President of the HIV/AIDS Reporters Association (HARA), Samuel Conteh, has said that one of the core activities of the revitalized union was to “popularize condom use.”
Speaking recently at HARA’s inauguration/ stakeholders meeting, he explained that after the death of the first President, Harry Yansaneh, the Association became dormant; but however noted that they are in the process of reviving the Association, to focus on key issues.
These issues, he highlighted are; “making HIV/AIDS issues tropical through the media; exposing the myth of the pandemic and most importantly popularize condom use.
Conteh also noted that it is the intention of the Association to infuse optimism in people living with HIV/AIDS to know that there is life after the virus.
He called on partners to provide training for the 20 man strong Association, and appealed for funding and equipments to aid in the dissemination of information with regard to the disease.
National HIV/AIDS Secretariat (NAS), Director, Dr Brima Kargbo said that the media has a tremendous influence on our youths, “as you all know the prevalence rate is high among the youths and if the media can reach them then we are surely going to make a remarkable impact in the fight against the pandemic,” he opined.
However, he said, “the key challenge is to adopt positive behavioral change.”
Dr Kargbo disclosed that present survey revealed that the pandemic has started stabilizing.
The NAS Director noted that wherever the campaign against the disease has succeeded it is due to concerted effort.