Agency Cautions Media Against Stigmatisation Of AIDS Victims

Media practitioners have again been told to drop
sensational headlines and stigmatizing words against people living with  HIV and AIDS in order to assist quicken the
recovery conditions of the infected ones.

The Director-General of Cross River State AIDS Control
Agency (CRSACA), Dr. Irene Aniyom, gave the advice during a two-day workshop by
the Agency in collaboration with Journalists Against AIDS (JAAIDS) for media
practitioners in Cross River State.

She urged members of the Fourth Estate of Realm to be
cautious  in their reportage in order not
to cause trauma to the victims of HIV and AIDS.

Dr. (Mrs.) Aniyom said that the state government under
the leadership of Senator Liyel Imoke is more concerned to the reduction of the
HIV and AIDS prevalent in the state.

According to him, “the state government has assisted
over 20 Non-governmental Organisations (NGO) in the state to access fund for
them to create awareness on HIV and AIDS response.

To this end, CRSACA Boss hinted that about N200,000 is
deducted from the 18 local government councils for the local Committee Against
AIDS bringing it to a total of  N3.6
million to provide interventions on HIV.

She
regretted that Cross River State is one of the five states where gay marriages
are being practiced with over 2,822 members.

In a
paper delivered at the workshop by the Coordinator of the Journalists Against
AIDS (JAAIDS), Lady Olayide Akanni, on “the Role of the Media in AIDS
Response,” she said playing down on HIV and AIDS related issues has become
necessary in view of the trauma and stigma facing those living with the virus
in our society.

According
to her, by so doing, “the media would have contributed immensely to their
sustainability as well as create a vibrant HIV and AIDS response.”

She
recalled that most people living with HIV and AIDS have over the years suffered
stigmatisation and discrimination through various media headlines and
write-ups.

Olayide
therefore appealed to the practitioners and owners of media organizations to
use the right words when presenting their reports as it affects those living
with HIV and AIDS.

In her
presentation , Mrs. Ada Eke, Focal Person for Cross River State AIDS Control
Agency (CRSACA), said that the objective of the training was to, among other
things, facilitate the process of promoting the utilization of HIV and AIDS
services, advance campaign against stigma and discrimination as well as ensure
appropriate reporting of HIV and AIDS related issues in the media.

She, therefore, hoped that the training would enhance
the skills of practitioners to effectively publicise HIV and AIDS issues
accurately, devoid of wrong usage of terminologies and stigmatizing words and
to further receive feedback on myths and misconceptions about HIV and AIDS.