Realizing the importance of the journalists in the campaign of awareness, Association of Health Journalists Pakistan in collaboration with UNAIDS Pakistan arranged a 2-day Media Training Workshop at a local hotel in Karachi on the subject of reporting on HIV/AIDS in mass media.
Syed Hashim Raza, Secretary Health, Govt of Sindh speaking as a chief guest on the occasion said that the purpose of this workshop is to inform the masses about HIV/AIDS. Keeping in view the importance of the journalists in the campaign of awareness, it is necessary. He requested to incorporate AIDS patients and their rehabilitation must be carried out.
Media must be engaged as a tool to educate masses. Through mass media, we can do a lot for this epidemic. He urged the journalist to study and report health goal of MGDs.
Dr. (Capt.) Abdul Majid, Special Secretary of Public Health, Health Department, Govt. of Sindh in his opening remarks said that Karachi has one third of Sindh population and is thickly populated and have more change of spreading sexually transmitted diseases.
Karachi is becoming hub of the diseases. Health Department cannot cover it alone therefore media support will be helpful to control the spread of the disease. Coordinated efforts are need to control the disease.
He appreciated the efforts of the Association of Health Journalist Pakistan.
Dr. M. Nasir Jalbani, Provincial Program Manager, Enhanced HIV/AIDS Control Program, Govt. of Sindh briefed the participants about over all situation of Sindh with regards to HIV/AIDS. He said that there is need to update the media about new innovations.
He disclosed said that, In Pakistan the estimated number of HIV/AIDS cases are 95,000 out of which 40-50% are estimated in Sindh only. So far, 6000 cases have been registered on Pakistan level.
Sindh, being as an entry point of the country has the highest burden of HIV/AIDS as compare to other cities. Proper consideration in Sindh is needed to control the epidemic.
For HIV/AIDS sufferers VCTC Centers and STIs Clinics have been established. These centres are helpful to control the spread of HIV. In Sindh there are four treatment centres. Three are situated in Karachi and one in Larkana.
Approximately 738 cases have been registered till yet, out of which 282 patients are getting ARV treatment.
The purpose of this workshop is to raise awareness. If we stop root of transmission and take preventive measure than we will able to eliminate HIV/AIDS from our country, he added.
Preventive medicine is only dependent on awareness. It is a rule of prevention. Prevention is the backbone and can be done by awareness. Stigma and discrimination with HIV/AIDS is an obstacle in prevention. Awareness can be done by the help of media, so media role is very important.
Salman Safdar, Program Officer, UNAIDS Karachi Pakistan gave a presentation on AIDS Epidemic Update. He revealed that HIV is a virus which cannot survive outside the living body. Skin works as barrier and prevent HIV virus from entering the body.
The modes of HIV/AIDS transmission includes contact with infected blood, sexual contact and from infected pregnant mother to her unborn child.
He further said that AIDS epidemic is increasing fast in South and South East Asia as compare to other countries. In 2008, 7400 new infection were estimated every day, out of which 97% are from low and middle income country.
Global summary of the AIDS epidemic 2008 shows that the total number of people living with HIV is 33.4 million. In Pakistan, HIV/AIDS is found in concentrated group which includes IDUs, FSWs and MSMs. These groups are fueling the epidemic of HIV in Pakistan.
Eight cities collection data shows HIV positive IDUs is 20.8%; HIV positive MSMs is 1% and HIV positive Hijra Sex Workers is 6.4%.
HIV/AIDS is considered 50% of National Disease Burden. It is because of poor access to services.
To control the spread of HIV, there is need to provide the services to 80% of the population.
Fawad Haider, Program Officer, UNAIDS Pakistan informed that reporting of HIV is very sensitive. There is need to show more sensitivity during HIV reporting.
Raza, a HIV positive shared his life history. He pointed towards the need for immediate counseling, health care service and alternative work for the sufferers.
Tufail Ahmed, President, Association of Health Journalists Pakistan briefed the participants about the objective of the Association. He said that the Association aims to increase professional skills of the journalists. There is need to technically sound health reporting.
According to him, health reporting is a very vast beat. The purpose of the Association is to technically support and guide health reporters in term of different diseases.
There is need to create awareness among health journalists about HIV/AIDS and its prevention, he added.
Earlier, Akhter Shaheen Rind, Secretary, Association of Health Journalists Pakistan gave briefed introduction of the Association to the participants of the workshop.
In the end, Siraj Amjadi offered vote of thanks.