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  21 August 2013 | Feature Article (/section/FeatureArticle)

HIV And AIDS Reporting: The Role Of The

Journalist
  Damian Avevor (/author/DamianAvevor)

hana%2Ecom%2Fnews%2F483739%2Fhiv%2Dand%2Daids%2Dreporting%2Dthe%2Drole%2Dof%2Dthe%2Djournalist%2Ehtml)

On December 1 ever year, the world AIDS day is celebrated

universally. Our Health condition is a critical area in the lives of
humanity without which the human race cannot survive. The
concept of the value and dignity of every human life is one that is
sometimes missing in reporting on Health particularly HIV and
AIDS. It is difficult to think about and discuss HIV and AIDS as
people always hear the alarming statistics and want to push away
and put the pandemic out of their minds.

Reporting on HIV and AIDS presents many challenges to journalists. One of the challenges is how
to relate with people who have HIV and AIDS or who are otherwise affected by it. It is an
unfortunate reality around the world that despite the many years that have passed since HIV and
AIDS became a public Health crisis, there is still a social stigma attached to the pandemic.

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5/30/2018 HIV And AIDS Reporting: The Role Of The Journalist

But now it has been understood that HIV and AIDS is no more just a health story but also a social,
economic, political and developmental story since it is having a heavy toll on African especially
women and children.

With the current conditions of health situations in Africa for that matter Ghana, it has become a
known fact that the mass media could play an important role in raising the public's awareness on
health with special emphasis on HIV and AIDS as well as Malaria which are prevalence among
many Ghanaians by reporting stories that promote prevention of the virus and reduce stigma
associated with those suffering from it.

Ghana has a free and very active media which also come with responsibility. Indeed the Ghanaian
journalist has the freedom to report what he /she feel the public needs to know. In the face of HIV
and AIDS, the media have a responsibility to apply the best journalism principles to their work of
reporting accurately and completely on the pandemic after thorough research.

Accurate news coverage of HIV and AIDS can generate public and political support for fighting the
pandemic. There is no doubt that the media influence public opinion and attitudes about HIV and
AIDS including attitudes towards people living with the pandemic.

When the media focus on particular issue, there is a higher degree of public awareness and
support to tackle it by helping the public face this disease by educating people about transmission,
prevention, treatment and most importantly by portraying PLWHIV with compassion and dignity.

The media are in a position to raise greater public awareness of HIV and AIDS which is necessary
before individuals can take critical look at the challenges that the pandemic presents and make
informed decisions to help prevent its spread, protect themselves and ensure proper care and
treatment.

It was based on the important role the media can play in helping change attitudes towards the HIV
and AIDS disease through reporting that the Ghana Journalists Association has been organizing
workshops for journalists from print and electronic media who are into Health reporting including
the writer.

The workshops indeed expose Journalists to the fact that their role in public awareness,
discussions and debate was very significant in various ways. Attitudes as we all know affect how
people respond to HIV and AIDS and how people with HIV and AIDS are treated or cared for by
their peers, employers, families, communities, the health care system and the justice system.

Journalism that tries to be relevant to its people must also deal with the problems and challenges
of development. One area of development is the survival of the people.

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5/30/2018 HIV And AIDS Reporting: The Role Of The Journalist

How many Ghanaians know that there is a difference between HIV and AIDS or know that 114
service delivery points provide Antiretroviral Treatment (ART) with ARV combination therapy in
Ghana and that Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) services are free to people who walk to the
clinic to know their HIV status? As of September 2008, about 20,688 people with advanced HIV
infection are receiving ARV combination therapy at the various delivery points. The public is
encouraged to make use of such facility.

Another area the media need to explore in educating the public through their reportage is by
resounding that there is no effective cure for HIV and AIDS and no vaccine has yet found even
though researchers world wide have been trying for a break through. In Ghana, there have been
claims by some herbalists to have found cure which has scientifically not be proven. The question
is what are journalists and the nation doing to ascertain the effectiveness of such herbal medicines
which do not cure the disease. Currently, available anti-retroviral drugs increase survival rate.

'With the support of the mass media, the general public would get to know that HIV infection is the
stage when one has the virus but shows no sign or symptom of the disease. In this case the person
become a carrier of the virus and can pass it on to others. AIDS is the end stage which result from
HIV infection, with indicated by characteristic signs and symptoms' says Dr. Sylvia Anie-Akwetey,
Director of Policy Planning of the Ghana AIDS Commission.

According to statistics, the median HIV prevalence from Anti Natal Care (ANC) was 2.2 per cent in
2008 with the national prevalence of 1.7 per cent. The 2008 ANC rate 0f 2.2 is an indication of a
drop from 2.6 in 2007 and 3.2 percent in 2006.

When reporting statistics, journalists are cautioned to be careful to make sure they understand
what the numbers mean because it is easy to miss the true significance of a statistic and
subsequently reporting the wrong information.

A good story with inaccuracies, however small it is, and leaving out key information distorts the
truth of the story. For example a story may use a figure on the number of people who have AIDS in
a given year and in a given place.

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5/30/2018 HIV And AIDS Reporting: The Role Of The Journalist

According to Experts, the stigma, prejudices, fear and the misconceptions surrounding HIV and
AIDS were too abundant that, journalist need to be cautious about the language used to
conceptualize and talk about the pandemic because it could reflect their personal biases and
particular understanding or lack of understanding.

The media need to be pro-active through their health reporters in highlighting HIV and AIDS
prevention, care and support, Policy issues/implications including access to drugs, nutritional care,
stigma and discrimination.

Through the action of the journalist, the public should know that we do not have AIDS test but
rather HIV test or instead of AIDS sufferer, it is appropriate to use HIV- positive person because
many people with HIV and AIDS could have relatively good health for years and live happy lives.

As put it by Dr. Doris Yaa Dartey, a media Consultant, 'The media and journalists can perpetuate
negative stereotypes, myths and misinformation in society and can hinder efforts for equal rights.'

People Living with HIV are not harmful or strangers but are just like people around us who have
Diabetics, Asthma and other related sicknesses. One thing we must bear in mind is that People
living with the pandemic can be leaders, activists, celebrities, spokespersons, therefore it will be
good to attach a positive spin to the stories journalists write.

Our love and relation as journalists with people living with HIV will give them hope as some have
talents, capacities, privileges, intelligence and opportunities. Let us remember that the AIDS
pandemic is a major obstacle to fighting poverty and promoting development. It threatens the
social and economic infrastructure of the human family.

Disclaimer: "The views/contents expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of Damian Avevor and do not neccessarily reflect those of

Modern Ghana. Modern Ghana will not be responsible or liable for any inaccurate or incorrect statements contained in this article."

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