IWMF Live

African Women's Media Center, Emily Nwankwo & Amie Joof Cole

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Thank you for your questions. IWMF Live with Emily Nwankwo and Amie Joof Cole has concluded.

Yene Assegid: Greetings. I just learned about IWMF and I want to know how we can work with you. We have just launched an NGO in Ethiopia called "everyONE". The goal of everyONE is to build capacity in communication (especially on HIV/AIDS) for persons and institutions working on HIV/AIDS. This will be achieved through consultations and technical support on a demand basis. We will also be having a weekly radio talk show to encourage the communities to discuss HIV/AIDS issues and the factors underlying its spread. This radio program will be supported by community agents who will promote it through selected sites. Our question is how we can partner with you to make our talk show effective and dynamic. Thanks for your response, Yene Assegid, Founder

African Women's Media Center: Greetimgs to you too Yene Assegid. Congratulations for this great initiative. We are quite willing to to work with you in this programme by providing assistance in the form of information concerning content. Have you seen our HIV/AIDS manual on reporting on HIV/Aids for African journalists? This is a good resource that can help you in getting content for your programmes and in diversifying the angles that you should take for your radio programmes.Apart from that we can also provide you with contacts of organisations that can provide you with guidance and other opportunities. You can also visit our website www.awmc.com for updates .We have developed a resource guide that will give you names of different organisations that are actively working on HIV/AIDS issues.If you have not yet registered on our network , please do so on awmc.comnews through which you can receive regular updates on what is happening and communicate with other members of our network.

teju babatola: what is the african nations doing to prevent aids in africa? it seems all that is been advertised is policy statements.

African Women's Media Center: Ther's a lot being done in Africa albeit with different strategies at different levels and with varied results. This is because no one country has an identical situation with another. It will be prudent therefore to examine what individual countries are doing and to share experiences and the challenges that they face.Hopefully with this Africa can become an example to itself on how to tackle the AIDS pandemic.

Hanti Schrader: The belief in the powers of ancestors, witchcraft and sorcerers has a definite effect on Africans' perception of diseases, such as HIV/Aids and sexuality. Furthermore, there are cultural beliefs that inhibit the use of condoms. And here's my question: Academics, doctors, parents, teachers even presidents & governments STILL advocate the use of condoms as the only way of preventing infection...how can we change this campaign that by its nature is excluding millions of people? Thank you, Hanti.

African Women's Media Center: Yes, it is true that condoms are an effective way of preventing infection. However it is not the only way to prevent infection. Abstinence, fidelity , reduction of partners, delay in sexual debut particularly among the youth , better understanding of myths and misconceptions that expose a multitude of people to higher risk and exposure to HIV infection are other ways through which prevention can be achieved.Perhaps the solution to the problem is not to change the campaign but to make it all incklusive so that all populations are targetted. We need to find out why those millions are not using the condoms and involve them in identifying the solutions.

Dave Witzel: I work with the International AIDS Economics Network (http://www.iaen.org) which provides data, tools, and connections for people working on HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and mitigation. Journalists play an important role in presenting and explaining "the facts" about the crisis -- both how serious the problem is and what needs to be done. What services and resouces can we provide to help journalists do their work better?

African Women's Media Center: This is our wish list to you: 1. Training programs that are funded and supported by yourselves or others that you can identify. 2. Resources for evidence based information for journalists in all formats; electronic and print as well human beings that are accessible. 3. Development of resource materials. 4. We have developed a manual on reporting on HIV/AIDS for journalists which we have translated into English and French. We now need the capacity and support to translate it into Lusophone languages particularly for Africa. In the long term we would wish to have this translated into major languages used in the various regions. 5. Support to journalists on exchange programs in other countries, within their regions initially, and outside their regions for other experiences and exposure. 6. Support to media women's associations and other media NGO working in the countries so that they build capacity to effectively carry out projects and programs for media personnel and journalists. 7. Assistance to build the capacity of traditional media in information and skills to inform and empower the communities they target. 8. Gatekeepers are an important entry point in influencing the extent to which media responds to the need for increased coverage on HIV/AIDS and general health issues. There is need to build capacity and interest with these key stakeholders. How could you suggest that we do this in collaboration?

Sylvestre SOMO MWAKA: Pourquoi la communauté Internationale ne s'interresse pas assez à des séminaires sur le SIDA dans les campagnes et village de la République Démocratique du Congo, au lieu de soutenir les agresseurs Ougandais qui viennent semer le virus du Sida à l'Est de RDC?

African Women's Media Center: La communaute internationales est tres interessee par l'aide quelle peut apporter aux differentes communautes, mais il lui est difficile d'acceder aux regions en conflit. Neanmoins, les ONG de ces regions, particulierement celles des regions de conlits devraient entrer en contact avec celles qui travaillent a la resolution des conflits parce quelles ont un acces direct avec les gens et peuvent incorporer le VIH/SIDA a leurs programmes et leurs activites.

