

6. HIV/AIDS Prevention 

7. HIV/AIDS Care 

8. HIV/AIDS Treatment 

9. HIV/AIDS Financing 

10. Health - General 

11. Research methodologies 

12. Statistics 

13. Reference section 

14. Audiovisual resources 

15. Journals 

16. Media/press items 

17. Annual reports 

HIVAN offers a Campus HIV/AIDS Support Unit (CHASU), staffed by trained 

counselors and peer educators. Its purpose is to inform staff and students about the HIV 

epidemic and to provide support services. It has offices on three of the University’s five 

campuses, including Howard College, Pietermaritzburg, and Edgewood. A student 

group, working in conjunction with other student organizations and service providers, 

designs CHASU activities. 

CHASU has four main activities, one of which focuses on information dissemination and 

referral. “Services include HIV/AIDS Resource Centres; a webpage offering students 

and staff access to information and resources as well as a confidential on-line advice 

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service; and a screened referral network of HIV/AIDS service providers, which is also 

accessible electronically” (HIVAN 2002-2005). In addition, a national HIV/AIDS 

database is available on the web, searchable by organization, topic, service area, funding, 

clients, resources, etc., available at http://www.hivan.org.za/aidsdatasearchadvanced.asp. 

South African HIV Vaccine Action Campaign (SA HIVAC) 

The South African HIV Vaccine Action Campaign (SA HIVAC) was established in 2000 

“as a community mobilisation and preparedness campaign to inform and educate the 

South African population about the HIV/AIDS vaccine development process” (Stuurman 

2002, 146). Part of the SA HIVAC includes an Information Clearinghouse whose primary 

responsibility is to develop an information management system to collect, store, and 

retrieve, information for the project. The SA HIVAC project involves research and 

knowledge translation—“the exchange, synthesis and application of information to effect 

behavioral change” (Stuurman 2002, 146). 

The Clearinghouse incorporates aspects of subject specialization, information, and 

communications in its staff of four which includes an information specialist, editor, 

journalist, and clinician. The target audience includes the SA HIVAC staff and the South 

African public. Services include reference, management and operation of a resource 

center open to the general public, data collection for researchers, including necessary 

translations for technical terminology for researchers, background information for the 

development of information and media publications (for example, posters, brochures, 

manuals, comic books), targeted selective dissemination of information (SDI) services for 

organizational members, and management of a Web site, among others. 

Stuurman reports gaps that have been identified by the staff at the Clearinghouse. First is 

the barrier created by language, because of lack of equivalent language for scientific and 

technical terminology in the local African languages. Their solution is to explain the 

necessary concepts first as they develop their information products. “As a result, we have 

produced a comic book that describes the whole clinical trial process” (Stuurman, 149). 

A second problem is the mistrust that sometimes arises in local communities regarding 

science. The staff’s solution is to integrate indigenous knowledge into their activities, 

which also serves to preserve cultural heritage. This assists in decision-making regarding 

relevant scientific issues because it incorporates their local knowledge with science in a 

way that supports their existing community structures. 

loveLife: Promoting Sexual Health and Healthy Lifestyles for Young 

People in South Africa 

Started in 1999, the goal of the loveLife program is to “reduce the incidence of HIV 

among 15- to 20- year-olds in South Africa by at least 50 percent over the next five years 

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(International Bank for Reconstruction and Development 2003). Targeting 12 to 17 year 

olds, it is a national program designed to promote sexual health. It emphasizes education, 

prevention, shared values, and condom use as its primary components. It utilizes a media 

campaign of television, radio, and print advertisements to support its message of “delay, 

reduce, and protect” (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development 2003). 

loveLife has also established youth centers and clinics, and conducts research to evaluate 

and monitor its program on an ongoing basis. 

Soul Buddyz: A Multimedia Edutainment Project for Children in 

South Africa 

Soul Buddyz is an edutainment project targeting South African children between the ages 

of 8 and 12 (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development 2003). Its purpose 

is to provide children with information about HIV/AIDS, sexual behavior, and gender 

issues. It was designed with the assistance and participation of children and includes a 

dramatic television show, a magazine published in three languages, and a life skills book 

that was distributed to one million children. The initial program included an advocacy 

campaign targeted to policymakers. Preliminary evaluations suggested that it was useful 

in providing information and that it also had the added bonus of reaching parents, 

creating useful dialog between children and their parents about these difficult issues. 

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SUDAN 

Federal Ministry of Health Khartoum

Tel: +249 11 778597 

Fax: +249 11 780652 

Sudan National AIDS Control Programme

Tel: +249 11 781421 

Fax: +249 11 567190 

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SWAZILAND 

Ministry of Health and Social Welfare 

National Emergency Response Committee on HIV/AIDS (NERCHA) 

Tel: +268 404 2431 / 

Fax: +268 404 1720 

http://www.gov.sz

 

Swaziland National AIDS Programme (SNAP) 

P.O. Box 1119 

Mbabane, Swaziland 

Tel: +268 404 8440 

Fax: +268 404 8209 

http://www.gov.sz

The AIDS Information Support Centre (TASC) 

According to the Integrated Regional Information Networks (2005), the AIDS 

Information Support Centre offers “HIV/AIDS information, education and 

communication strategies; mass media HIV/AIDS information dissemination; condom 

promotion and distribution; voluntary walk-ins for counseling and testing; telephone 

helpline; training and programme support.” Located in Manzini, it can be found on the 

Web at http://www.tasc.org.sz.

Swaziland AIDS Support Organisation (SASO) 

The Swaziland AIDS Support Organisation (SASO) offers information and advice on 

self-help, information and education on prevention. Located in Mbabane, SASO also 

serves as an advocacy and lobbying organization and offers counseling services. 

Swaziland Network of AIDS Service Organizations (SwaNASO) 

Part of the SANASO organization, the Swaziland Network of AIDS Services 

Organization (SwaNASO) provides a national network of information exchange, access 

to resources, and technical assistance to its members. It serves to influence policy and 

advocacy, capacity building and fighting the spread of HIV. 

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The Family Life Association of Swaziland (FLAS) 

Located in Manzini, the Family Life Association of Swaziland (FLAS) provides 

“comprehensive and holistic sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information and 

services with special focus on youth”(Integrated Regional Information Networks 2005). 

Hlanganani Help Centre/Municipal HIV/AIDS Team (MHI) 

Located in Manzini, the partnership between the Hlanganani Help Centre and the 

Municipal HIV/AIDS Team offers self-help information, advice, and support. The 

partnership also serves as an advocacy organization and offers counseling services. 

Population Services International (PSI) 

Located in Manzini, PSI “uses social marketing to deliver health products, services and 

information that enable low-income and other vulnerable people to lead healthier lives” 

(Integrated Regional Information Networks 2005). 

Schools HIV/AIDS Population Education 

The Schools HIV/AIDS Population Education organization offers HIV/AIDS education 

and information, advice, and support. It also serves as an advocacy organization and 

provides counseling services from its office in Mbabane. 

Swaziland Positive Living for Life 

The Swaziland Positive Living for Life organizations offers HIV/AIDS awareness 

information and education, information on prevention. It also serves in an advocacy and 

lobbying role, and provides counseling services. It is located in Manzini. 

University of Swaziland Health Information and Counselling Centre 

The University of Swaziland (UNISWA) started the Health Information and Counselling 

Centre in June 2002. The center’s purpose is to disseminate HIV/AIDS information to 

the university community and offer counseling services. At the time of this report the 

Centre was not yet fully operational. The Centre is constrained by its location on a small 

campus away from the main campus that has the bulk of the student population. This has 

hindered awareness of the center’s services—so far, few students are even aware of its 

existence. In addition, the Centre Manager also serves as a full-time member of the 

academic staff, which dilutes the effectiveness of the manager and of the Centre as a 

whole. Further, no counselors have yet been recruited, despite three years of operation. 

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TANZANIA 

Ministry of Health 

Department of Health 

P.O. Box 9083 

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania 

Tel: +255 22 212 0261 

Fax: +255 22 213 9951 

http://www.tanzania.go.tz

Tanzania Commission for AIDS (TCAIDS) 

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania 

Tel: +255 22 212 2651 

Fax: +255 22 212 2427 

National AIDS Coordination Programme (NACP) 

P.O. Box 11857 

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania 

Tel: +255 22 211 8581 

Fax: +255 22 212 1624 

 

Zanzibar AIDS Commission 

P.O. Box 2820 

Zanzibar, Tanzania 

Tel & Fax: +255 24 222 3152 

Youth Development Centre (YDC) Resource Library

Students Partnership Worldwide (SPW), working in Tanzania since 1992, designed a 

program of peer education for HIV/AIDS. Young, educated, energetic, and enthusiastic 

Tanzanians between 18 and 25 years work together with foreign peers, forming a crosscultural team. The program encourages peer educators to discuss adolescent sexual and 

reproductive health through one-hour lessons per week during school time. They are also 

involved in the organization of school and community health awareness events. Programs 

target the Iringa region because of the many truck drivers that use this road. In addition, 

there are many rural secondary schools in the area. 

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In addition, some Sub-Saharan countries, including Tanzania, include books on 

HIV/AIDS as part of the general collection (Batambuze 2003). 

Adolescent Reproductive Health Network (ARHNe) Resource Centre 

The ARHNe Resource Centre is located in Dar es Salaam and offers a “research network 

involved in research and/or implementation of programs targeting adolescent sexual and 

reproductive health and risk behaviours” (NAM n.d.). The Resource Centre is part of the 

Adolescent Reproductive Health Network, a project for Eastern and Southern Africa, 

funded by the European Commission (EC) through the University of Oslo. It includes 

several research programs and projects and consists of 18 partner institutions in Southern 

and Eastern Africa and Europe. All participants are involved in programs targeting 

adolescent reproductive health and risk behaviors (Adolescent Reproductive Health 

Network 2000). 

Eastern Africa National Networks of Aids Service Organisations 

(EANNASO)

EANNASO is a network comprised of thirteen HIV/AIDS national networks in the 

Eastern African countries of Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, 

Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. EANNASO’s 

mission is to facilitate community response to HIV/AIDS in Eastern Africa “by 

promoting the development and existence of sustainable and effective country networks 

that provide leadership and capacity building in advocacy, programme development, and 

enhanced greater involvement of people living with HIV and AIDS” (NAM n.d.). 

Population Services International (PSI) 

Located in Dar es Salaam, PSI “uses social marketing to deliver health products, services 

and information that enable low-income and other vulnerable people to lead healthier 

lives” (Integrated Regional Information Networks 2005). 

AMREF, LSHTM, and NIMR: MEMA Kwa Vijana Program 

“The African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF), in collaboration with the 

London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and the (Tanzanian) 

National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), initiated a program in 62 primary 

schools and 18 health facilities in Mwanza region of Tanzania in January 1999” 

(International Bank for Reconstruction and Development 2003). 

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Targeting 12- to 19 year-olds, its peer-educator driven approach was designed to increase 

youth’s knowledge of sexual health, decrease the rate of sexually transmitted infections 

(STIs), including HIV, and reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies. Healthcare 

workers were also trained to create more youth-friendly healthcare services. 

Tanzania Network of People with HIV/AIDS (TANOPHA) 

TANOPHA is a regional coordinating network for people with HIV/AIDS. It offers 

information exchange, capacity building, and health promotion for its members. 

