Journalists in the country have been urged by the National Aids Commission (NAC) to take special interest in raising awareness on the importance of HIV testing and adherence to treatment.

Francis Mabedi, NAC’s HIV Prevention and Management Officer, had a meeting with the journalists on Monday at Grand Palace Hotel in Mzuzu.

Mabedi was speaking to journalists belonging to Nyika Media Club (NMC) during an orientation on HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Management) Act of 2018.

He said that the aim of the meeting was to have media practitioners acquainted with the details on what the law contains in as far as regulating the HIV and AIDS is concerned in Malawi. There are some sections of the society that are not aware of piece of law and this is where the media should come in to join hands with them as commission.

NAC during the orientation disclosed that currently Malawi has close to one million people who are living with HIV and that country is registering 15,630 new cases per year. Close to 52,000 children between 0 and 14 years are living with HIV.

Alepher Kasongo the Vice Chairperson for the club, said the workshop was very instrumental in keeping journalists aware of the HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Management) Act of 2018.

She also added that as journalists they really need to be updated and equipped with knowledge. They are supposed to be aware of the HIV and AIDS Act of 2018 and utilize it because it an offence to spread information that is unlawful and so they are supposed to have facts, know the acts and some other regulations pertaining to HIV and AIDS.

Nyika Media Club is a grouping of Journalists from different media institutions in the northern region of Malawi.

Source:MANA