Thato Chwaane
14 April 2008
Gaborone — The African Comprehensive HIV and AIDS Partnerships (ACHAP) managing director Dr Themba Moeti said last week that the media is uniquely placed to have a positive impact on the course of the epidemic.
Speaking at the launch of the HIV and AIDS Workplace Policy and Code of Conduct for three publications - Mmegi, The Voice and Sunday Standard - Dr Moeti said this is because of the media's powerful impact they potentially have on the kind of information people receive. He said the media has the influence in shaping opinions because of their access to young people, working populations and the elderly.
Moeti said that the media practitioners are opinion leaders whose views and perspectives can profoundly influence what people think and believe. The code of conduct and policy is to address the vulnerabilities of the employees at the publications who may be infected or affected by HIV/AIDS. Moeti said they supported MISA and three media houses so that the workplaces should be environments in which stigma, discrimination and infringement of individual rights and denial of opportunities should be matters that are relegated to the past.
He said that even 20 years after the onset of the epidemic in the country, misconceptions are still common. Moeti said that the "right kind of HIV/AIDS reporting," which addresses the human perspectives of the epidemic, dispels myths about HIV, helps fight issues of stigma and discrimination, provides opportunities for sharing of information that will empower people with knowledge to protect themselves from HIV infection, "is a powerful force in fighting the epidemic". Former Health Minister Professor Sheila Tlou advised the media to adhere to the policy and hoped that employers and employees have a buy in. She encouraged the media in Botswana to lead and play a central role in realising an educated and informed nation, as envisaged under Vision 2016. She commended them for contributing in the dissemination of information to the public.
Sunday Standard's deputy editor Spencer Mogapi said that the media still has a long way to go and advised reporters on HIV and AIDS to read widely and be conversant with the global trends. The second phase of HIV/AIDS policy project, is expected to target five media houses from both the print and broadcast media.
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