Tanzania: HIV Where Journalists have failed [opinion]

When Ms Ammina Kothari, a doctoral student at Indiana University, School of Journalism asked to interview me for her research paper on the HIV/Aids and journalism in Tanzania, I realised how poorly the media has been covering stories on the pandemic. Indeed, I felt guilty on behalf of my fellow journalists that we have not done the best we could do in that regard and consequently, the media has been left occasionally replicating the overused stories. In other words, the media lacked the angle with which to approach the issue.

The information journalists have been disseminating has been too skimpy, skimmed somewhere from say, journals and lack in in-depth analytical aspects that should be the guiding light to the society.

 

Our writers do not take trouble to seek further empirical and statistical evidence and figures to support their reportage.
Going through newspapers it seems they tell half-truths or report only what is presented to them by authorities that seek publicity.
Take for instance sometimes back when it was announced that male circumcision could reduce contraction of HIV by 60 per cent and thus it should be used as a tool for prevention of Aids. The media gave it little coverage if any.

 

The issue of male circumcision should have been written in a way that would have explained the principles behind it and at the same time explain why people should not throw caution to the air and indulge in unprotected sex.

 

The debate died a natural death, because what should have elicited serious debate was swept under the carpet.
Many other debates of national interest have also found no room in the media fraternity.

 

In my experience, any time an HIV story has been written there is a take in it for journalists.
For example when an NGO wants the story published or if there happens to be a completion and there is always a price tag to it.
It has been proved beyond reasonable doubt that behavior change is among the most effective HIV control. To illustrate this, Kagera was among the first regions to feel the full impact of HIV/Aids. Today it registers among the lowest in the country.
Mbeya leads instead. Why? Because while the media may report verbatim some facts from stakeholders, the underlying social and cultural practices that have tended to fuel the scourge are relegated to the back seat.
Sex is a taboo subject in Africa. For that reason, the media will always skirt around the subject or give it a blind eye, yet it is known that HIV spreads more through engaging in unprotected sex.

 

The role of women in controlling HIV is completely ignored. Take for example the issue of male circumcision.
The media automatically centers on the male section of the society yet it is the females who bear the brunt of the disease.
There is so much surrounding HIV that the information is simply baffling. Until recently, it did not occur to me that there are several strains and sub-strains of the virus until I met a doctor concerned with HIV.
I could not wrap my mind around the fact that prevalence of particular strains differ from one country to another.

 

Bull by the horns

 

HIV/Aids still remains a big issue. Triumphant kind of headline that graced a popular Kiswahili daily that if loosely translated would be, “Thank God Aids cure is here” was wrong. 
On the front page was a large photograph of the Health and Social welfare Minister Prof Mwakyusa was portrayed saying as much. Joie de vivre that engulfed the society was palpable.

 

That kind of journalism gave the society a false sense of security. In any case, even if said medicine was forthcoming it would take eons to get to Tanzania.
Journalists should therefore appreciate academic research, investigation and analysis of whatever they write. They should not forget that it is our divinely ordained duty to the society.

 

Media preferences of subject matter especially as we are heading towards the General Elections tend to lean more on the politics with other social issues.
HIV is being relegated to playing the second fiddle. It is time to balance reportage to include all other social issues.

 

-August 14, 2010 by Bernadina Kayumbe

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Source: www.thecitizen.co.tz/sunday-citizen/43-sunday-citizen-opinion-editorial/3562-hiv-where-journalists-have-failed.html  (accessed on 17.08.10)