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| Contributing Partner: |
Internews |
| Contact: |
Liz Gold |
| Email: |
lgold@internews.org |
| Country: |
Pakistan |
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Summary:
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Nineteen Pakistani media leaders from private sector radio and television channels committed to actions to combat HIV/AIDS at a meeting in Islamabad, Pakistan on November 22. This event was organized by Internews Network in collaboration with the UNAIDS Asia Pacific Leadership Forum on HIV/AIDS (APLF) and the Policy Project, and sponsored by USAID. |
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Description:
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The main speaker Muhammad Aslam, Director General Health Office, Ministry of Health, said that media has a major role to play in raising awareness on issues related to HIV and AIDS. “I am happy to see the enthusiasm of the Pakistani media in playing this role,” he said, assuring full government support in this media effort.
A presentation was also given by Shukria Gul, a woman living with HIV/AIDS, who provided many in the room with an opportunity to knowingly interact with a HIV positive person for the first time.
The meeting participants committed to orienting all staff of the radio and television channels present on the issues related to HIV/AIDS. This would include creating a supportive environment for breaking the silence around HIV/AIDS, reporting that helps diminish stigma and discrimination, establishing a mechanism to generate ideas for future programming, and establishing a mechanism to monitor activities by the radio and television channels.
They also made numerous recommendations to improve coverage of HIV/AIDS in Pakistan and the region. These included the need for media to be considered in policy-making and implementation of any HIV/AIDS strategies at the national, provincial or local levels; the importance for media to be fully informed before they can inform the public; to consider the perspectives of local voices and experts, especially, health practitioners, religious scholars, government and NGO experts and PLWHAs; and maintain balance so that critical messages are not lost, ensuring that real issues are highlighted accurately and fairly and public awareness is raised.
The Pakistan Electronic Media Leaders HIV/AIDS Initiative was part of a series of meetings of media leaders from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Thailand under the aegis of the UNAIDS Asia Pacific Leadership Forum on HIV and AIDS.
The APLF aims to promote effective leadership and to intensify commitment at all levels. A regional media summit with representation from countries across South and Southeast Asia was held on December 7 in Bangkok, Thailand, soon after World AIDS Day. A number of the media leaders who attended the meeting in Islamabad also attended the regional summit in Bangkok. |
| URL: |
http://www.internews.org/news/2005/20051215_pakistan.html
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