Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Ghanaian Times
Published on 2024-03-13 06:48:50
A group of fifty media practitioners recently participated in a two-day training on HIV-related human rights, stigma, and discrimination in Aburi, Eastern Region. The training was organized by the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) with support from USAID, PEPFAR, and SEND Ghana.
Dr. Kyeremeh Atuahene, Director General of the GAC, highlighted the importance of promoting equality and fairness for individuals living with HIV in commemoration of Zero Discrimination Day on March 1st. He referenced statistics from the Ghana Statistical Service, showing that a significant percentage of the population still holds unacceptable attitudes towards people with HIV.
Reports from various studies and the Commission of Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) revealed that individuals affected by HIV face discrimination in various aspects of their lives. Dr. Atuahene stressed the need to remove discriminatory laws and implement empowering legislation like the Ghana AIDS Commission Act (Act 938) to uphold the rights and freedoms of people infected, affected, or at higher risk of HIV.
Dr. Atuahene emphasized that HIV-related stigma and discrimination not only hinder life-saving treatment services but also contribute to the premature deaths of people living with HIV. He called for collective action to eliminate discrimination, urging the media, religious institutions, traditional leaders, politicians, educators, employers, and all Ghanaians to work together towards creating a society free from discrimination.
Ms. Zohra Balsara, Director of USAID Ghana Health Office, expressed optimism that the training would improve accurate reporting on HIV and AIDS, leading to better understanding and reduced stigma. Dr. Fred Nana Poku, Director of Technical Services at GAC, provided journalists with comprehensive information on HIV basics, transmission, testing, treatment principles, and risk reduction strategies.
The training also covered topics like HIV-related stigma and discrimination, the use of the Oraquick HIV Self-test kit, HIV and AIDS terminology guidelines, and the epidemiology of the HIV and AIDS response. Dr. Poku urged journalists to use their platforms to educate the public about HIV to combat stigma and discrimination.
Ms. Rebecca Akpe, representing the President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), expressed gratitude for the continuous capacity building for journalists in the fight against stigma and discrimination. She emphasized the GJA’s commitment to training journalists and urged them to share the knowledge acquired during the sessions.
Dominic Hlordzi, the General Secretary of the GJA, educated journalists on reporting HIV issues accurately and urged them to refrain from sensationalism that could perpetuate stigma. The training aimed to equip media practitioners with the necessary tools to report on HIV-related issues responsibly and sensitively.
The training session in Aburi was an important step in raising awareness and promoting understanding of HIV, ultimately working towards a society free from discrimination against individuals living with HIV. Through education, accurate reporting, and collaborative efforts, the fight against stigma and discrimination can be effectively addressed in Ghana.
Read the original article on Ghanaian Times
