NAC orients journalists on key HIV and AIDS strategic documents and trends
The National AIDS Commission (NAC) has conducted sessions to orient journalists across the country on current HIV and AIDS trends in Malawi as well as the National Strategic Plan for HIV and AIDS (2020-2025).
The sessions, which drew journalists from all districts, were conducted in Nkhata Bay in the Northern Region on 22nd and 23rd June; in Salima in the Central Region on 24th and 25th June; in Liwonde in the Eastern Region on 5th and 6th July and in Mulanje in the Southern Region on 7th and 8th July.
Speaking when he officially opened the session for the Central Region in Salima on 24th June, NAC Acting Chief Executive Officer, Dr Andrew Gonani, said the Commission appreciated the role the media play in the fight against HIV and AIDS in the country and was looking forward to building a long-term relationship with media practitioners.
“As you are aware, NAC supports the media through sponsorship of the Red Ribbon Awards, which is the celebration of excellent reporting on HIV and AIDS issues in Malawi. The media orientations on the National Strategic Plan for HIV and AIDS and other strategic documents is further recognition of the role the media play in spreading correct messages for the prevention of HIV and AIDS,” he said.
“The orientation sessions being conducted across the regions are the beginning of a long term involvement of members of the media in spreading the HIV and AIDS messages. We appreciate your role as the carriers of information to various targets; hence, we want to involve you at every level of the National Response to the HIV and AIDS epidemic,” he added.
Besides orientations on the Strategic Plan, the media were also oriented on the current HIV and AIDS trends, and the recently approved 2021 Malawi HIV and AIDS Estimates, which disaggregates the national prevalence rate by region, district as well as gender and age.
The Estimates indicate that Blantyre City leads the rest on HIV prevalence rate seconded by Lilongwe City; while it is vice versa on the incidence rate.
Posted on Jul 15, 2021 Written By Karen Msiska