The Nasarawa State Agency for the Control of AIDS (NASACA), has called on journalists to be very careful and guided in their reportage on victims of HIV and AIDS; so as to promote and give hope to people living with the virus.
The agency made the call during a two-day training on a youth-friendly HIV program that focused on HIV awareness, reporting, and communication which was held in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
The training which had speakers and presenters, exposed journalists to the implications of negative reporting of HIV and AIDS; appealing to journalists to be conversant with terms, words, and languages that could discourage and hamper the total well-being of those living with the virus.
Executive Director, Nasarawa State Agency for the Control of AIDS (NASACA), Dr. Ruth Bello said they are partnering with the media so that the appropriate information can be disseminated to the youth who are more vulnerable to HIV.
“We are partnering with the media because communication is very vital and important to all most especially the youth by emphasizing on achieving zero infection virus”,
“The media would also help towards achieving the epidemic control by 2030 which is aiming at zero transition by 2030”, Dr. Bello said
Also speaking, the Director of Program, Nasarawa Broadcasting Service (NBS), Hajia Hadiza Dahir, urged the participant to be more attentive to achieving the goal of the training.
“We the participant need to pay attention to what we are been taught to get the right information for public determination”, she noted
She further lauded NASA for bringing the training to reality.
One of the resource persons Dr. Peter Okwudili explained that contrary to public perception that Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a death warrant for those infected, many people who are living with the virus and managing it well are living a healthy life like every other person.
“The media should apply a factual, none judgmental reporting style that would help maintain the health and support those infected with and affected by the virus, especially youth”, Dr. Okwudili said
The objective of the training was to expose journalists and media practitioners from the broadcast, print, and online media to the rudiments of HIV and AIDS reporting, and teach them the right words and languages to be used in reporting the illness in a way that would promote positive living and give hope to people living with the virus.
Olusola Akintonde