Zanzibar Association of People with HIV/AIDS (ZAPHA+) 

ZAPHA+ is a self-help program offering services including prevention, advice, support, 

and information. 

Upendo AIDS Information and Counseling Center 

The Upendo AIDS Information and Counseling Center is located in Dar es Salaam. 

Women against AIDS Kilimanjaro 

Located in Kilimanjaro, Women against AIDS Kilimanjaro is a self-help program that 

offers advice, support, and prevention information on HIV/AIDS.

Women's Research and Documentation Project Association (WRDP) 

The Women’s Research and Documentation Project Association (WRDP) is located in 

Dar es Salaam. It offers prevention information, advice, and support to women in 

Tanzania.

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UGANDA 

Ministry of Health

Kitante Road – Kampala, Uganda 

Tel: +256 41 231 567/8 

E-mail: info@health.go.ug 

Uganda AIDS Commission

P.O. Box 10779 

Kampala, Uganda 

Tel: +256 41 273 538 

Fax: +256 41 347 447 

E-mail: uac@uac.go.ug 

 

The AIDS Support Organisation (TASO) 

Headquartered in Kampala and located on the Web at http://www.taso.co.ug, the AIDS 

Support Organisation (TASO) offers support, advice, information, education, and 

prevention and medical services. 

The AIDS Information Centre (AIC) 

The AIDS Information Centre, headquartered in Kampala and located on the Web at 

http://www.aicug.org, offers HIV voluntary counseling and testing (VCT), testing and 

treatment of tuberculosis, testing and treatment of STDs, family planning services, VCT 

training, and a resource center that is open to the public. Started in 1990 by a group of 

local NGOs and the Ministry of Health, the AIC was created to provide HIV testing and 

counseling. The goal of the AIC is to “reduce the further transmission of HIV and to 

enhance the psychological and social adjustment of those already infected” (AIDS 

Information Centre n.d.). Their objectives are: 

• To establish facilities from where the public may receive counseling, information 

and education about HIV/AIDS 

• To conduct voluntary and anonymous HIV-testing to people who choose to take it 

• To develop information, education and communication materials for creating 

awareness about HIV/AIDS 

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• To provide on-going support to clients in order to help their psychological and 

social adjustment 

AIC has five branches in Kampala, Jinja, Mbarara, Mbale, and Aura districts and has 

“collaborated with 31 districts to establish 90 indirect sites” to provide VCT services. By 

2004 the AIC had served nearly 1 million clients at all sites (Uganda AIDS Commission 

2004, 8). The Resource Centre houses materials on HIV/AIDS including reports, books, 

videotapes and CD-ROMS, which are available to researchers, students, and the general 

at no cost. The Centre also offers free Internet access for researchers. Hours of operation 

are from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. 

Anywhere Books 

Anywhere Books is a program developed by the National Library of Uganda (NLU) in 

collaboration with the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development as a pilot 

project to provide reading materials to people living in the rural Buikwe subcounty of the 

Mukono District in Central Uganda (De Graf and Koman 2004) (Figure 4). The idea was 

originally based on a concept originally created by the Internet Archive8 (Koman 2005). 

Funded by the World Bank and Hewlett Packard, the project targets children and their 

teachers, and reading adults in the community by providing access to books via the 

Internet Archive. A special van provided by the NLU serves as a bookmobile and has a 

computer and printer. 

The NLU also has computers, scanners, printers, paper cutters, and a binding machine 

that can be used to print and bind entire books from the Internet. The bookmobile drives 

to the local public library at Buike and opens its doors to the public. The local children 

help the bookmobile librarian prepare the books that are downloaded from the Internet. 

The children then keep the books and give them to their schools. 

The staff of Anywhere Books also collects information materials on HIV/AIDS, farming 

methods, and other topics of interest to the local community. These documents are then 

scanned for later printing in the bookmobile. The project objectives are to provide 

reading material to adults on topics of interest, including HIV/AIDS, among others, 

provide reading material to primary-age students and their teachers to supplement what 

they learn/teach in school, and to provide additional reading material to support adults 

who have completed basic literacy programs. 

The results of this six-month pilot project yielded the production of 6,000 books and a 

model for suitable replication in other communities. The project leaders suggested a few 

adjustments for future consideration including partnership with NGOs rather than the 

government, and the development of a “health literature strategy” (Koman 2005, 19). 

They estimate the cost to replicate each bookmobile is approximately $50,000 if many 

8

 The Internet Archive is a U.S. based organization that has digitized over 30,000 works that are in the 

public domain. 

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are developed at once (based on 10 bookmobiles). They also recommend the goals of 

building local collections in the communities that are visited and targeting initial 

populations that have some resources in order to establish sustainability early in the 

project. They also suggest the creation of a separate fund to develop libraries of digital 

books in other languages. 

Figure 3. Anywhere Books Bookmobile (Source: Reprinted with 

 permission from Anywhere Books, 2004; see de Graf and Koman 2004) 

The Baaba Project 

Started in January 2001, the Baaba project works with street children and youth in 

Kampala (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development 2003). The goal is to 

teach them about HIV/AIDS and mainstream HIV/AIDS education into existing NGOrun programs for street children and youth. IEC materials (posters, leaflets, and videos) 

developed by the Ministry of Health, The AIDS Support Organisation (TASO), the AIDS 

Information Centre (AIC), and the Straight Talk Foundation, are used to educate peer 

educators as well as the street children. 

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The project has an extensive resource library that holds materials from such organizations 

as Family Care International, Population Council, HIV/AIDS Alliance, World Health 

Organization (WHO), UNAIDS, Pathfinder International, MEASURE, and Safaids. The 

library is also regularly updated with Internet resources. 

Foundation For The Development Of Needy Communities (FDNC) 

Community Based Health Care And Promotion Program 

Located in Mbale, the FDNC offers counseling services, a library and resource center, 

community-based health workers throughout the district, and AIDS awareness and 

prevention information (NAM nd). 

Kasese District Network of AIDS Service Organizations (KADINASO) 

Formed in August 2002 by several NGOs, KADINASO was developed “in response to 

the great need of sharing information on HIV/AIDS to help enhance the effectiveness of 

service delivery of HIV/AIDS programmes through coordination of NGOs, CBOs, and 

FBOs working on HIV/AIDS in Kasese District” (UNASO News 2004, 5). To support 

this mission, KADINASO developed an HIV/AIDS information collection including 100 

books, 500 leaflets, 350 posters, 200 flyers, 100 sets of photocopied information, 10 

video tapes, 8 CDs, 250 newsletters. Thirty-eight members of the network had utilized 

the collection at the time of this report. 

Mildmay International 

Mildmay International operates the Mildmay Centre in Kampala, which is a “British 

NGO collaborating with government of Uganda through the ministry of health and is 

funded by The U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention” (Kasusse 2004, 103). Its 

purpose is to offer outpatient palliative care and rehabilitative services for people living 

with or affected by HIV/AIDS. Mildmay has an Information Resource Center (IRC) that 

provides “health related information to its users who include patients, carers, general 

public, staff, participants, other statutory and voluntary organisations, self help and 

support groups” (Kasusse 2004, 105). Specifically, the IRC offers information on 

services available to people living with HIV/AIDS, offers information on support groups, 

provides referrals, and designs leaflets and posters and distributes information. The IRC 

also offers a Mobile Patient Library Service that “works hand in hand with 

Occupation Therapy and Home visit department” (Kasusse 2004, 105). The purpose of 

the Mobile Patient Library is to bring information materials to patients and their 

caretakers who are either at home or in the hospital. These materials are available to 

promote the patient’s condition, increase awareness about HIV/AIDS and treatment 

options, and simply give them something to do. Specific materials provided include 

books (particularly novels), newsletters and journals, current awareness services on new 

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treatments, talking books (where someone has recorded a book or other material onto 

cassette tape). Members of the service are visited every two weeks at which time the 

information professional works with the user to determine their information needs. 

Membership is available to those registered with the Mildmay Centre and who can pay 

the membership fee of $40 US. At the time it was written, Michael Kasusse, Chief 

Librarian for the IRC and the author of the article, there were 65 patients taking utilizing 

the Mobile Library Services. 

The Nakaseke Multipurpose Community Telecentre (MCT) and 

Library 

There are library activities in East Africa as well. The National Library of Uganda has 

facilitatrf access to HIV/AIDS information for children and young adults in rural areas 

via the Nakaseke Multipurpose Community Telecentre (MCT) and Library (Figure 3). 

Established in 1999 as a three-year pilot project, the Nakaseke MCT, located in the 

Luwero District of central Uganda, offers telephone and facsimile access, computing 

facilities and Internet access. The MCT serves as a telecenter for multiple users in the 

community. It provides technical support for local schools by offering computer backup 

for school libraries and computer training for teachers, including distance learning 

linkages to Makerere University in Kampala. The MCT provides telephone connections 

between the local hospital and Mulago Hospital in Kampala, allowing consultations with 

medical specialists and telemedicine services. It offers access to medical resources on the 

Internet (International Telecommunication Union n.d.). The new Nakaseke public library 

is also part of the telecentre, offering specific services to targeted user groups within the 

community. Originally the MCT was housed in a farm building but later moved to the 

public library (Mayanja 2001). Books, posters, CD-ROMs, videos and audiotapes are 

made available, some in local languages, primarily Luganda, in addition to English. The 

staff also provide services to the community by providing information about the 

prevention of HIV/AIDS (Batambuze 2003). 

National AIDS Documentation and Information Centre (NADIC)

P.O. Box 10779 

Kampala, Uganda 

Tel: +256 41 273538 / +256 41 273231 

Fax: +256 41 258173 

Part of the Uganda AIDS Commission, NADIC is a documentation center that collects 

and disseminates current and relevant HIV/AIDS information. It provides a national 

information base on all aspects of HIV/AIDS. NADIC serves as a clearing house for upto-date information from local and international sources, and public and personal sectors 

on HIV/AIDS. It also provides research updates and statistics (Uganda AIDS 

Commission n.d.). 

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The Straight Talk Foundation 

The Straight Talk Foundation was established in 1993 to provide the Straight Talk 

newspaper (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development 2003). The purpose 

of the program is to increase youth’s knowledge of sexuality and sexual health. More 

recently it has developed the Young Talk newspaper for 10-14 year olds, while Straight 

Talk continues to target those aged 15-19. Both publications are delivered monthly to 

schools and as inserts in a Sunday paper with national reach. Topics that are covered 

include those that are suggested by the readers and include information on sexual health 

and related issues. The formation of “Straight Talk Clubs,” with teacher and student 

participation is also encouraged to reinforce the messages provided in the newspapers. 

The Straight Talk Foundation sends a team of healthcare professionals to schools on a 

periodic basis to work with teachers and students to help raise awareness of healthcare 

issues. Parents and teachers are encouraged to participate in additional workshops 

provided by the Foundation staff. 

Uganda Network of AIDS Service Organisations (UNASO) 

UNASO provides self-help services, including information, education, prevention 

services, and serves as an advocacy and lobbying organization. In addition, UNASO 

provides counseling services. 

