Supporting PEPFAR to Train Journalists in Ghana’s Western Region to Improve Public Awareness of the HIV Epidemic

The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in collaboration with the JSI-implemented USAID Strengthening the Care Continuum Project, supported the African Center for Development Reporting, a non-profit media support NGO, to train 16 journalists in Ghana’s Western Region on June 7 and 8, 2021. The purpose of the training was to encourage accurate reportage for improving public awareness of the HIV epidemic. The training provided the journalists with an overview of HIV issues and HIV-related stigma and introduced them to best practices for effectively covering and reporting on HIV and COVID-19-related issues.

During the opening session, U.S. Embassy Counselor for Public Affairs Virginia Elliot said, “the media plays a critical role in the fight against the spread of HIV. Your reporting will tout the importance of testing and treatment. I encourage you to thwart the HIV stigma and discrimination, which you will learn is a major impediment to individuals getting tested, and started and remaining, on treatment.”

Dr. Henry Nagai, chief of party for JSI’s Strengthening the Care Continuum Project, also addressed the journalists and said, “The Western Region is now in a good position to achieve the [UNAIDS 95-95-95 goals] by September 2021 through the efforts of the Care Continuum project, Ghana Health Services, and the Ghana AIDS Commission. Together, we’ve collaborated to provide index testing, run a Back to Care communications campaign, and roll-out pre-exposure prophylaxis and HIV self-testing.”