Media Has a Vital Role to play in Combating Stigma and Discrimination Related to HIV/AIDS
Too many people die simply for lack of access to the knowledge that can save their lives. This knowledge exists; however it remains inaccessible to those who need it the most. Access to health information is an integral part of all health systems because it can improve people's health.
The media needs to do more to tackle the stigma and discrimination of HIV/AIDS in the rural parts of Nigeria. HIV intervention and media's coverage of HIV/AIDS tends to focus on urban areas of the country without minding what the Virus is doing in the villages, and the effect of the disease on vulnerable and helpless people that reside in the rural areas of our society, and also our agriculture, because food production is from this rural populace.
I believe that media can help change this situation by presenting facts about the disease and its effect in our rural communities, by featuring stories of people living with HIV/AIDS in the rural areas, and highlighting support services also available in these communities.
Thousands of people are dying in the rural areas of Nigeria without knowing the cause of their death. In a majority of the cases there is the belief that they have died from poisoning.
90% of people living in the rural areas do not know their status, because they do not have access to VCT. Those who have access to VCT do not have access to treatment, thereby increasing the stigma and discrimination they suffer.
It is crucial that we tackle HIV stigma, which impacts on the lives of people living with HIV, is very deplorable and widespread in the rural areas, and prevents people from coming forward to be tested.
The media can play a vital role in presenting accurate information about HIV and challenging discrimination against those living with it in the rural areas.
I also call on development partners, donor agencies, the private sector, politicians, and decision-makers, to start supporting organisations working in the rural areas.
As we are preparing for the 5th National HIV/AIDS Conference in Nigeria, I therefore ask all the stakeholders who are going to participate at the conference to look at the issue of stigma and discrimination surrounding HIV/AIDS in the rural communities in Nigeria, and poor funding of HIV/AIDS activities in the rural parts of Nigeria.
The media needs to do more to tackle the stigma and discrimination of HIV/AIDS in the rural parts of Nigeria. HIV intervention and media's coverage of HIV/AIDS tends to focus on urban areas of the country without minding what the Virus is doing in the villages, and the effect of the disease on vulnerable and helpless people that reside in the rural areas of our society, and also our agriculture, because food production is from this rural populace.
I believe that media can help change this situation by presenting facts about the disease and its effect in our rural communities, by featuring stories of people living with HIV/AIDS in the rural areas, and highlighting support services also available in these communities.
Thousands of people are dying in the rural areas of Nigeria without knowing the cause of their death. In a majority of the cases there is the belief that they have died from poisoning.
90% of people living in the rural areas do not know their status, because they do not have access to VCT. Those who have access to VCT do not have access to treatment, thereby increasing the stigma and discrimination they suffer.
It is crucial that we tackle HIV stigma, which impacts on the lives of people living with HIV, is very deplorable and widespread in the rural areas, and prevents people from coming forward to be tested.
The media can play a vital role in presenting accurate information about HIV and challenging discrimination against those living with it in the rural areas.
I also call on development partners, donor agencies, the private sector, politicians, and decision-makers, to start supporting organisations working in the rural areas.
As we are preparing for the 5th National HIV/AIDS Conference in Nigeria, I therefore ask all the stakeholders who are going to participate at the conference to look at the issue of stigma and discrimination surrounding HIV/AIDS in the rural communities in Nigeria, and poor funding of HIV/AIDS activities in the rural parts of Nigeria.
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