Under the information provision function, UNASO offers regular publication and 

distribution of a quarterly newsletter and a quarterly “Best Practice” series. In addition, 

UNASO offers electronic mail, downloading and repackaging of information from the 

Internet, updates on the UNASO Web site, UNASO report updates, and updates to the 

UNASO Membership directory (UNASO Annual Report 2003, 6). In July 2003, an 

Information and Documentation Officer was hired. In addition, information contacts 

have been enlisted to “collect, compile and send articles/best practices to the Information 

Officer for editing and publishing” (6). Seven districts were enlisted as of 2003. One of 

the challenges facing the Centre is how to track the distribution of materials emanating 

from UNASO, given the limited resources of staff and the geographic coverage of 

distribution across district networks. 

In addition to the above projects, Charles Batambuze (July 18, 2005), Director of the 

Uganda Library Association, has suggested that Web sites for libraries are “one of the 

most inexpensive ways of disseminating information.” 

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ZAMBIA

Ministry of Health

Lusaka, Zambia 

Tel: +260 1 253 040 

Fax: +260 1 254 625 

National AIDS Council

P.O. Box 36718 

Lusaka, Zambia 

Tel: +260 1 255 044 

Fax: +260 1 253 881 

E-mail: rmusonda@zamnet.am 

Project Lubuto 

Meyers (2003) also reports that although information and communication technologies 

(ICTs) are available throughout much of the continent, African children still have limited 

access to books. In her work with orphaned street children in Lusaka, the capital, she 

was able to use a shelter and offer a library comprised mainly of books donated by 

Western sources. She reports that, “For basic education and literacy programs in Africa, 

printed books remain the appropriate medium, but efforts to make these books available 

remain vitally important, especially alongside efforts to provide access to information 

technology and the Internet” (66-67). Meyers further suggested that the success of her 

project could be replicated throughout Africa and has pursued this approach through 

Project Lubuto, which means, according to the Bembe people of Zambia, “enlightenment, 

knowledge, and light” (68). Currently, Project Lubuto is in the process of starting three 

more libraries that will “offer materials on HIV/AIDS prevention, as well as other topics 

related to how AIDS affects the lives of orphans/street kids” (Meyers 2005). 

Batambuze (2003) also suggested that NGOs specializing in HIV/AIDS information in 

Zambia tend to distribute their materials through schools and ignore other information 

providers such as libraries. 

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Figure 4. Librarians from the Zambia Library Assn. read books in local languages to the 

FoH children during National Library Week. (Source: Reprinted with permission from 

Jane Kinney Meyers, Lubuto Library Project, http://www.lubuto.org). 

Zambia HIV/AIDS Business Sector (ZHABS) Project 

Initially funded for two years by the UK Department for International Development 

(DFID), the ZHABS Project was designed to implement an HIV/AIDS awareness and 

wellness program in approximately 20 companies across Zambia. Its focus was primarily 

on peer education, where company employees were trained to disseminate HIV 

information to their colleagues (Enterprise Development Impact Assessment Information 

Service (EDIAIS) 2001). 

University of Zambia Medical Library 

The University of Zambia Medical Library participates in the dissemination of 

HIV/AIDS information to users in the Zambian community. The library has several 

projects including (Gelvazio 2005): 

1) “Communicating for Better Health.” Library staff search the Internet and 

compile literature in a booklet entitled, “Zambia Health Information Digest” 

that is distributed to all health centers in Zambia. This project is funded by 

Dreyfus Health Foundation of New York. 

2) “Health List.” Library staff moderate a health-list (see 

www.hivnet.ch:8000/africa/zambia) and post it to all the members of a 

listserv. Members include hospitals, urban health centres, rural health centres 

and personal clinics in Zambia (Lovelee 2005). 

3) “HIV/AIDS Global Database.” Library staff enter local research information 

into a global database which shares information on HIV/AIDS so that 

scientists have access to information on the Internet. GTZ funds this project. 

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Network of Zambian People Living with AIDS (NZP+) 

NZP+ offers counseling and training services, education and awareness information, and 

provides support and advocacy to those living with AIDS. 

Population Services International (PSI) 

Located in Lusaka, PSI “uses social marketing to deliver health products, services and 

information that enable low-income and other vulnerable people to lead healthier lives” 

(Integrated Regional Information Networks 2005). 

Zambia Networks of AIDS Service Organisations (ZNAN) 

Part of the SANASO organization, the ZNAN provides a national network of information 

exchange, access to resources, and technical assistance to its members. It serves to 

influence policy and advocacy, capacity building and fighting the spread of HIV. 

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ZIMBABWE

Ministry of Health and Child Welfare

AIDS and TB Unit 

Harare, Zimbabwe 

Tel: +263 4 726 803 

Fax: +263 4 795 191 

National AIDS Council (NAC):

P.O. Box MP 1311, Mount Pleasant 

Harare, Zimbabwe 

Tel: +263 4 791 171/2 

E-mail: dchitate@nac.co.za or jsithole@nac.co.zw 

Midlands AIDS Service Organisation (MASO): Youth Alive Initiatives 

Project 

The Midlands Aids Service Organisation (MASO) started the Youth Alive Initiative 

Project, a program of peer teachers to encourage safe sex practices among people who are 

infected or affected with HIV/AIDS. Started in 1996, it targets youth, ages 10-24, in both 

urban and rural areas of Zimbabwe. The goals of the program are to ultimately reduce 

the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the country by disseminating information that will 

encourage young people to practice safe sex, primarily abstinence. The peer teaching 

approach encourages peers to share information on either a one-to-one basis or during 

outreach activities. Information is disseminated that includes “life skills development, 

communication, and behavior change” (International Bank for Reconstruction and 

Development 2003). They also produce materials that are available to the public. 

Zimbabwe Networks of AIDS Service Organisations (ZAN) 

Part of the SANASO organization, the ZAN provides a national network of information 

exchange, access to resources, and technical assistance to its members. It serves to 

influence policy and advocacy, capacity building and fighting the spread of HIV. 

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AIDS Counselling Trust (ACT) 

Located in Harare, ACT provides counseling; home-based care; training; materials 

development; information, education and communication (Integrated Regional 

Information Networks 2005). 

Matabeleland AIDS Council (MAC)

MAC supports people living with HIV and their families to control the spread of HIV in 

Matabeleland. MAC also offers counselling, information and education. 

Population Services International (PSI) 

Located in Harare, PSI “uses social marketing to deliver health products, services and 

information that enable low-income and other vulnerable people to lead healthier lives” 

(Integrated Regional Information Networks 2005). 

Southern Africa AIDS Information Dissemination Service (SAfAIDS) 

Located in Harare and on the Web at http://www.safaids.org.zw, SAfAIDS is one of the 

preeminent information organizations involved in the dissemination of HIV/AIDS 

information in Southern Africa. Its emphasis is on building the capacity of its partner 

organizations and on providing assistance to organizations in integrating HIV/AIDS into 

their workplace policies. 

Zimbabwe AIDS Network 

The Zimbabwe AIDS Network serves as a national network for NGOS with AIDS 

programs. Its purpose is to develop the capacity of its members, and to provide lobbying 

and advocacy services. It also facilitates information sharing and shared use of resources. 

In addition, it provides a forum to facilitate information exchange. 

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APPENDIX C: LIBRARIES IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA 

ANGOLA 

Biblioteca Nacional de Angola 

Av. Comandante Jika, C.P. 2915 

Luanda, Angola 

Tel: +(244)(2)326299/326769 

Fax: +(244)(2)326299 

E-mail: biblioteca@netangola.com 

Direct correspondence c/o: Ms Maria José Faria Ramos 

Highest official: Director: Ms Maria José Faria Ramos 

Source: http://www.ifla.org/ifla-cgi/ifla-members-srch?angola

Universidade Agostinho Neto 

Av. 4 de Fevereiro, no 7, 2o Andar, Caixa Postal 815 

Lianda, Angola 

Tel: +(244)(2)311126 

Fax: +(244)(2)310283 

E-mail: uan@nexus.ao 

http://www.uan-angola.org

Direct correspondence c/o: Pedro Rogério de F. Rey 

Highest official: Pedro Rogério de F. Rey 

Source: http://www.ifla.org/ifla-cgi/ifla-members-srch?angola

Arquivo Historico Nacional (National Historical Archive) 

Rua Pedro Feoix Machado 49 

Luanda, Angola 

Tel: +244 2 334410 

Fax: +244 2 323979 

Rosa Cruz e Silva 

20,000 volumes; 3,000 periodicals 

Centro Nacional de Documentacao e Investigacao Historico, Bibliotheca 

Rua Neves Ferreia 49/54 

CP 1267-C 

Luanda, Angola 

12,000 volumes; 2,000 periodicals 

Direccao Provincial dos Servicos de Geologia e Minas de Angola,

Bibliotheca (Angolan Directorate of Geological and Mining Services) 

CP 1260-C 

Luanda, Angola 

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Tel: +244 2 322155 

1914 

40,000 volumes 

Museu do Dundo, Bibliotheca 

Chitato 

CP 14 

Luanda, Angola 

8,000 volumes 

Uniao dos Escritores Angolanos, Library (Association of Angolan Writers) 

CP 2767-C 

Luanda, Angola 

Tel: +244 2 322155 

2,000 volumes 

Bibliotheca Muncipal, Camera 

Muncipal de Lunda 

CP 1227 

Luanda, Angola 

Tel: +244 2 392297 

Fax: +244 2 333902 

1873; Antonio Jose Emido de Brito 

30,000 volumes 

BENIN 

Bibliothèque universitaire, Université nationale de

http://www.bj.refer.org/benin_ct/edu/univ-be/bu/bu.htm

Houses over 50,000 books and 320 periodicals. 

 

Bibliothèque Nationale du Benin 

www.bj.refer.org/benin_ct/tur/bnb/Pagetitre.htm

P.O. Box 401 

Porto Novo, Benin 

Tel & Fax: +229 212 585 

BOTSWANA 

University of Botswana, Library 

Personal Bag UB00390, University Post Office 

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Gaborone, Botswana 

Tel: +(267)351151 

Fax: +(267)397291 

E-mail: raseroka@mopipi.ub.bw 

http://www.ub.bw/library/public_html/

Highest official: Ms. H. K. Raseroka 

Botswana National Assembly Library 

P.O. Box 240 

Gaborone, Botswana 

Tel: +(267)3616800 

Fax: +(267)3913103/3914376 

E-mail: parliament@gov.bw 

Direct correspondence c/o: A. Matlhaku, Clerk of the National Assembly 

Highest official: Gaone Tsitsi Pelotona, Librarian 

Botswana National Library Service 

P.O. Box OO36 

Gaborone, Botswana 

Tel: +267 352 288; 352 397 

Fax: +267 301 149 

Botswana Technology Centre, Library 

Personal Bag 0082 

Gaborone, Botswana 

Tel: +(267)314161 

Fax: +(267)374677 

E-mail: botec@info.bw 

Highest official: Librarian 

Botswana College of Agriculture

P/Bag 0027 

Gaborone, Botswana 

Tel: +(267)3650100 

Fax: +(267)3928753 

E-mail: lramore@bca.bw 

http://www.bca.bw

Direct correspondence c/o: Ms. Lesego Ramore 

Highest official: E. J. Kemsley 

Botswana Training Authority (BOTA) 

