HIV/AIDS Radio Programmes

This programme uses interpersonal contact - face-to-face training - to build the capacity of Pakistani journalists to communicate with their audiences about key health issues. The idea is that radio can be a tool for bringing about behavioural change, provided that the communication is effective and accurate. To that end, Internews Pakistan uses training in an effort "to help support a professional, vibrant and sustainable industry. Ideally, that industry should provide diverse news and information to citizens, empowering them to make their voices heard and to participate effectively in their communities."

Specifically, the journalists participated in a 6-day training programme, a key focus of which was exposure to the experiences of those actually living with or impacted by HIV/AIDS. The strategy here involved using personal contact to humanise the disease and to address and challenge myths and stereotypes surrounding it. As part of the training, the journalists attended a major regional conference in Islamabad which focused on how HIV and AIDS impact women and girls. The course offered the participants what Internews Pakistan describes as "their first opportunity to talk openly with a person living with HIV/AIDS" - a woman from Lahore who is living with HIV and working to educate others about AIDS named Shukria Gul. The journalists also examined how HIV/AIDS is covered by the media both locally and globally.

Once trained, the journalists produced a series of radio programmes on HIV/AIDS in their country in both the Urdu and Pashto languages. The Urdu language programmes are being offered to new FM stations, free of charge. The Pashto-language programmes will be broadcast on Campus Radio, Peshawar. The series includes stories about men and women who are living with HIV/AIDS, as well as interviews with medical experts and religious leaders.

In addition, following the course, producer Sara Farid made a documentary focusing on the life of Shukria Gul. "After meeting Shukria Gul who is HIV positive and a normal human being - I realized there is no need to attach any stigma to such people. She is as normal as I am. In fact, she is extraordinary because of the work she is doing," said Farid.

HIV/AIDS.