Discussion told
The media should play a stronger role in creating awareness of HIV/AIDS among mass people, as it is the easiest and most powerful way to reach people from all walks of life, speakers said at a discussion in Chittagong yesterday.
They said media’s role in creating awareness is not up to the mark but they are expected to be more efficient in this regard.
They were speaking at a media dialogue “Orientation of the media persons on HIV/AIDS” organised by Modhumita Project, an organisation working with HIV/AIDS patients, held at Regional Public Administration Training Centre.
Referring to a 2011 data of UNAIDS, the speakers said although the country’s sex workers and their clients are most vulnerable to HIV/AIDS, the number of them actually affected by the virus is substantially less than others.
Sex workers constitute only 2.7 percent of total affected whereas migrants, who top the list, make up 31 percent of HIV positive.
On media role, they said news concerning HIV/AIDS is not well treated by media and even the news items that are published are devalued and not up to standard.
Saying media plays a large role in changing mindset of people, they urged journalists to assist in eradicating discrimination against HIV/AIDS patients.
-With The Daily Star input