Jean Baptiste EPELEKOU.: Madame Amie, Comment comprendre que malgré les formations destinées aux journalistes africains,le continent Africain reste encore le terrain propice de la propagation du VIH? Existe t-il un mécanisme de suivi après la formation des professionnels des médias africains? Suggestions: Il faudrait que le centre forme des spécialistes sur des questions relatives au sida et à la santé pour la diffusion d'une information de qualité y relative.A cette formation s'ajoutent de différents stages de perfectionnement au cours desquels le journalistes africains sera bénéficiaire d'une diversité d'informations sur la pandémie du sida.Ces multiples séances de travail contribueront efficacement aux différentes activités de lutte contre le VIH/SIDA. Je me porte volontaire en tant que journaliste africain pour lutter aux c^^otés des mouvements associatifs et organismes de lutte contre le sida pour faire reculer cette terrible épidémie mondiale qui secoue malheureusement les populations africaines. Bonne compréhension. Jean Baptiste EPELEKOU. Consultant en communication, Journaliste indépendant.

African Women's Media Center: Merci infiniment pour votre interet et votre desir de nous apporter votre collaboration. Nous resterons en contact avec vous et ferons appel a vous chaque fois que nous en aurons besoin. N'hesitez pas a nous faire part de vos idees et de toute proposition de collaboration. En ce qui concerne le suivi des ateliers de formation, nous suivons nos stagiaires et nous sommes actuellement en train de preparer le suivi du programme de formation qui s'est deroule en Afrique du Sud et au Nigeria en 2002 pour les femmes journalistes radio qui font des reportages sur le VIH/SIDA. Ce suivi aura lieu a Johannesburg bientot, probablement mars ou avril 2003.

leontine Babeni: Une formation de plus pour les femmes est toujours la bienvenue. Celle des femmes dans les média en ce qui concerne la campagne destinée à améliorer la qualité de la couverture médiatique des problèmes de santé en Afrique. Le CAFM est chargé de conduire cette campagne. Si mes souvenirs sont bons , une formation à distance similaire a été faite l'année dernière. Est-ce les résultats attendus ont été atteints. Pensez-vous pouvoir organiser toujours dans le même domaine une formation physique par sous-région. Merci et à bientôt sur le net

African Women's Media Center: La formation par internet a ete tres reussie et nous pensons avoir atteint nos objectifs et nous avons pu identifier differentes lacunes qui meriteraient des formations et seminaires physiques, comme vous le suggerez. Neanmoins, ceci demande une programmation et l'identification des ressources necessaires, mais cela fait assurement partie de nos projets pour l'avenir, et tout particulierement pour les pays francophones. Merci de rester en relation avec nous via notre site web et e-mail, et si vous avez des suggestions a nous faire, nous serons tres heureuses de les recevoir.

Abiath OUMAROU: Comment va s'organiser concrètement cette campagne pour mieux faire passer le message?

African Women's Media Center: Notre site web vous apportera toutes les informations actualisees sur la campagne et son avancement. Etablir des liens reciproques entre les differents medias du continent sera partie integrante de la campagne et rendra les informations la concernant accessibles a une plus grande audience. Pour tous details sur la campagne, allez sur notre site awmc.org ou vous trouverez toutes les informations necessaires pour suivre le deroulement au jour le jour de la campagne.

Marie-Noelle Guichi: Que pensez-vous de la vaccinothérapie dont parlent de plus en plus les chercheurs aujourd'hui. Au Cameroun, un célèbre chercheur du nom de pr. Victor Anomah est à l'origine d'un vaccin thérapeutique appelé "vanivax",et ce vaccin aurait déjà guéri plusieurs personnes infectées par le VIH. Selon vous,est-il possible, avec cette nouvelle done de guérir du vih/sida?

African Women's Media Center: Tous les progres en terme de vaccin ferait l'objet d'une certification internationale reconnue et pour l'heure ni guerison, ni vaccin ne sont annonces. Il pourrait etre tres dangereux de faire croire que la guerison est possible alors que nous savons que ce n'est pas le cas pour le VIH/SIDA. En tant que media, nous devons etre articulierement prudents dans les informations que nous transmettons de facon a ne pas exposer les gens a des risques supplementaires.

Helene Nkengnie: Bonjour, j'espère que vous êtes encore là. Voilà ma question, quelle a été la spécificité de la formation des journalistes en matière de reportage sur le Vih-Sida? Avez-vous un feed-back de cette formation-là?

African Women's Media Center: Pour recevoir des informations plus detaillees sur les programmes de formation, merci d'aller directement sur notre site web awmc.org ou vous trouverez egalement le calendrier es formations a venir.

mina.mauerstein-bail: I just wanted to congratulate you on this wonderful initiative.

