The Chief Party of the USAID Strengthening the Care Continuum Project, has called on Journalist to use their medium to encourage people, especially the youth to voluntarily test for HIV.
According to Doctor Henry Naggai, the media is a powerful tool that can be use to minimize, if not erase the myth surrounding HIV.
The medical Doctor was speaking to Journalist at a two day workshop on HIV and anti stigmatization campaign in Takoradi.
“The media is doing remarkably well but people still see those living with HIV as outcast, but journalist are in a position to tell the story better that though there is no cure for HIV, there is treatment for patient to live for years,” he said.
The programme, organized by the President Emergency Plan for AIDS was aimed at equipping journalists to effectively report on issues on HIV.
Dr. Naggai disclosed that enough resources have been channeled into HIV advocacy in the region and everybody can walk into any health facility to test.
For early detection and treatment, people are we encouraged to freely walk to any health facility to test for them to know their their HIV Status he said .
He also noted that, due to the stigma that people living with HIV go though, it’s difficult for most of them to socialize and get involve in any community activity. He therefore challenged the media to help people in the community to accommodate people living with the virus since its not a communicable disease