P/Bag BO 340 

Gaborone 0267, Botswana 

Tel: +(267)3188239 

Fax: +(267)3188611 

E-mail: jmoelenyane@bota.org.bw 

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http://www.bota.org.bw

Direct correspondence c/o: Master Jacobs Moelenyane 

Highest official: Abel Modungwa 

Botswana Institute for Development Policy Analysis 

Personal Bag BR-29 

Gaborone, Botswana 

Tel: +(267)3971750 

Fax: +(267)3971748 

E-mail: chedza@bidpa.bw 

http://www.bidpa.bw

Direct correspondence c/o: Ms. Chedza Molefe 

Highest official: Mr. Happy Fidzani 

BEDIA - Botswana Export Development and Investment Authority 

P.O. BOX 3122 

Gaborone, Botswana 

Tel: +(267)3181931 

Fax: +(267)3181941 

E-mail: Garekwe-modidib@bedia.bw 

http://www.bedia.co.bw

Direct correspondence c/o: Boitumelo Garekwe-Modidi 

Highest official: Ontiretse S. Monagen, Investor Services-Manager 

 

BURKINA FASO 

Centre d'Information sur la Recherche et le Développement 

http://www.ird.bf/cird

Ecole Inter-Etat de l'Equipement Rural (EIER) 

http://www.eier.org/cfpi/index.htm

Université de Ouagadougou 

http://www.univ-ouaga.bf/

Government 

http://www.primature.gov.bf/

BURUNDI 

Burundi - Asemblée nationale 

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THE ROLE OF LIBRARIES IN HIV/AIDS INFORMATION DISSEMINATION IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

http://www.burundi.gov.bi/parlement.htm

Bibliotheque Nationale du Burundi

BP 1095 

Bujumbura, Burundi 

Tel: +257 2 25051 

Fax: +257 2 26231

Burundi gov 

http://burundi.gov.bi/

CAMEROON 

Assemblée Nationale 

Yaoundé, Cameroon 

Tel: +(237)2221131 

Fax: +(237)2221131 

Direct correspondence c/o: Alim Garga 

Highest official: Alim Garga 

http://www.burundi.gov.bi/parlement.htm

Source: http://www.ifla.org/ifla-cgi/ifla-members-srch?cameroon 

Bibliotheque Nationale du Cameroun 

BP 1O53 

Yaoundé, Cameroon 

CAPE VERDE 

Instituto do Arquivo Histórico Nacional, Bibliothèque d'appui à la Salle de Lecture 

Boîte Postale 321 

Praia, Cape Verde 

Tel: +(238)612125/613962 

Fax: +(238)613964 

E-mail: ahn.praia@cvtelecom.cv 

http://www.ahn.cv

Highest official: Jose Maria Almeida 

Universidade Jean Piaget de Cabo Verde 

Campus universitário da cidade da Praia, Palmarejo Grande 

Praia Santiago 775, Cape Verde 

Tel: +(238)609000 

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U.S. NATIONAL COMMISSION ON LIBRARIES AND INFORMATION SCIENCE

Fax: +(238)609020 

E-mail: info@caboverde.ipiaget.org 

http://www.caboverde.ipiaget.org

Direct correspondence c/o: Jorge Alexandre Pinto 

Highest official: David Ribeiro Lamas 

Assembleia Nacional de Cabo Verde 

http://www.parlamento.cv/

CONGO

World Health Organization 

Regional Office for Africa 

Library and Documentation Centre 

B.P.: 06 Tel: 47-242 39 444 

Fax: 47-241 39 673 

E-mail: bibliotheque@afro.who.int 

Brazzaville, Congo 

http://www.afro.who.int/library/about_en/

ETHIOPIA 

Office of the Government Spokesperson 

Offers information regarding the dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea. 

http://www.ethiospokes.net/

Institute of Ethiopian Studies Library 

Offers books, periodicals, pamphlets, and archival materials in Ethiopian and foreign 

languages. Holds tens of thousands of published and unpublished Ethiopian 

documents. 

http://www.ies-ethiopia.org/library.htm

National Archives & Library of Ethiopia (NALE) 

P.O. Box 717 

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 

Tel: +(251)(1)516532 

Fax: +(251)(1)526411 

E-mail: nale@telecom.net.et 

http://www.nale.gov.et

Highest official: Ato Atklite Assefa, Director General 

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THE ROLE OF LIBRARIES IN HIV/AIDS INFORMATION DISSEMINATION IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

African Union, Library 

P.O. Box 3243 

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 

Tel: +(251)(1)517700 ext. 332/211 

Fax: +(251)(1)517844 

Highest official: Chief Librarian, Documentalist 

Parliament of Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia 

Offers information on the House of Peoples' Representatives and the House of the 

Federation and their committees. Has information on draft bills and legislation. 

http://ethiopar.net/English/Contents.htm

GAMBIA 

Official Web site 

Provides information about Gambia's history, government, investment opportunities, 

economic developments, and travel. Includes phone numbers and addresses of 

organizations in Gambia. 

http://www.gambia.gm/

Gambia National Library 

(Reg Pye Lane) Departmental Mail Bag 

Banjul, Gambia 

Tel: +(220)226491 

Fax: +(220)223776 

E-mail: national.library@qanet.gm 

Direct correspondence c/o: Abdou W. Mbye 

Highest official: Abdou W. Mbye, Chief librarian 

GHANA 

Government Web site 

http://www.ghana.gov.gh/

University of Ghana, Balme Library 

P.O. Box 24, Legon 

Accra, Ghana 

Tel: +(233)(21)512407/500014 

Fax: +(233)(21)502701 

E-mail: balme@libr.ug.edu.gh 

http://www.ug.edu.gh/Balme

Direct correspondence c/o: A. A. Alemna 

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U.S. NATIONAL COMMISSION ON LIBRARIES AND INFORMATION SCIENCE

Highest official: A. A. Alemna, University Librarian 

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Library 

University Post Office 

Kumasi, Ghana 

Tel: +(233)(51)60133/212/199 

Fax: +(233)(51)60358 

E-mail: lib@knust.edu.gh 

http://www.knust.edu.gh

Direct correspondence c/o: Ms. H. R. Asamoah-Hassan 

Highest official: Ms. H. R. Asamoah-Hassan, University Librarian 

Ghana Library Board 

P.O. Box 663 

Accra, Ghana 

Tel: +(233)(21)662795/665083 

Fax: +(233)(21)678258 

Highest official: Ms. Susannah Minyila, Director 

Parliament of Ghana, The Library 

Parliament House 

Accra, Ghana 

Tel: +(233)(21)672325/665957 

Fax: +(233)(21)665957 

E-mail: library@parliament.gh 

http://www.parliament.gh

Direct correspondence c/o: Charles M. Brown 

Highest official: Charles M. Brown, Librarian 

University of Education of Winneba 

P.O. Box 25 

Winneba, Ghana 

Tel: +(233)(432)22407 

Fax: +(233)(432)22361/22407 

E-mail: ucewlib@libr.ug.edu.gh 

Direct correspondence c/o: Ms. Valentina Bannerman 

Highest official: Ms. Valentina Bannerman 

GUINEA 

Office of Libraries & Archives, National Library Service 

P.O. Box 734 

Waugani NCD 

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THE ROLE OF LIBRARIES IN HIV/AIDS INFORMATION DISSEMINATION IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

Papua, New Guinea 

Tel: +(675)3256200 

Fax: +(675)3251331 

E-mail: ceminoni@online.net.pg 

Direct correspondence c/o: Ms. Cathy Eminoni, Deputy National Librarian 

Highest official: Daniel Paraide, Director General 

KENYA 

Presidential Web site 

http://www.statehousekenya.go.ke/

University of Nairobi Library 

http://library.uonbi.ac.ke/Web site/index.html

Kenya National Library Service 

(Ngong Road) P.O. Box 30573 

Nairobi, Kenya 

Tel: +(254)(020)2725550/2725859 

Fax: +(254)(020)2721749 

E-mail: knls@nbnet.co.ke 

http://www.knls.or.ke

Highest official: S.K. Ng'ang'a, Director 

Moi University, Chepkoilel Library 

P.O. Box 1125 

Eldoret, Kenya 

Tel: +(254)(321)63111 

Fax: +(254)(321)63257 

E-mail: cheplib@multitechweb.com 

http://www.moiuniversity.ac.ke

Direct correspondence c/o: George G. Njoroge, Head Library Services Chepkoilel 

Campus 

Highest official: Tirong arap Tanui, University Librarian 

United States International University, The Library 

P.O. Box 14634 

Nairobi, Kenya 

Tel: +(254)(2)3606000 

Fax: +(254)(2)3606100 

E-mail: library@usiu.ac.ke 

http://www.usiu.ac.ke

Direct correspondence c/o: Michael Gathua 

Highest official: The University Librarian 

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U.S. NATIONAL COMMISSION ON LIBRARIES AND INFORMATION SCIENCE

Camel Library Service 

Established in 1996 to serve rural and marginal areas, the Camel Mobile Library 

Service is a library outreach program of the National Library Service. Its goal is to 

provide access to books and other publications for people who have no other means 

of access to information in the vast plains of Kenya. 

http://www.knls.or.ke/camel.htm

LESOTHO 

National University Library 

http://www.nul.ls

National University of Lesotho Academic Library 

P.O. Roma 180 

Maseru 180, Lesotho 

Tel: +(266)340601 

Fax: +(266)340000 

E-mail: m.moshoeshoe-chadzingwa@nul.ls 

Direct correspondence c/o: Ms. M. N. Mohapi 

Highest official: M. Moshoeshoe-Chadzingwa 

MADAGASCAR 

l'Assemblée Nationale Malgache 

http://www.assemblee-nationale.mg/fr/index.htm

Bibliothèque Nationale de Madagascar 

B.P. 257 Anosy 

Amtananarivo, Madagascar 

Tel: +(261)(2)2225872 

Fax: +(261)(2)2229448 

Highest official: Louis Ralaisaholimanana, Conservateur 

MALAWI 

University of Malawi, Bunda College of Agriculture Library 

http://www.bunda.sdnp.org.mw/library.htm

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THE ROLE OF LIBRARIES IN HIV/AIDS INFORMATION DISSEMINATION IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

Reserve Bank of Malawi 

P.O. Box 30063, Capital City 

Lilongwe 3, Malawi 

Tel: +(265)1770600 

Fax: +(265)1772802 

E-mail: mkajiyanike@rbm.malawi.net 

http://www.resbank.malawi.net

Direct correspondence c/o: Ms. Meg Kajiyanike, Director Administration 

Highest official: E. Ngalande, Governor 

MAURITIUS 

University Library 

http://www.uom.ac.mu/Campuslife/Library/libhomepage.htm

University of Mauritius, Library 

Reduit, Mauritius 

Tel: +(230)4541041 

Fax: +(230)4640905 

E-mail: dassyne@uom.ac.mu 

http://www.uom.mu

Highest official: I. Dassyne, Chief Librarian 

National Library 

1st & 2nd Floors, Fon Sing Building, 12, Edith Cavell Street 

Port Louis, Mauritius 

Tel: +(230)2107197/2119891 

Fax: +(230)2107173 

E-mail: natlib@intnet.mu 

http://ncb.intnet.mu/nlibrary/index.htm

Highest official: Y. Chan Kam Lon, Director 

MOZAMBIQUE 

Parliament Library 

http://www.mozambique.mz/parlamen/eindex.htm

Universidade Eduardo Mondlane 

http://www.uem.mz/

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U.S. NATIONAL COMMISSION ON LIBRARIES AND INFORMATION SCIENCE

Biblioteca Nacional de Mocambique 

PO Box 141 

Maputo, Mozambique 

Tel: +258 425 676

NAMIBIA 

Prime Minister's Office 

http://www.opm.gov.na/

University of Namibia Library 

http://library.unam.na/cgi-bin/urica1?HTMENU0

University of Namibia, Information Learning and Resource Centre 

(340 Mandume Ndemufayo Avenue) Personal Bag 13301 

Windhoek 9000, Namibia 

Tel: +(264)(61)2063873 

Fax: +(264)(61)2063876 

http://www.unam.na/ilrc/library

Direct correspondence c/o: Ms. R. Viljoen 

Highest official: University Librarian 

National Library of Namibia 

Personal Bag 13349 

Windhoek 9000, Namibia 

Tel: +(264)(61)2935111 

Fax: +(264)(61)2935321 

E-mail: jloubser@mec.gov.na 

Highest official: Johan Loubser 

NIGERIA 

Obafemi Awolowo University 

Ile-Ife 

http://www.oauife.edu.ng/

NigeriaWEB 

Provides links to national government and state information. 