African Women's Media Center: We thank you and trust that you shall stay tuned to our website awmc.com to remain in touch with the progress we are making and the activities and outcomes of our new campaign. We would welcome any comments and suggestions that you might have now and in the future.

tsitsi singizi: In Zimbabwe women have a relatively high infection rate as compared to men. What can the media do to concientise the Zimbabwean woman and reduce alarming HIV/AIDS infection rate

African Women's Media Center: The main problem is reaching all women in general and in particular, reaching the youth and the girl child. The first important aspect is to develop communication and support mechanisms that will adequately inform and empower women to protect themselves and their children from unnecessary and unanticipated risk to themselves in the face of HIV/AIDS. There is also the need to involve them as a key target group and beneficiaries in the development of programs and dissemination of outcomes. As men are partners and the power in their social structure, we cannot afford to ignore their importance and include them in this communication to gain their support and ownership of the programs. We also need to take cognizance of the socio-cultural and socio-economic context in which they exist to fully appreciate and understand their needs so that we develop appropriate messages and programs that they can find both relevant and beneficial. The media should see the HIV/AIDS issue as a developmental and political issue and should treat it in the same manner that these issues are handled in your country. This is a topic that requires much deeper undestanding and discourse and would be happy to continue this conversation with you through our information at info@awmc.org Please do feel free to write us and follow up on this.

Pushpa: HIV/AIDS information is being delivered continuously in Malawi yet we have not seen any behavioural change. What strategy can you suggest we use in order to maintain focus on the pandemic and keep people interested in receiving information that the media provides.

African Women's Media Center: Behavior change is a process which does not manifest overnight. Studies have shown that information does not translate into change. The knowledge levels in most countries about HIV/AIDS is high yet the infection rate is on the increase. A factor pointed out by the UNFPA suggests that cultural issues have great impact in the spread or prevention of HIV. This is an issue that needs to be further explored, especially by the media in their reporting alongside the usual socio-economic context. Perhaps if the media could treat HIV/AIDS as a developmental issue with emphasis going beyond the dissemination of information but rather aiming at education, analysis and social responsiblity of all, then they will bring home the real issues as communities begin to identify with the problems close to home. The most effective story/feature is that which can call the reader/viewer/listener to action.

Pushpa Jamieson: Will the training of practitioners take place throughout Africa or will it only be based in Dakar? What criteria will be used in determening people to be trained and will it only be from members? Will some of the funds be used to train trainers (TOT) from each African country to improve the capacity of AWMC to deliver?

African Women's Media Center: The training will take place regionally throughout Africa; details of this will be communicated thro our web site. No, Training will not be only for members but will involve media gatekeepers and practitioners and all cadre of the press both electronic and print including auxiliary. Selection of participants will be competitive and will require indication of genuine interest, relevance and commitment to take the training beyond the workshop and into the work environment. There will also be monitoring of the progress of all participants to guauge the effectiveness of skills imparted and the progress made in the quality and quantity of health reporting by their various media houses. Definitely, for the purpose of continuity and sustainability, there will be TOTs conducted in every region.

Joy Morrison: I do not think I can take part in this as Alaska is four hours behind EST!! but I hope you might webstream at a later date. I am interested in the uses of more traditional media in Africa, specifically theater, to educate about HIV/AIDS. I worked with a forum theater group in Burkina Faso in 1989 traveling around the country with a play about family planning. Please let me know what is currently happening in this field re: AIDS education. I am from South Africa so have a particular interest in this region.

African Women's Media Center: Africa in general has very rich folk media that includes song, dance, skits/local drama or theater, storytelling, town cyring, traditional artefacts that generally carry relevant social messages and information. All these are employed in HIV/AIDS information and dissemination in various parts of the continent as they readily communicate with local folk in a context they are familiar with and can relate to. This mode of communication also overcomes the traditional barriers to communication on sexual matters which is generally viewed as taboo. Perhaps there is a need to document them all so that lessons learned can be shared and specific effective modes replicated in other countries where relevant.

Mable: Journalists face major challenges, beyond access to information, in reporting in HIV/AIDS in Africa. What in your experience can we do to improve our ability to report on this very important story?

African Women's Media Center: One cannot underestimate the value of personal experience in reporting on any issues and particularly in reporting on HIV/AIDS. Journalists could achieve much more if they could personify HIV/AIDS. For instance, if you are reporting on a Voluntary Counseling and Testing story, it would be invaluable to have gone for VCT yourself and experienced what all those who opt to do so encounter. This would not only deepen your understanding, but would enrich your knowledge and sharpen your empathy for those afflicted and affected. Your personal experience will enable you determine what approach to take and what angles to highlight. You may not be so quick to judge or assume due to lack of understanding and your personal experience will lend credibility to your story. You might even wish to tell the story in the first person which endears the issues to your audience.

Thank you to Emily Nwankwo and Amie Joof Cole for joining us today.

Un grand merci a Emily Nwankwo et Amie Joof Cole pour avoir ete avec nous aujourd'hui.