Media professionals strengthened to combat discrimination and stigmatization associated with PLHIV

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Extract from the article: Following in the footsteps of opinion leaders (priests, pastors, imams, traditional chiefs), the Network of People Living with HIV in Togo (RAS+ Togo) is also involving media professionals in the fight against HIV-related stigma and discrimination. F

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Following in the footsteps of opinion leaders (priests, pastors, imams, traditional chiefs), the Network of People Living with HIV in Togo (RAS+ Togo) is also involving media professionals in the fight against HIV-related stigma and discrimination. From June 14 to 16, 2023 in Lomé, some thirty media professionals from the maritime region and Greater Lomé strengthened their capacities on the themes of HIV, tuberculosis, human rights, gender and sexual reproductive health. This training workshop was financially supported by PEPFAR.

The whole world is mobilizing to eliminate the HIV epidemic by 2030. Togo, with its technical and financial partners, is making efforts to meet this 2030 target. However, this agenda cannot be met without the participation of the media, who play an important role in the fight against this disease. The main causes of the stigma and discrimination associated with HIV are fear and ignorance, which are underpinned by a lack of information, and can only be overcome by reliable information conveyed by journalists.

The President of RAS+, Augustin Dokla, believes that issues of stigma and discrimination are associated with HIV. « Togo, after more than 30 years in the fight against this infection, has reached a point where we need to double our efforts to overcome this disease.... Discrimination and gender-based violence are the main obstacles to the care of people living with HIV in Togo. Ignorance and human malice are the main causes of this discrimination and stigmatization. We therefore felt it important to bring together men and women from the media to share these issues and analyze together the ways and means of mitigating the impact of HIV/AIDS infection », he emphasized.

Stigma and discrimination against PLWHA have a negative impact on national efforts to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS. Indeed, studies have reported that pronounced stigmatization of PLWHA prevents them from accessing prevention, screening and medical care services, or reduces their adherence to antiretroviral treatment, which could promote and facilitate HIV transmission. Similarly, fear of stigmatization or discrimination can lead some pregnant women to refuse to be tested, or to follow breastfeeding advice as part of the prevention of HIV transmission to their child. This is why the contribution of the media is so crucial to the fight against HIV. They must play their part in dispelling the ignorance that leads to discrimination and stigmatization of PLWHA.

In Togo, HIV prevalence is around 1.8. There are around 150,000 people living with HIV, 87,000 of whom are on antiretroviral treatment.  The same training session is scheduled for June 22-24, 2023 for media professionals in the interior of the country.

William O.