http://www.odili.net/nigeria.html

Nigeria - National Library 

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THE ROLE OF LIBRARIES IN HIV/AIDS INFORMATION DISSEMINATION IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

http://www.nlbn.org/

Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Library 

(13/15 Kofo Abayoni Road, Victoria Island) P.M.B. 1727 

Lagos, Nigeria 

Tel: +(234)(1)2615606/2615607 

Fax: +(234)(1)2611360 

E-mail: dgeneral@niianet.org 

http://www.niianet.org

Direct correspondence c/o: Ms. Q. Folasade Coker, Director of Library 

Highest official: Ms. Joy U. Ogwu, Director-General 

RWANDA 

Official Web site 

Provides information on government, history, and tourism. 

http://www.rwanda.com/government/

SENEGAL 

Assemblée Nationale 

http://www.primature.sn/institutions/assemblee.html 

Government Web site 

Provides information on the government and people of Senegal. 

http://www.gouv.sn/

Bibliothèque de l'Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar 

B.P. 2006 

Dakar, Senegal 

Tel: +(221)8246981 

Fax: +(221)8242379 

E-mail: hsene@bucad.sn 

http://www.bu.ucad.sn

Direct correspondence c/o: Henri Sène 

Bibliothèque Centrale de l'Université Gaston Berger de Saint-Louis 

BP 234 

Saint-Louis, Senegal 

Tel: +(221)9612323 

Fax: +(221)9611884 

E-mail: bugb@ugb.sn 

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U.S. NATIONAL COMMISSION ON LIBRARIES AND INFORMATION SCIENCE

http://www.univ-gbsl.edu

Highest official: Mamadou Lamine Ndoye, Director 

Direction du Livre et de la Lecture (DLL) 

BP 3393 

Dakar RP, Senegal 

Tel: +(221)(8221494 

Fax: +(221)8423409 

E-mail: bns@primature.sn 

Direct correspondence c/o: Le Directeur 

Highest official: Le Directeur 

SIERRA LEONE 

Sierra Leone Web 

Provides news, information, photos, and links to other resources. 

http://www.sierra-leone.org/

SOUTH AFRICA 

Government Online 

Provides access to government information, speeches, and events. 

http://www.gov.za/index.html

Library of Parliament RSA 

P.O. Box 18 

Cape Town 8000, South Africa 

Tel: +(27)(21)4032140/1/2/3 

Fax: +(27)(21)4614331 

E-mail: antunja@parliament.gov.za 

http://www.parliament.gov.za

Direct correspondence c/o: Albert Ntunja 

Highest official: Albert Ntunja, Chief Librarian 

South African Library for the Blind 

P.O. Box 115 

Grahamstown 6140, South Africa 

Tel: +(27)(46)6227226 

Fax: +(27)(46)6224645 

E-mail: director@blindlib.org.za 

http://www.blindlib.org.za

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THE ROLE OF LIBRARIES IN HIV/AIDS INFORMATION DISSEMINATION IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

Direct correspondence c/o: Ms. Sheila Eichhoff, Chief Librarian 

Highest official: J. W. Roos, Director 

Tape Aids for the Blind 

P.O. Box 47016 

Greyville, Durban 4023, South Africa 

Tel: +(27)(31)3094800 

Fax: +(27)(31)3091105 

E-mail: director@tapeaids.org.za 

http://www.tapeaids.co.za

Direct correspondence c/o: Ms. Pauline Hoffman 

Highest official: Ms. Pauline Hoffman, National Director 

University of Zululand, Department of Library and Information Science 

(KwaDlangezwa 3886) Personal Bag X 1001 

Kwadlangezwa 3886, South Africa 

Tel: +(27)(351)93911 

Fax: +(27)(351)93420 

E-mail: docholla@pan.uzulu.ac.za 

http://www.uzulu.ac.za

Highest official: Dennis N. Ocholla, Head 

Natal Society Library 

Personal Bag 415 

Pietermaritzburg Natal 3200, South Africa 

Tel: +(27)(33)3452383 

Fax: +(27)(33)3940095 

E-mail: nsl@futurenet.co.za 

Highest official: J. C. Morrison 

Ferdinand Postma Library, Potchefstroom University for C.H.E. 

Personal Bag X 05 

Noordbrug 2522, South Africa 

Tel: +(27)(18)2992000 

Fax: +(27)(18)2992999 

E-mail: fpbtl@puknet.puk.ac.za 

http://www.puk.ac.za/library

Direct correspondence c/o: Tom Larney 

Highest official: Tom Larney 

The National Library of South Africa (NLSA) 

Personal Bag X990 0001 

Pretoria, South Africa 

Tel: +(27)(12)3218931 

Fax: +(27)(12)3211128 

E-mail: joan.debeer@nlsa.ac.za 

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U.S. NATIONAL COMMISSION ON LIBRARIES AND INFORMATION SCIENCE

http://www.nlsa.ac.za

Direct correspondence c/o: Andrew Malotle 

Highest official: John Kgwale Tsebe, National Librarian 

University of South Africa Library 

P.O. Box 392 

Unisa 0003, South Africa 

Tel: +(27)(12)4292942 

Fax: +(27)(12)4292925 

E-mail: libr-ill@unisa.ac.za 

http://www.unisa.ac.za

Direct correspondence c/o: Ms. Sue du Buisson 

Highest official: Ms. Sue du Buisson 

University of Cape Town, Chancellor Oppenheimer Library, Periodicals 

Department 

6th Floor, J.W. Jagger Building, Rondebosch 

Cape Town 7701, South Africa 

Tel: +(27)(21)6503097 

Fax: +(27)(21)6897568 

E-mail: libdir@iafrica.com 

http://www.lib.uct.ac.za

Highest official: Ms. Joan G. Rapp, Director 

University of Witwatersrand Library 

Wartenweiler Library, Personal Bag X1 

Po Wits 2050, South Africa 

Tel: +(27)(11)7171902 

Fax: +(27)(11)4031421 

E-mail: Ubogu.f@library.wits.ac.za 

http://www.wits.ac.za/library/

Direct correspondence c/o: Ms. D. Man 

Highest official: F. N. Ubogu, University Librarian 

University of the North, Department of Library & Information Science 

Personal Bag X 1112 

Sovenga 0727, South Africa 

Tel: +(27)(1521)682608 

Fax: +(27)(152)682198 

Highest official: Seth Manaka, Head 

University of the North Library 

http://www.unorth.ac.za/Library/library.htm

Vista University Library 

Personal Bag X634 

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THE ROLE OF LIBRARIES IN HIV/AIDS INFORMATION DISSEMINATION IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

Pretoria 0001, South Africa 

Tel: +(27)(12)3524058 

Fax: +(27)(12)3203552 

E-mail: lssng-aj@acaleph.vista.ac.za 

http://www.vista.ac.za

Highest official: J. M. Kabamba, Director of Library Services 

University of Natal Libraries, Durban 

King George V Avenue 

Durban 4041, South Africa 

Tel: +(27)(31)2602317 

Fax: +(27)(31)2602051 

E-mail: webster@nu.ac.za 

http://www.library.und.ac.za

Direct correspondence c/o: N. Buchanan, Deputy University Librarian 

University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg Library 

http://www.library.unp.ac.za

Tshwane University of Technology 

Personal Bag X23, Rosslyn 

Pretoria Gauteng 0200, South Africa 

Tel: +(27)(12)5210676 

Fax: +(27)(12)7034863 

E-mail: vivian.agyei@tut.ac.za 

http://www.tut.ac.za

Direct correspondence c/o: Ms. Vivian Agyei 

Highest official: Ms. Vivian Agyei 

University of the Western Cape, University Library 

Personal Bag X17 

Bellville 7535, South Africa 

Tel: +(27)(21)9592947 

Fax: +(27)(21)9592659 

E-mail: etise@uwc.ac.za 

http://www.uwc.ac.za

Direct correspondence c/o: Ms. E. R. Tise 

Highest official: Ms. E. R. Tise 

University of the Western Cape, Library and Information Science 

Personal Bag X17 

Bellville 7535, South Africa 

Tel: +(27)(21)9592137/3623 

Fax: +(27)(21)9593659 

E-mail: gfredericks@uwc.ac.za 

http://www.uwc.ac.za/academic.indexr.htm

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U.S. NATIONAL COMMISSION ON LIBRARIES AND INFORMATION SCIENCE

Direct correspondence c/o: George H. Fredericks 

Highest official: George H. Fredericks 

University of North West 

Personal Bag X2046 

Mmabatho 2735, South Africa 

Tel: +(27)(18)3892017 

Fax: +(27)(18)3892114 

E-mail: anklib@yahoo.com 

Direct correspondence c/o: Ms. Ntombi Kambule 

Highest official: Ms. Ntombi Kambule, University Librarian 

Monash South Africa Library 

Personal Bag X 60 1725 

Roodepoort Gauteng, South Africa 

Tel: +(27)(11)9504051 

Fax: +(27)(11)9504055 

E-mail: sarah.kibirige@lib.monash.edu 

Direct correspondence c/o: Ms. Sarah N. Kibirige 

Highest official: Ms. Sarah N. Kibirige, Campus Librarian 

Technikon Witwatersrand 

Leslie Boyd Library, P.O. Box 17011 

Doorfontein 2028, South Africa 

Tel: +(27)(11)4062564 

Fax: +(27)(11)4042606 

E-mail: manimood@twrinet.twr.ac.za 

Direct correspondence c/o: Manikam Moodley 

Highest official: Manikam Moodley, Director of Library & Information Services 

Department of Social Services, Arts, Culture & Sport - North West Provincial 

Library & Information Service 

Personal Bag X06, Mmabatho 

Mafikeng North West 2735, South Africa 

Tel: +(27)(18)3870127 

Fax: +(27)(18)3845402 

E-mail: kmadumo@nwpg.org.za 

Direct correspondence c/o: Kepi Madumo 

Highest official: Kepi Madumo, Director 

University of Stellenbosch Library Service 

Personal Bag X5036 

Stellenbosch Western Cape 7599, South Africa 

Tel: +(27)(21)8084878 

Fax: +(27)(21)8084336 

E-mail: jpe@sun.ac.za 

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Direct correspondence c/o: J. Engelbrecht 

