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to make use of the media in publicising national programmes.
Officially opening a two-day desk editors’ workshop here on Thursday organised by NAC, the Minister of Media, Information and Publicity Cde Webster Shamu, said the media were vital tools for creating a useful knowledge base for HIV and Aids related programmes.

“The media have great potential to present HIV and Aids programmes to millions of people. Through the media, accurate information is consistently made accessible to the people,” he said.
Minister Shamu said that advertising agencies needed to complement the role being played by newspapers, radio and television by mainstreaming HIV and Aids messages in all the advertisements. “We would want to see advertising agencies making sure that any advert – be it on Coke (Coca Cola), clothing and other merchandises carry a disclaimer or a message on HIV and Aids like what they do with alcohol or cigarette adverts. We actually need a blitz on HIV and Aids that should be carried out throughout the country say for three months, where messages on HIV and Aids should be found everywhere, at the tollgate, public functions and yes, in or homes,” he said.

While acknowledging that alliances involving the Government, the media, private entities, HIV and Aids organisations and the community were playing a vital role in alerting the nation on the dangers of the pandemic, Minister Shamu, however, noted that the concerted efforts would not yield much in the absence of a functioning and effective health system.

“It is common knowledge that the country’s health system has been devastated by the illegal economic sanctions imposed by Britain, the United States and their Western allies.
“There is need therefore for stakeholders in the private sector to support Government efforts to adequately fund the health sector in order to ensure that there are enough medicines, equipment and personnel to our health institutions,” he said.