 |  | The International Federation of Journalists called on media and journalist organisations to institute wide ranging, regular and sustained training programs for journalists and editors on reporting HIV/AIDS. | | | | | | |
They call for this following the recent release of their research report into HIV/AIDS media reporting in Asia and Africa. |
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| I skimmed the report and summarised the main recommendations set out in the Executive summary of this report. You can review these at the bottom of this update along with a link where you can download your own copy of the report. |
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| Your emails: We are still getting a lot of interest in Sickle Cell Disease. "Lucky" announces that you can now visit the website of her newly found charity: The Uganda-American Sickle Cell Rescue Fund. We also hear from Gloria Dzidekha, an editor from Malawi who is "consumed" by this disease. |
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| Health news: Listserv member Yusupha Bojang let me know about the campaign against malaria control that started in the Gambia last week. After some searching I came across an article by another Gambian listserv member Ebrima Jaw Manneh. Follow the link for more details on the campaign. |
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| Opportunities + resources: Job offers, mentorship opportunities, awards, impact studies, and research papers. Lots of things to keep you occupied! |
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| Three new members: Nepalese Journalist, based in Katmandu, Manish Gautam, a senior correspondent with SAMAY National Weekly who writes on health and environmental issues. Also joining is Jessie Maxella Kiyingi, a Rwandan producer/director based in Kigali and Tele - 10. |
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| I would also like to welcome the Director General of Abakwa Radio in Bamenda, Cameroon, Francis Yong. He hopes his staff will be joining the listserv soon. |
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So, for now, take care and I hope to hear from you soon... keep emailing!
Colin Lloyd, South Africa |
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| 1. Your emails |
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| Sickle Cell Disease "consumes my life" |
| Gloria Dzidekha, Editor, Malawi Parliament |
"I am a sickle cell patient and have also lost two brothers to this disease. It has been very encouraging to read about sickle cell on the "listserv update" as I have been wanting to ask why sickle cell disease has been neglected in the media.
Life with sickle cell consumes my 'life'... putting enormous pressure on my family, my education, and my marriage - this, in addition to the taboos and myths here in Africa surrounding procedures such as blood transfusions.
I would like to write a regular narrative on "living with Sickle Cell disease". I would also encourage other journalists in the region to write more on Sickle Cell - particularly the tie-ins with HIV and AIDS: the issue of blood transfusion, and the scarcity of blood due to HIV/AIDS.
I am very pleased that Lukia Mulumba has done, and I would like to get in touch with her personally for more information.
I am also very grateful for this update." |
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| This email (unedited) was forwarded to Lukia Mulumba - her response below: |
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| Sickle cell emotionally affects parents too |
Lucky Lukiah Mulumba, Registered Nurse, Chair,
Uganda-American Sickle Cell Rescue Fund, Texas, USA |
I totally understand what Gloria is narrating! Sickle cell emotionally affects parents too. We will be more than happy to provide her with all the information. We are also hope to hold a conference in Uganda focusing on sickle cell disease management in Africa .
Currently, we have 2000 dollars in our newly formed Uganda-American Sickle Cell Rescue Fund (UASCRF). We want so badly to buy a Van for the clinic so that they can be able to use it for transportation purposes while helping the sicklers in the other districts of the country. |
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| You can now access Uganda-American Sickle Cell Rescue Fund (UASCRF) on the Web! |
| www.uganda-americansicklecellrescuefund.org |
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| Sickle Cell is not a simple matter |
| Pius Sawa Murefu, Kampala, Uganda |
The issue of sickle cell is not a simple matter. It is really eating away our people. Recently, a fellow reporter told me his neighbour's 22 year old son had just succumb to the disease. Also, one of the local musicians here in Uganda, Mariam Ndagire, is said to be setting up a sickle cell clinic using her own funds because her brother, a sickler was given the wrong blood during his transfusion .
I would recommend training for journalists who know little about this disease. |
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| 2. Health News |
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| Uganda: Bukenya Speaks On DDT |
The Vice-President, Prof. Gilbert Bukenya, has dispelled fears that Uganda's agricultural exports might be banned from Europe due to the Government's decision to use DDT to fight malaria.
