Journalists and civil society actors in Benue State have been urged to embrace accurate, sensitive and stigma-free reporting of HIV and other health issues to improve public understanding and health outcomes.
The call was made during a one-day training workshop on Effective HIV and Health Reporting and AIDS Conference Scholarship Opportunities, held on Thursday, at the Bureau for International Cooperation and Development (BICD) Hall, Makurdi.
The workshop which was organised by the Positive Health Media Initiative with support from Spring of Hope for the Girl Child Development Initiative (SHOGDI) as well as other organizations, drew participants from television, radio, print and online platforms, as well as representatives of BENGONET member organisations.
In her opening remarks, the Executive Director of Positive Health Media Initiative, PHMI, Mrs Anthonia Oladapo, welcomed participants and emphasised the critical role of the media in shaping the HIV and broader health response.
“The role of the media in the HIV and broader health response cannot be overemphasised. The stories we tell, the issues we highlight, the language we use and the voices we amplify can shape public understanding, influence conversations and contribute to better health outcomes,” she said.
Mrs Oladapo noted that effective health reporting goes beyond statistics and events, adding that it requires accuracy, context and an understanding of the experiences of affected people and communities.
“It is important that we continue to challenge stigma, protect the dignity and confidentiality of individuals and ensure that people living with HIV are represented fairly and respectfully,” she said.
She also highlighted the session on AIDS Conference scholarship opportunities, urging participants to take advantage of global learning, networking and professional development opportunities.
The facilitator, Martin-Mary Falana, a development expert and Chief Executive Officer of Kids & Teens Resource Centre (K&TRC), took participants through key areas including understanding HIV today, effective HIV reporting, ethical and stigma-free reporting, and accessing international AIDS conferences.
He exposed participants to HIV basics, transmission, prevention, treatment, U=U and current HIV terminology; finding HIV stories, identifying news angles, interviewing sources and reporting HIV science accurately; as well as consent, confidentiality, privacy, dignity, use of images, language and protection of vulnerable sources.
Falana also shared insights with participants on major HIV/AIDS conferences, eligibility for scholarships, application requirements and timelines, and encouraged journalists to apply.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Benue State Council, Comrade Bemdoo Ugber commended the Kids and Teen Resource Centre (K&TRC) and the Positive Health Media Initiative for organising a timely and impactful training for journalists in the state on HIV reporting and public health.
The Chairman said the initiative demonstrates the importance of partnership between the media and civil society in advancing public interest, and expressed confidence that the knowledge and skills gained would enhance responsible, accurate and ethical journalism. He thanked journalists and NGOs who participated in the programme and assured the organisers of the continued support and cooperation of the NUJ Benue State Council.
Participants at the workshop shared their challenges and opportunities in HIV reporting and called for sustained capacity building for media professionals in the state.
