JONEHA urges Malawi journalists to broaden HIV/AIDS coverage

By our reporter

Malawi Media has been urged to regard HIV and AIDS reporting as a priority to ensure that more people understand effects of the pandemic and contribute positively towards the pandemic national response.

The development comes as the country continues to register a high HIV infection which according to authorities is highly affecting development of the nation.

For instance, Malawi with a population of about 15 000 000is registering more than 56 000 new HIV infections every year according to the country’s National Aids Commission, and government is spending Millions of US dollars for treatment of the infections.

“The country is spending a lot of money for HIV and Aids, which would have been saved for other developmental projects such as building schools, health facilities and improve water and sanitation if we had stopped registering new infections,” country’s Top notch HIV Media Activist David Kamkwamba said.

He was speaking during an HIV and Aids media training organized by the Network for Journalists Living with HIV and AIDS (JONEHA), to enhance HIV reporting skills for journalists in Mzuzu City, funded by the National Aids Commission.

“It is therefore the role of the media to change many people’s perception that the pandemic is not an issue or does not exist in Malawi, by widening your [media] coverage on HIV to make people understand its impact on their lives, and help towards the national response,” he added.

The activist who is also Executive Director for JONEHA urged the media practitioners to know their HIV status to be part of the society and effectively contribute towards advocating for HIV and AIDS work policy in various media houses, and improve coverage on HIV.

On their part media houses attended the training including Capital Radio Malawi, Usiska Community Radio, Voice of Livingstonia, Mzimba Community Radio and Malawi Broadcasting Station challenged to broaden their coverage on HIV by engaging the grass roots, and advocate for more funding from the National Annual Budget for procuring HIV prevention resources such as testing kits and condoms.