Highest official: J. H. Viljoen 

University of Stellenbosch, Engineering Library 

One of six branch and satellite libraries of the University Library Service. 

http://www.sun.ac.za/library/about/engineer.html

University of Stellenbosch, Forestry Library 

The Forestry Library serves the staff, lecturers, and students of the Faculty of 

Agriculture and Forestry Sciences and other registered members. Has a collection of 

100,000 pamphlets covering forestry, agroforestry, nature conservation, and wood 

science disciplines. 

http://www.sun.ac.za/library/about/forestry.html

University of Stellenbosch- European Documentation Centre (EDC) 

The EDC is the only “full status EDC” in South Africa and only one of five in the 

entire continent. It serves as a depository of official publications of the European 

Union. 

http://www.sun.ac.za/library/about/Collections/Euro_Centre.html

Vaal University of Technology 

Personal Bag X 021 

Vanderbijlpark Gauteng-South 1900, South Africa 

Tel: +(27)(16)9509262 

Fax: +(27)(16)9509152 

E-mail: mirriam@vut.ac.za 

http://www.vut.ac.za

Direct correspondence c/o: Ms. Mirriam Sandase 

Highest official: Ms. Joyce Gozo 

Department of Information Science, University of Pretoria 

Lynnwood Road 

Pretoria 0002, South Africa 

Tel: +(27)(12)4202961 

Fax: +(27)(12)3625181 

E-mail: srademan@postino.up.ac.za 

http://is.up.ac.za

Direct correspondence c/o: Ms. Serah Rademan 

Highest official: Theo Bothma 

Western Cape Provincial Library Service 

The Western Cape provincial library service provides public library service to over 

280 public libraries. It also links to The Cape Librarian, an online library journal. 

http://www.capegateway.gov.za/eng/your_gov/8228

University of Port Elizabeth, Albertus Delport Library 

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U.S. NATIONAL COMMISSION ON LIBRARIES AND INFORMATION SCIENCE

http://www.upe.ac.za/library/

University of Pretoria 

http://www.up.ac.za/asservices/ais/erudite.htm

Rand Afrikaans University Library 

The collection has approximately 494,000 volumes. 

http://www.rau.ac.za/library/

Rhodes University Library 

http://www.ru.ac.za/library/

University of Fort Hare Library 

The collection houses the Africana collection, rare books, and special collections such 

as the Steve Biko Letters and the Lennox Papers, as well as serving as the official 

Archives of the African National Congress. 

http://www.ufh.ac.za/library/start.asp

UOFS Library and Information Services 

http://www.uovs.ac.za/lib/lib-home.asp

SWAZILAND 

Swaziland Government 

Provides information on government policies, speeches, tourism and general 

information. 

http://www.gov.sz/

Swaziland National Library Service 

P.O. Box 1461 

Mbabane, Swaziland 

Tel: +(268)4042633 

Fax: +(268)4043863 

E-mail: dijkunene@snls.gov.sz 

Highest official: Dikeledi J. Kunene 

University of Swaziland, Library 

Personal Bag No.4 

Kwaluseni, Swaziland 

Tel: +(268)84011/85108 

Fax: +(268)5185276 

E-mail: mmavuso@uniswac1.uniswa.sz 

library.uniswa.sz 

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Direct correspondence c/o: Ms. M. R. Mavuso 

Highest official: Ms. M. R. Mavuso, University Librarian 

TANZANIA 

Tanzania Government Web site 

Provides general information on government, history, and legislation. 

http://www.tanzania.go.tz/

Parliament 

http://www.bungetz.org/

University of Dar es Salaam 

http://www.udsm.ac.tz/faculty.html

Hubert Kairuki Memorial University 

A personal university. 

http://www.angelfire.com/mb/hkmu/

 

Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH) Library 

The collection has over 10,000 volumes of books in science and technology. 

http://www.costech.or.tz/reasearch/library.htm

Institute of Development Management, Technical Services Department, Library 

P.O. Box 4 

Mzumbe Morogoro, Tanzania, United Republic of 

Tel: +(255)(56)43804 ext. 262 

Fax: +(255)(56)4011 

Highest official: Ms. Matilda S. Kuzilwa, Chief Librarian 

East African Community Secretariat 

P.O. Box 1096, AICC Kilimanjaro Wing, 5th Floor 

Arusha, Tanzania, United Republic of 

Tel: +(255)(27)2504253 

Fax: +(255)(27)2504255 +(255)(27)2504481 

E-mail: Sarah@eachq.org 

http://www.eachq.org

Direct correspondence c/o: Ms. Sarah Kagoda-Batuwa 

Highest official: Secretary General 

Zanzibar Public Library 

P.O. Box 4270 

Zanzibar, Tanzania, United Republic of 

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U.S. NATIONAL COMMISSION ON LIBRARIES AND INFORMATION SCIENCE

Tel: +(255)(24)2236414 

E-mail: mak@zitec.org 

Direct correspondence c/o: Moh'd S. Dadi 

Highest official: Hamid R. Juma 

School of Library, Archives, and Documentation Studies 

P.O. Box 227 

Bagamoyo, Tanzania, United Republic of 

E-mail: rtshenmdolwa@yahoo.co.uk 

Direct correspondence c/o: R. T. Shemndolwa 

Highest official: R. T. Shemndolwa, Principal 

Co-operative College Moshi 

P.O. Box 474 

Moshi 4401, Tanzania, United Republic of 

Tel: +(255)(27)2754401 

Fax: +(255)(27)2750806 

E-mail: coopcolib@yahoo.com 

http://www.ushirika.coop/college.htm

Direct correspondence c/o: Rochus O. Matefu 

Highest official: Rochus O. Matefu 

TOGO 

Togo Assemblée Nationale 

http://www.republicoftogo.com/fr/news/newsList.asp?rubID=2&srubID=21&themeI

D=7

Présidence de la République 

In both French and English, this Web site offers links to news, politics, and the 

economy. 

http://www.republicoftogo.com/

UGANDA 

Government Web site 

Provides links to the President's site plus information on government and tourism. 

http://www.government.go.ug/

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Makerere University 

The University Library houses extensive collections in science, social science, 

business administration, history and geography, music and drama, environmental 

sciences. It serves as the depository for all publications published in Uganda. 

Dr. Maria Musoke, Director 

http://www.makerere.ac.ug/services/library.htm

National Library of Uganda 

(Buganda Road) P.O. Box 4262 

Kampala, Uganda 

Tel: +(256)(41)233633/254661 

Fax: +(256)(41)348625 

E-mail: library@imul.com 

Highest official: P. Birungi, Director 

Kyambogo University 

P.O. Box 1, Kyambogo 

Kampala, Uganda 

Tel: +(256)(41)285001/223741 

Fax: +(256)(41)220464 

E-mail: kyulib@utlonlline.co.ug 

http://www.nlu.go.ug

Direct correspondence c/o: Justin N. Kiyimba, Librarian 

Highest official: A. J. Lutalo-Bosa, Vice Chancellor 

Parliament 

http://www.parliament.go.ug/

ZAMBIA 

University of Zambia Medical Library 

The Medical Library serves the information needs of the School of Medicine and the 

University Teaching Hospital. 

http://www.medguide.org.zm

National Assembly of Zambia, Parliamentary Library 

Parliament Buildings, P.O. Box 31299 

Lusaka 10101, Zambia 

Tel: +(260)(1)292425 

Fax: +(260)(1)292252 

E-mail: tcmtine@zamnet.zm 

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Highest official: Ms. Tembi Chalabesa-Mtine, Chief Librarian 

Zambia National Library & Cultural Centre for the Blind 

P.O. Box 35583 

Luskaka, Zambia 

Tel: +(260)(1)260516 

Fax: +(260)(1)260516 

E-mail: liblind@zamtel.zm 

Direct correspondence c/o: Director 

Highest official: Director 

ZIMBABWE 

Bulawayo, National University of Science and Technology 

http://www.nust.ac.zw

University of Zimbabwe Library 

The largest academic library in the country, it houses a collection of 430 000 

volumes. 

http://www.uz.ac.zw/library

Bulawayo Public Library 

http://www.angelfire.com/ky/bpl/

University of Zimbabwe, Library 

P.O. Box MP45 Mount Pleasant 

Harare, Zimbabwe 

Tel: +(263)(4)303211 

Fax: +(263)(4)335383 

E-mail: bmbambo@uzlib.uz.ac.zw 

http://www.uz.ac.zw/library

Direct correspondence c/o: Buhle Mbambo 

Highest official: Buhle Mbambo, Librarian 

National University of Science and Technology (NUST), Library 

P.O. Box AC 940, Ascot 

Bulawayo, Zimbabwe 

Tel: +(263)(9)79671/79686 

Fax: +(263)(9)79671 

E-mail: k-matsika@nust.ac.zw 

http://www.nust.ac.zw

Highest official: Ms. Kathy Matsika 

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APPENDIX D: OTHER INFORMATION AGENCIES INVOLVED IN 

HIV/AIDS INFORMATION DISSEMINATION 

Southern Africa AIDS Information Dissemination Service 

17 Beveridge Rd. 

P.O. Box A509 

Avondale, Harare, Zimbabwe 

Tel: +263-4-336193/4; 307898/9 

Fax: +263-4-336195 

http://www.safaids.org

African Virtual University Digital Library 

A digital library that provides the countries of sub-Saharan Africa with access to 

selected academic faculty and learning resources throughout the world. 

http://www.avu.org/section/library.cfm

Directory of University Libraries in Africa

This directory provides information on university libraries in Africa. The Library at 

Rhodes University maintains it in Grahamstown, South Africa. 

http://www.ru.ac.za/library/otherlibraries/africa/index.html

Sources: 

Online IFLA Membership Directory, http://www.ifla.org/database/directy.htm

[Accessed May 15, 2005]. 

UNESCO Libraries Portal, http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.phpURL_ID=6513&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

[Accessed May 16, 2005]. 

Note: Additional entries were added from The World Guide to Libraries. 

