Source: Stabroek News , 26th September, 2007

Merundoi is celebrating its 100th episode on Friday. According to a press release, the 15-minute radio serial is aired twice weekly. It is a joint venture produced by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Global AIDS Programme Guyana in collaboration with the Ministry of Health. It was first aired on October 16 last year; two episodes are aired on Mondays and Wednesdays at 5.45 pm, on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 2.15 pm on 98.1FM and on Wednesdays and Fridays at 10.05 am on VOG. Omnibus editions can be heard on Saturdays at 6 pm and on Sundays at 2 pm on VOG. The drama is also aired on Radio Paiwomak and web-cast on http://www.merundoi.org.gy, on the health ministry's website located at http:www.hiv.gov.gy and Radio Guyana International at http://www.radioguyana.co.uk

The drama is set in Merundoi - an imaginary village located about 15 miles from Georgetown. The Aka-waio word Merundoi means hope, strength, stamina and energy and was selected following research, workshops and pre-testing of scripts.

The serial is a PEPFAR-Government of Guyana Project based on the MARCH (Modelling and Reinforce-ment to Combat HIV/AIDS) strategy for behaviour change communication and aims to help people reduce the risk of HIV infection and transmission; encourage access to care and treatment, support individual behaviour change and reduce stigma and discrimination.

"Interpersonal community based reinforcement activities help listeners apply Merun-doi's behaviour change information to their own lives and is implemented through collaboration with the" health and education ministries.