PESHAWAR
Speakers at a two-day training and consultation workshop for media professionals stressed the need for the pragmatic role of print and electronic media to eliminate all forms of HIV/AIDS related stigma and discrimination. The consultation workshop was organized by the United Nation Development Programme (UNDP).
They provided an insightful overview of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa AIDS Control Program’s initiatives and milestones and emphasized over the power of media engagement in altering social attitudes toward people living with HIV/AIDS.
Dr. Tariq Hayat, head of the KP AIDS Control Program, shed lights over the specific HIV/AIDS challenges in the province and said that the media role is important to meet the challenges in eradicating the discrimination and stigma related to HIV/AIDS.
Mubashir Akram, the lead facilitator for the workshop, steered the initial session. It aimed to deepen the understanding of HIV/AIDS while dismantling associated stigmas. “Media should act as a conduit for accurate information and enlightened attitudes. The responsibility we carry in shaping public perceptions is enormous,” Akram stressed.
Lehaz Ali, a well-known journalist from Peshawar, took charge of the second and third sessions. He dealt with the ethics of reporting on sensitive health issues like HIV/AIDS. “It is crucial for media professionals to balance their reporting with a strong moral compass. Misinformation can lead to irrevocable harm,” cautioned Ali. In the following session, he shifted the focus to exploring effective Behavioral Change Communication (BCC) strategies that the media can employ.
“Journalists cannot just inform but also mold public opinion. It is essential that we use this power wisely,” he highlighted.
The concluding session of the workshop, led by Dr. Ali Tariq, delved into the realm of empathetic reporting. “In pursuing scoops and headlines, let us not forget that we are dealing with human lives.
The media must approach this topic with the compassion it deserves,” Dr. Tariq urged.
Adding depth to the UNDP’s role, Ms. Summayya Rasheed expounded on the initiative’s broader objectives. “Creating a paradigm shift in HIV/AIDS reporting is a complex task that demands collaborations across sectors.
UNDP is steadfast in its commitment to foster this crucial partnership with the media,” she said.
“Media’s role extends beyond reporting; it is about advocacy and social change. The UNDP recognizes the media’s influence as an untapped resource in the fight against HIV/AIDS-related discrimination,” she noted.
Rasheed also explained UNDP’s forthcoming initiatives to engage the media in various formats, from training workshops to one-on-one consultations for in-depth understanding. “This is just the beginning of a multi-layered partnership aimed at lasting social change,” she added.
UNDP’s KP Program Manager for KP, Zainab, further accentuated the importance of trilateral cooperation between UNDP, the media, and the KP AIDS Control Program.
“When three significant stakeholders come together with a unified goal, the outcome can be nothing short of transformative. This initiative is a testament to that,” she added.
The event concluded with a commitment from the participants to incorporate the invaluable insights gained during the workshop into their future reporting. The collective sentiment pointed towards a noteworthy shift in the ongoing efforts to reshape the existing narratives surrounding HIV/AIDS.
