PESHAWAR
\nSpeakers 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).
\nThey provided an insightful overview of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa AIDS Control Program\u2019s initiatives and milestones and emphasized over the power of media engagement in altering social attitudes toward people living with HIV\/AIDS.
\nDr. 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.
\nMubashir Akram, the lead facilitator for the workshop, steered the initial session. It aimed to deepen the understanding of HIV\/AIDS while dismantling associated stigmas. \u201cMedia should act as a conduit for accurate information and enlightened attitudes. The responsibility we carry in shaping public perceptions is enormous,\u201d Akram stressed.
\nLehaz 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. \u201cIt is crucial for media professionals to balance their reporting with a strong moral compass. Misinformation can lead to irrevocable harm,\u201d cautioned Ali. In the following session, he shifted the focus to exploring effective Behavioral Change Communication (BCC) strategies that the media can employ.
\n\u201cJournalists cannot just inform but also mold public opinion. It is essential that we use this power wisely,\u201d he highlighted.
\nThe concluding session of the workshop, led by Dr. Ali Tariq, delved into the realm of empathetic reporting. \u201cIn pursuing scoops and headlines, let us not forget that we are dealing with human lives.
\nThe media must approach this topic with the compassion it deserves,\u201d Dr. Tariq urged.
\nAdding depth to the UNDP\u2019s role, Ms. Summayya Rasheed expounded on the initiative\u2019s broader objectives. \u201cCreating a paradigm shift in HIV\/AIDS reporting is a complex task that demands collaborations across sectors.
\nUNDP is steadfast in its commitment to foster this crucial partnership with the media,\u201d she said.
\n\u201cMedia\u2019s role extends beyond reporting; it is about advocacy and social change. The UNDP recognizes the media\u2019s influence as an untapped resource in the fight against HIV\/AIDS-related discrimination,\u201d she noted.
\nRasheed also explained UNDP\u2019s forthcoming initiatives to engage the media in various formats, from training workshops to one-on-one consultations for in-depth understanding. \u201cThis is just the beginning of a multi-layered partnership aimed at lasting social change,\u201d she added.
\nUNDP\u2019s KP Program Manager for KP, Zainab, further accentuated the importance of trilateral cooperation between UNDP, the media, and the KP AIDS Control Program.
\n\u201cWhen three significant stakeholders come together with a unified goal, the outcome can be nothing short of transformative. This initiative is a testament to that,\u201d she added.
\nThe 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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-355603","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-peshawar"},"yoast_head":"\n