The Uganda AIDS Commission has urged the media to take a leading role in the fight against the ongoing HIV/AIDS epidemic, emphasizing that the media is a powerful tool for raising awareness, shaping public perception, and driving policy change.
The Commission challenged the media during the AIDS Symposium Uganda organized by the Nation Media Group (NMG) on December 12, 2024, at the Sheraton Hotel, Kampala.
Robert Mutumba, the Assistant Commissioner of the Uganda AIDS Commission, highlighted that the discussions at the symposium are focused on Uganda’s progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS and strategies to overcome future challenges.
He stated that journalists will engage with policymakers and researchers to gain a deeper understanding of HIV dynamics. With about 35,000 new HIV infections, Mutumba emphasized the media’s role in helping the commission close the tap on new cases, stating that the media should correctly disseminate information about HIV/AIDS.
“For us to end HIV/AIDS by 2030, the media has a key role to play in spreading awareness and sharing public perceptions about HIV,” he said.
“We urge the media to always have skip-let programs on HIV awareness to the public,” he added.
Daniel Kalinaki, the General Manager of Editorial at NMG, stated that the symposium will provide an opportunity for the journalists to engage with researchers and policymakers and that this will foster conversations about challenges people face in the fight against HIV.
“This will allow journalists to gain a deeper understanding of the dynamics surrounding issues related to the fight against HIV/AIDS and be able to disseminate the information correctly,” he stated.
The 2024 estimates show that the national HIV prevalence is 5.1%, new infections have reduced from 83,000 in 2021 to 38,000, AIDS-related deaths reduced from 53,000 to 19,000, and babies with HIV have reduced from 30,000 to 4,700 in just over a decade.