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| more: http://allafrica.com/stories/200607280649.html |
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| Anti-Malaria Campaign in Africa to save lives |
| A coalition of international partners is on track to distribute 18 million insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) in Africa in 2006, an anti-disease effort that could save hundreds of thousands of lives from the often fatal malady transmitted by mosquitoes. |
| more: http://allafrica.com/stories/200607280923.html |
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| World Bank Boosts Malaria Support By $5 Million |
| The World Bank Board of Directors today approved an International Development Association (IDA) grant of US$ 5 million for the Health Sector Support Project (HSSP), an additional grant to scale up activities in malaria monitoring and evaluation (M&E).Malaria accounts for 18% of all hospital deaths in Malawi and the entire population of 11 million is at risk of contracting malaria |
| more: http://allafrica.com/stories/200607280016.html |
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| Gambia: Anti-Malaria Bednet Dipping Starts |
| A massive bed-net dipping exercise began last week at Kunkujang Village in Kombo North, as the country gradually streamed into the malaria season. The campaign will cover communities and villages from Banjul to Kalagi, Western Division. It involves the soaking of bednets in the solution of an anti-malaria chemical called KOTabs |
| more: http://allafrica.com/stories/200607260824.html |
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| Tired of the "same old" AIDS messages |
AIDS activists in South Africa have called for the revision of
"outdated" HIV/AIDS messages which have been circulating for years but have failed to achieve behaviour change. |
| more: http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=44866 |
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| HIV/AIDS Epidemic to Dent India's Economic Progress |
| An HIV/AIDS epidemic in India will cut nearly one percentage point a year from economic growth over the next decade as higher health spending eats into investment and workers fall sick. |
| more from the Communication Initiative |
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| Freedom HIV/AIDS Game - India |
| This is an initiative drawing on the intense and increasing popularity of mobile phones to create and deliver interactive, entertaining learning solutions to teach people about HIV/AIDS. A key strategy for this role-play-based game involves capitalising on the popularity of the sport of cricket in India. |
| more from the Communication Initiative |
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| Latest Health Headlines: Health + Media website |
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| 3. Opportunities |
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| Job: Sudan Community Radio Project |
| Internews Network is seeking a Chief of Party to lead a USAID funded project focused on building community radio stations in Southern Sudan. The project will include (1) construction of three radio stations located in Southern Sudan and the Three Rivers Area, and (2) capacity building in the form of training of journalists and technical staff. |
| more: http://www.internews.org/about/employment.htm |
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| Job: Online News Editor- Part-time (three days a week) |
| Pambazuka News, the electronic weekly newsletter and website focusing on social justice issues in Africa, is seeking an ONLINE NEWS EDITOR. You will be a forward thinking and independent person with a strong background in journalism and experience and/or a strong interest in the power of the internet for information delivery and campaigning. |
| more details: www.pambazuka.org/en/editorjob.php |
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| Mentorship: programme to improve science journalism |
| Want to improve your science journalism skills? News 1 of 17 The Peer-to-peer Mentoring Project for science journalists in Africa, North Africa and the Middle East is set to start in the coming weeks. An exceptional team of 17 mentors from 14 countries has been assembled and trained to support journalists in Africa, North Africa and the Middle East who are interested in science journalism or at improving their skills in covering science and technology. |
| more details: http://www.wfsj.org |
| NOTE: DEADLINE 31 July, 2006 |
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| Awards: Excellence in Media Award for Global Health |
| Excellence in Media Award for Global Health is given each year to a journalist (print, electronic, and/or visual) who has in the prior year most effectively captured the essence of a major issue in global health and conveyed it to a broad audience. The award will be presented on May 31, 2007 in Washington, D.C. at a special awards ceremony during the Global Health Council's annual international conference. |
| more about the awards |
| Deadline for submissions: February 1, 2007 |
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| 4. Resources |
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| Impact Data: - Soul Buddyz 2 - South Africa |
| This edutainment initiative was launched by Soul City to educate children in the 8-12 year age group. 86% of children with high exposure to Soul Buddyz 2 multimedia said they know what AIDS vs. 60% of those with no exposure. 68% of children exposed to the print materials said that a person with HIV can look healthy vs. 49% of those with no exposure. There was an increase from 32% to 43% in children saying that abstaining from sex can prevent HIV infection, and from 49% to 57% who knew that consistent condom use can prevent infection. |
| more from the Communication Initiative |
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| Report: The Mass Media and the Response to AIDS |
| For this report, a UNAIDS consultant visited South Africa to interview a wide range of people working on the frontline, from project managers, researchers and media executives, to film-makers, audience groups, and people living with HIV who present their own programmes. |
| more from the Communication Initiative |
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| Paper: HIV media compaigns must target elderly |
| Knowledge and media compaigns on HIV awareness must target elderly who are caregivers. This paper examines the issue of care-giving among men and women age 60 and older in Cambodia who are being called on to be primary caregivers for their children who contract AIDS. Results indicate that older women are less knowledgeable about AIDS than reproductive aged women but more likely to state a willingness to provide care. Notably, there is a strong relationship between knowledge and willingness. |
| more information on Eldis |
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| Research: IFJ findings on HIV/AIDS reporting |
A summary of recommendations for media organisations:
Increase the quality, quantity and diversity of news reports on HIV.
Institute sustained training programmes for journalists and editors.
Develop and implement editorial guidelines and policies with specific references to the issue of confidentiality.
Develop sustained and comprehensive media strategies to address the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
Produce materials and resources on improving reporting of HIV/AIDS in local languages.
Encourage all levels of editorial staff to form a strong partnership with health professionals, members of civil society, and communities
Adopt policies on HIV/AIDS in the workplace.
Adopt the International Labour organisation's code of Practice on HIV/AIDS.
Form networks of journalists interested in HIV/AIDS to help fight the epidemic.
Encourage and support the media in improving the quality, quantity and consistency of HIV/AIDS coverage.
Demand training for reporters and editors in local languages.
Assist media houses to develop editorial guidelines and policies.
Encourage journalists to challenge and question government policies on public health as well as programmes undertaken by NGOs |
| download full report |
