Journalist called to step up in the fight against HIV and TB

By Violet Nakamba Mengo
Journalists must do more to report effectively on HIV, AIDS and TB issues in Africa, according to prominent health organisations.

Speaking at an international training workshop for journalists in Cape Town, South Africa on Thursday, Anthony Harries, head of the Paris-based health organisation International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (IUATLD) challenged the media to be responsible for highlighting the pandemic.

“TB is a major killer in Africa,” Harries said. “A lot is still required to be done. Journalists write on it and speak on it, for the African continent to change.”

Awarding wining health experts concurred with a call from journalists demanding African governments to appoint HIV and AIDS ministers to specifically look on the epidemic. Harries, however, declined to be drawn to the political will behind the matter.

The four-day workshop, organised by National Press Foundation (NPF) under its Journalist-to-Journalist programme, is aimed at training journalists on how to report on HIV and AIDS. Fifty-six journalists from around the world gathered for the Cape Town, South Africa training in preparation of the 5th International AIDS Society Conference on AIDS pathogenesis, treatment and prevention that starts on 19 July.
IUATLD is an international union against TB and lung disease. Its mission is to bring innovation, expertise, solutions and support to address health in low and middle income populations.

The union has its headquarters in Paris and regional country offices serving the Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, Middle East, North America and South East Asia regions. Its science departments focus on tuberculosis, HIV, lung health and non communication diseases, tobacco control and research.
Harries also emphasised the urgent need for new tools in early TB detection.

“We need a new diagnostic tool for TB that will allow quick detection of the diseases just like the rapid diagnostic for AIDS,” he said.

Harries said for a long time the TB detection tool has in some cases failed to identify the disease in its infancy until when the disease is in the advanced stage.