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APPENDIX E: LIBRARY ASSOCIATIONS IN SUB-SAHARAN 

AFRICA

ANGOLA 

BENIN 

Association des Amis de la Lecture (ASSOCLE) 

B.P. 08-0353 

Cotonou, Benin 

Tel: +(229)305635 

Fax: +(229)305635 

E-mail: dtdeguen@hotmail.com 

Highest official: Denis Togbé Deguenon, President 

Source: http://www.ifla.org/ifla-cgi/ifla-members-srch?benin

Association pour la Promotion du Tourisme Social et Culturel en Afrique et en 

France (TOSCAF) 

03 BP 1076 Jericho 

Cotonou, Benin 

Tel: +(229)985944 

Fax: +(229)323746 

E-mail: toscafbenin@yahoo.fr 

Direct correspondence c/o: Theodore Aglassa 

Source: http://www.ifla.org/ifla-cgi/ifla-members-srch?benin

BOTSWANA

Botswana Library Association 

P.O. Box 1310 

Gaborone, Botswana 

Tel: +(267)3650111 

Fax: +(267)3928753 

E-mail: lramore@bca.bw 

Direct correspondence c/o: Secretary: Peter Tshukudu 

Highest official: Lesego Ramore, Chairman 

Source: http://www.ifla.org/ifla-cgi/ifla-members-srch?botswana

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CAMEROON 

Association des Bibliothécaires, Archivistes, Documentaliste et Museographes du 

Cameroun (ABADCAM) 

B.P. 4609 

Yaoundé Nlongkak, Cameroon 

Highest official: Hilaire Omokolo, President 

Source: http://www.ifla.org/ifla-cgi/ifla-members-srch?cameroon

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC 

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO 

Association des Bibliothecaires, Archivistes, Documentalistes et Museologues 

B.P. 3182 

Kinshasa Gombe, Congo, Democratic Republic of the 

Tel: +(243)98133732 

E-mail: didierteng@yahoo.fr 

Direct correspondence c/o: Desire Didier Tengeneza 

Highest official: Desire Didier Tengeneza, President 

Source: http://www.ifla.org/ifla-cgi/ifla-members-srch?congo

ERITREA 

GAMBIA 

Gambia Library and Information Services Association (GAMLISA) 

PMB 322, Serrekunda 

Banjul, Gambia 

E-mail: gamlisa@hotmail.com 

Direct correspondence c/o: Saraba Jarju, Treasurer 

Highest official: Ms. Beatrice Prom, President 

Source: http://www.ifla.org/ifla-cgi/ifla-members-srch?gambia

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GHANA 

Ghana Library Association 

Mr I.K. Antwi, Editor 

antwiuds@yahoo.com 

Ghana Library Association 

P.O. Box GP 4105 

Accra, Ghana 

Phone: +233-24-4201511 

Fax: +23371-23957 

Source: http://www.ajol.info/contact.php?jid=234&tran=0&ab=glj

GUINEA 

Association Nationale des Bibliothécaires, Archivistes, Documentalistes et 

Muséographes (ANMBAD-Guinée) 

B.P. 1788 

Conakry, Guinea 

E-mail: diallo32001@yahoo.fr 

Direct correspondence c/o: Mamadou III Djallo 

Highest official: Baba Cheick Sylla, President 

Source: http://www.ifla.org/ifla-cgi/ifla-members-srch?guinea

KENYA 

Kenya Library Association 

The Secretary 

P.O. Box 46031 

Nairobi, Kenya 

E-mail: inquiry@kla-online.info

http://www.kla-online.info

Current Chairman: Mr. Charles Nandain 

Current Secretary: Ms. Esther Obachi 

Source: http://www.geocities.com/scecsal/smember.html) 

Kenya Library Association 

P.O. Box 46031 - 00100 GPO 

Nairobi, Kenya 

Tel: +(254)(2)811622 

Fax: +(254)(2)811455 

E-mail: arbulogosi@avu.org 

Direct correspondence c/o: Secretary: Ms Alice R. Bulogosi 

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Highest official: James N. Ng'ang'a, President 

Source: http://www.ifla.org/ifla-cgi/ifla-members-srch?kenya

LESOTHO 

Lesotho Library Association 

The Secretary 

Personal Bag A26 

Maseru 100, Lesotho 

Current Chairman: Mrs. Patricia Tlale 

Current Secretary: Mr. Ntho 'Mota 

MALAWI 

Malawi Library Association 

The Secretary General P.O. Box 429 

Zomba, Malawi 

Current Chairman: Mr. Geoffrey F. Salanje 

Current Secretary: Mr. Francis F.C. Kachala 

Source: http://www.geocities.com/scecsal/smember.html

Malawi Library Association 

P.O. Box 429 

Zomba, Malawi 

Tel: +(265)522222 

Fax: +(265)523225 

E-mail: d.b.v.phiri@unima.wn.apc.org 

Direct correspondence c/o: Ms. Chrisie C. Nampeya, Secretary General 

Highest official: Dickson B. Vuwa Phiri, President 

Source: http://www.ifla.org/ifla-cgi/ifla-members-srch?malawi

MALI 

MAURITIUS 

Association of Professional Librarians 

c/o National Library, Edith Cavell Street 

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Port Louis, Mauritius 

Tel: +(230)2119891 

Fax: +(230)2117173 

E-mail: natlib@intnet.mu 

Highest official: Y. Chan Kam Lon, President 

Source: http://www.ifla.org/ifla-cgi/ifla-members-srch?mauritius

MOZAMBIQUE 

NAMIBIA 

Namibian Information Workers Association 

The Secretary 

P.O. Box 3060 

Windhoek, Namibia 

http://www.cds-isis.org.na/niwa/niwa.htm

Current chairman: Ms. Marianne Gei-khoibes 

Current secretary: Ms. Sylvia Katjepunda 

Secretariat: Gerhild Kolling 

Source: http://www.geocities.com/scecsal/smember.html

NIGERIA 

Nigerian Association of Law Libraries (NALL) 

Source: http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/~llou/iall.html

Nigerian Library Association 

c/o National Library of Nigeria, Central Business District, PMB 1 

Abuja FCT, Nigeria 

Tel: +(234)(9)5230617 

Fax: +(234)(9)5230783 

E-mail: jimidaniel@yahoo.com 

Direct correspondence c/o: James O. Daniel 

Highest official: President: James O. Daniel 

Source: http://www.ifla.org/ifla-cgi/ifla-members-srch?nigeria

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RWANDA 

SENEGAL 

Association Sénégalaise des bibliothécaires, documentalistes et archivistes (ASBAD) 

c/o Ecole des Bibliothécaires, Archivistes et Documentalistes (EBAD), BP 3252, 

Dakar-Fann 

Dakar, Senegal 

Tel: +(221)8642773 

Fax: +(221)8242379 

E-mail: asbad@ebad.ucad.sn 

http://www.ebad.ucad.sn/asbad

Direct correspondence c/o: Secretary General: Bernard Dione 

Highest official: President: Djibril Ndiaye 

Source: http://www.ifla.org/ifla-cgi/ifla-members-srch?senegal

SIERRA LEONE

Sierra Leone Association of Librarians 

West African Monetary Agency, 11/13 Ecowas Street, PMB 218 

Freetown, Sierra Leone 

Tel: +(232)(22)224485 

Fax: +(232)(22)223943 

E-mail: mgorvie@yahoo.com 

Direct correspondence c/o: Ms. Mary Gorvie 

Source: http://www.ifla.org/ifla-cgi/ifla-members-srch?sierra+leone

SOUTH AFRICA 

CALICO 

Cape Library Co-operative 

http://www.adamastor.ac.za/Academic/Calico

Source: http://www.saoug.org.za/links.htm

COSALC 

Coalition of South African Library Consortia 

http://www.uovs.ac.za/LIB/COSALC

Source: http://www.saoug.org.za/links.htm

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FRELICO 

Free State Libraries and Information Consortium 

http://www.uovs.ac.za/lib/frelico/index.htm

Source: http://www.saoug.org.za/links.htm

Gauteng and Environs Library Consortium 

http://www.gaelic.ac.za

Source: http://www.saoug.org.za/links.htm

Interdepartmental Vocational Association of Information Specialists and Library 

Personnel 

Dept. of Housing Library 

P/Bag X644, Pretoria, 0001 

Tel: (012) 421 1398 

Fax: (012) 341 8510 

Cell: 083 453 6748 

E-mail: susano@housing.gov.za

Library and Information Association of South Africa 

The Secretary 

P.O. Box 1598 

Pretoria 0001, South Africa 

Tel: +27 (012) 481 287/1/2 

Fax: +27 (012) 481 2873 

E-mail: liasa@liasa.org.za

http://www.liasa.org.za

Executive Director: Ms. Gwenda Thomas 

Current President: Mr. Robert Moropa 

Current Secretary: Ms. Karlien De Klerk 

Source: http://www.geocities.com/scecsal/smember.html

Library and Information Association of South Africa (LIASA) 

P.O. Box 1598 

Pretoria 0001, South Africa 

Tel: +(27)(12)4202810 

Fax: +(27)(12)3625182 

E-mail: moropr@ais.up.ac.za 

http://www.liasa.org.za

Direct correspondence c/o: Tommy Matthee 

Highest official: Tommy Matthee. President 

Source: http://www.ifla.org/ifla-cgi/ifla-members-srch?south+africa

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Organisation of South African Law Libraries 

http://sunsite.wits.ac.za/osall/

Danielle Heij, Chair 

dheij@bclr.com 

Tel (011) 242-8016 

Brink Cohen Le Roux Inc 

P.O. Box 2404, 

Houghton 2041, South Africa 

Mzoxolo Gulwa, Vice-Chair 

MZO@belldewar.co.za 

Tel (011) 710-6205 

Bell Dewar & Hall 

P.O. Box 1972 

Houghton 2041 

Rika van der Walt, Secretary 

vdwaltr@foreign.gov.za 

Tel (012) 351-0872 

Dept Foreign Affairs Library 

Selma Savitz, Treasurer 

ssavitz@icon.co.za 

Tel 083 628 8757 

Fax (011) 452-6447 

Adlib (Association of Teacher-Librarians) 

Gauteng Province, South Africa) 

The 2005 Secretary is Niki Sulter at sulter@stjohns.wits.ac.za 

or tel. 011-648-1355 

Chairlady - Julie Egenrieder; Secretary - Niki Sulter; Treasurer - Margaret Stradiotto; 

Webmistress - Anneli Silvennoinen 

http://www.adlibschoollibrarians.co.za/

South African Online Users Group 

Source: http://www.saoug.org.za/links.htm

SWAZILAND 

Source: http://www.geocities.com/scecsal/smember.html 

Swaziland Library Association 

The Secretary 

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Elwatini Building, Corner of Market & Warner Streets 

P.O. Box 2309 

Mbabane, H100 Swaziland 

Tel: +268 4042633 

Fax: +268 4043863 

E-mail: secretary@swala.sz 

http://www.swala.sz

Current Chairman: Mrs. Nomsa V. Mkhwanazi 

Current Secretary: Ms. Sibongile Nxumalo 

TANZANIA 

Tanzania Library Association 

The Secretary 

P.O. Box 33433 

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania 

Tel: +255 22 2775411 

E-mail: tla_tanzania@yahoo.com

http://www.tlatz.org

Current Chairman: Dr. Alli Mcharazo 

Current Secretary: Mr. P. Munubhi 

Source: http://www.geocities.com/scecsal/smember.html

Tanzania Library Association 

P.O. Box 33433 

Dare Es Salaam, Tanzania, United Republic of 

Tel: +(255)(22)2775411 

E-mail: amcharazo@hotmail.com 

Direct correspondence c/o: Alli Mcharazo 

Highest official: Chair: Alli Mcharazo 

Source: http://www.ifla.org/ifla-cgi/ifla-members-srch?tanzania

TOGO 

UGANDA 

Uganda Library Association 

The Chairman 

P.O. Box 5894 

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Kampala, Uganda 

E-mail: library@imul.com

http://www.ou.edu/cas/slis/ULA/ula_index.htm

Current Chairperson: Mr. Elisam Magara 

Current Secretary: Mr. Charles Batambuze 

Source: http://www.geocities.com/scecsal/smember.html

Uganda Library Association 

P.O. Box 5894 

Kampala, Uganda 

Tel: (077)495592 

Fax: +(256)(41)348625 

E-mail: library@imul.com 

http://www.ou.edn/cas/slis/ULA/ula-index.htm

Direct correspondence c/o: Charles Batambuze 

Highest official: Elisam Magara, Chairman 

Source: http://www.ifla.org/ifla-cgi/ifla-members-srch?uganda

ZAMBIA 

Zambia Library Association 

P.O. Box 38636 

Lusaka 10101, Zambia 

Current Chairperson: Ms. Vivienne Nkulu Lumbwe 

Current Secretary: Ms. Matildah Sakala 

Source: http://www.geocities.com/scecsal/smember.html

ZIMBABWE 

Zimbabwe Library Association 

P.O. Box 3133 

Harare, Zimbabwe 

Current National Chairperson: Mr Lawrence Chikwanha 

Current National Secretary: Ms. Cecilie B. Miriri 

Source: http://www.geocities.com/scecsal/smember.html

Zimbabwe Library Association (ZimLA) 

P.O. Box 3133 

Harare, Zimbabwe 

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Tel: +263-4-745365 

E-mail: zlasecretary@avu.org 

Direct correspondence c/o: Ms. Cecilie B. Mariri, National Secretary 

Highest official: Lawrence Chikwanha, National Chairperson 

Source: http://www.ifla.org/ifla-cgi/ifla-members-srch?zimbabwe

OTHER ASSOCIATIONS

International Association of School Librarianship 

School Libraries Online 

http://www.iasl-slo.org/

The Association for Health Information and Libraries in Africa (AHILA) 

Founded in 1984, now has 46 country members plus additional partners and 

collaborators worldwide. 

http://www.ahila.org/index.php

BENIN 

Bibliothèque de la Faculté des Sciences de la Santé 

Personne à contacter: Satoguina Paula Martine 

BP 188, Cotonou, République du Bénin 

E-mail: fsscot@bow.intnet.bj 

Organisation Mondiale de la Santé Bénin 

Personne à contacter: Lydia Ahouangbo Bossou 

Tel: 229 30 19 07 ou 30 17 53 

Fax 229 30 42 08 

E-mail: omsdoc@intnet.bj 

BURKINA FASO 

Programmes OCP/APOC Programme de Lutte contre l'Onchocercose en Afrique 

Personne à contacter: Mme Marie Paule Kabore 

BP 549, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso 

Tel: 226 34 29 53 

Fax: 226 34 28 75 

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E-mail: kaboremp@oncho.ocp.bf 

BURUNDI 

Organisation Mondiale de la Santé, Burundi 

Personne à contacter: Nkunzimana Marc 

BP 1450, Bujumbura, Burundi 

E-mail: nkumzoms@cbinf.com 

Bibliothéque Faculté de Médecine, Université du Burundi 

Personne à contacter: Dundaguza Bénédicte 

BP 1020, Bujumbura, Burundi 

Tel: 257 23 20 74 

Fax: 257 23 22 68 

E-mail: bdunda54@hotmail.com

http://www.ub.edu.bi

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC 

Organisation Mondiale de la Santé, Centrafrique 

Personne à contacter: Dibert Augustin 

BP 1416, Bangui, Centrafrique 

Tel: 00236 610288 

E-mail: omsrca.1@intnet.cf 

 

ETHIOPIA 

Jimma University 

Contact person: Getachew Bayissa 

P.O. Box 378, Jimma, Ethiopia 

Tel: 251-07-112119/112450 

Fax: 251-7-111450 

E-mail: jihs@telecom.net.et

http://www.telecom.net.et/~junv.edu

GHANA 

University of Ghana Medical Library 

Contact person: Daniel B. Addo 

P.O. Box 4236, Accra, Ghana 

Tel: +233 21 660111 

E-mail: library@gha.healthnet.org 

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KENYA 

Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEN-AHILA) 

Contact person: Nancy Kamau 

P.O. Box 54840, Nairobi, Kenya 

Tel.: (254)-713678 

Fax: (254)-720030 

E-mail: kemrilib@healthnet.or.ke

http://www.kemri.org

Kenya Medical Training College 

Contact person: Grace Amayo 

P.O. Box 30195, Nairobi, Kenya 

Tel.: (254)-725711 ext. 47348 

College of Health Sciences Moi University 

Contact person: Washington Ochieng 

P.O Box 4606, Eldoret, Kenya 

E-mail: medfaclib@netzoooke.com 

College of Health Sciences, University 

Contact person: Rosemary Kiathe 

P.O. Box 19676, Nairobi, Kenya 

E-mail: ngummo60@yahoo.co.uk 

Africa Inland Mission (AIC) Kijabe Hospital 

Contact person: Lori A. Hill 

P.O. Box 20, Kijabe, Kenya 

Tel.: (254)-154-64666 Fax: 254-154-64287 

E-mail: library_aim-kmc@aimint.org // lori_hill@aimint.org 

MALAWI 

College of Medicine Universoty of Malawi 

Contact person: Ralph Masanjika 

P/B 360, Chichiri, Blantyre 3, Malawi 

Tel.: (265) 671 91, Fax: (265) 675313 

E-mail: rmasanjika@yahoo.com 

MALI 

Faculté de Médecine, de Pharmacie et d'Odonto-Stomatologie 

Personne à contacter: Diawara Cheikh Oumar 

BP. 1805 Bamako, Mali 

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E-mail: diawara@mrtcbko.malinet.ml 

Contact Person: Cheick Oumar Diawara 

Bibliotheque Faculte de Medecine 

BP 1805 Bamako, Mali 

Tel: (223) 22 52 77 

e-mail: codiawara@caramail.com 

MOZAMBIQUE 

Univesidade Eduardo Mondlane Faculdade de Medicine 

Contact person: Lina Rafael Langa 

CP 257, Praca 25 de Junho, Mosambique 

Tel.: 258 1 428076 Fax: 258 1 425255 

E-mail: kamba@health.uem.mz 

Instituto Nacional de Saude / Ministerio da Saude 

Contact person: Antonio Felisberto Nhamageuana 

Av. Edurado Mondlane 1078, Maputo, Mozambique 

Caixa Postal 264 

Tel.: 0258 1 425083 / Mob. 082 380 860 

Fax: 0258 - 1 - 431103 

NAMIBIA 

World Health Organization, Namibia Country Office 

Contact person: Francis Xoagub 

P.O. Box 3444, Windhoek, Namibia 

Tel.: 061 204 6111 Fax: 01 204 6202 

E-mail: francis@un.na 

NIGER 

Organisation Mondiale de la Santé, Niger 

Personne à contacter: Madeleine Anne Decker 

BP 19739, Niamey, Niger 

E-mail: omsdoc@intnet.ne 

NIGERIA 

Central Medical Library, Federal Ministry of Health 

Contact person: Mrs. M Orimolade 

P.O. Box 2003, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria 

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Tel.: (234) 01 86 81 45 

State University College of Medicine 

Contact person: Mr. Aya D. Onatola 

PMB 21266, Ikeja-Lagos, Nigeria 

Tel.: (234)-01 4935421 

E-mail: lasucom@microm.com.ng 

College of Medicine, University of Lagos 

Contact person: Mrs. M. A. Iruoje 

P.M.B. 12003, Lagos. 

Tel.: (234)-01-5453760-74 Ext. 2186 Fax: (234)-01-5851432 

E-mail: cmul@crl.nig.com 

Nigerian Institute of Medical Research 

Contact person: Mr. Shola Timothy Abolarinwa 

6, Edmond Crescent, P.M.B. 2013, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria. 

Tel.: (234)-01-861732, 800090-3 Ext. 234 Fax: (234)-01-862865 

E-mail: abolarinwa99@hotmail.com, timshola@yahoo.com 

www.nimr-ng.org 

College of Medicine University of Nigeria, NSUKKA 

Contact person: Mr. Luke A. Iroka 

Medical Library, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu, 

Nigeria 

Tel.: (234)-042 255219 

E-mail: collmed@hyperia.com 

E. Latunde Odeku Medical Library, College of Medicine (UCH) University of Ibadan 

Contact person: Mrs. H. Faluwoye 

College of Medicine (UCH) University of Ibadan, Nigeria 

Tel.: 234 2 241434 Fax: 234 2 2410949 

E-mail: library@odekulib.skannet.com 

RWANDA 

Faculté de Médecine, Université Nationale du Rwanda 

Rwanda 

E-mail: facmed@nur.ac.rw 

Ministère de la Santé Kigali 

Personne à contacter: Dr. Vianney Nizeyimana 

BP 84, Kigali, Rwanda 

E-mail: vnizeyimana@yahoo.fr 

Université Nationale du Rwanda, Faculté de Médecine 

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U.S. NATIONAL COMMISSION ON LIBRARIES AND INFORMATION SCIENCE

Personne à contacter: Bibliothécaire 

Adrese: BP 30, Butare, Rwanda 

E-mail: facmed@nur.ac.rw 

http://www.nur.ac.rw 

SENEGAL 

Africa Consultants International – AC 

Personne à contacter: Moustpha Diallo 

BP 5270, Dakar-Fann, Senegal 

Tel.: 221 824 83 38 

Fax: 221 824 07 41 

E-mail: aciannex@enda.sn

http://www.acibaobab.org

Organisation Mondiale de la Santé, Senegal 

Personne à contacter: Ousmane Diallo 

BP 4039, Dakar-Fann, Senegal 

E-mail: omsdakar@oms.sn 

Centre de Sensibilisation et d'Information sur les Drogues 

Personne à contacter: Samba Top 

Route des Niayes x Tally Diallo. BP 20540, Thiaroye, Senegal 

E-mail: apcsid@sentoo.sn 

Association National pour le Bien Etre des Population 

Personne à contacter: Alpha Ibrahim Ndiaye 

Quartier Yeumbeul, Banlieue Dakaroise 

BP 18174, Pikine, Senegal 

Tel: 221 837 87 23 

Bibliothèque Université Cheikh Anta Diop 

Personne à contacter: Adama Barry 

Avenue Cheikh Anta Diop 

Contact Person: Madina Toure 

Bibliotheque Faculte de Medecine 

Universite Cheikh Anta Diop 

Avenue Cheikh Anta Diop 

Dakar, Senegal 

Tel: 221 8640508 

E-mail: touremadina@yahoo.fr 

Enda Santé 

Personne à contacter: Maïmouna Cissé 

54 rue Carnot, BP 3370 Dakar, Senegal 

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THE ROLE OF LIBRARIES IN HIV/AIDS INFORMATION DISSEMINATION IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

Tél: (221) 823 63 91 

Fax: (221) 823 66 15 

E-mail: resedoc@hotmail.com 

http://www.enda.sn

Centre de Formation et de Recherche en Santé de la Reproduction 

Personne à contacter: Marie Louise Mendy 

BP 22340, Dakar-Ponty, Senegal 

Tel.: 221 8233764 Fax: 221 8238113 

E-mail: ceforep@telecomplus.sn 

Centre de Promotion de la Santé Cardinal Hyancinthe Thiandoum 

Personne à contacter: Thomas Tine 

BP 2047, Dakar Senegal 

E-mail: cpsery@telecomplus.sn 

Réseau Africain de Recherches sur le SIDA 

Personne à contacter: Modou Fall Sall 

BP 7318, Dakar, Senegal 

E-mail: rarsida@refer.sn 

http://www.refer.sn/sngal_ct/rec/rars/rars.html

SOUTH AFRICA 

Contact Person: Erica van der Westhuizen 

Veterinary Science Library / Service Unit:VET 

Academic Information Service University of Pretoria 

Personal Bag X04 

0110 Onderstepoort, South Africa 

Tel: 012-5298007 Fax: 012-5298302 

E-mail: ericavw@op.up.ac.za

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