Bethlehem: UNDP Program of Assistance to the Palestinian people convened a training workshop for more than twenty Palestinian media professionals on means of effective responding to AIDS as a developmental challenge facing the Arab region.

The workshop, which was held in Bethlehem (occupied Palestine) from 5 to 7 July 2010, sought to mobilize workers and those interested in the field of media and enable them to be more capable of presenting issues related to AIDS in a way that results in overcoming stigmatization as well as protecting and enhancing rights of persons living with the AIDS virus (PLWHIV).

Effective Responding

The workshop, which comprised more than twenty Palestinian media professionals, tackled several issues and topics of relevance to AIDS and means of effective responding to it in light of vocational standards and ethics. It further shed light on the status of AIDS in occupied Palestine and challenges facing those involved, besides efforts exerted to limit spread of its virus and to support rights of PLWHIV.

The workshop proceedings came in cooperation with UNDP HIV/AIDS Regional Programme in the Arab States (HARPAS) within the framework of HARPAS project "Towards an Arab Press for Awareness against AIDS and Protecting Rights of PLWHIV".

Media Professionals Mobilization

UNDP representatives pointed out that the objective of the three-day workshop is to mobilize media professionals and those interested in the field of media and enable them to be more capable of presenting issues related to AIDS in a way that results in overcoming stigmatization as well as protecting and enhancing rights of PLWHIV.

UNDP Representative in Palestine Mr. Roberto Valinette pointed to the importance of raising awareness, not only with AIDS and its virus, but also with groups that are more vulnerable to infection such as those who take drugs by injection, prostitutes as well as sexually transmitted diseases in the occupied territories. Valinette added "These workshops constitute basics for responding to and preventing against such diseases".

Self Image

The workshop started with welcome by HARPAS Regional Advisor Dr. Khadija Moalla, followed by introducing of participants to one another through "self image" exercise which links between the human being's personal characteristics and values governing his behavior towards his community.

Status of AIDS in Palestine

At the beginning, Manager of the Palestinian National Programme for AIDS Dr. Asaad Al-Ramlawi thanked all participants for the support they offer to proceed with more effective responding to AIDS and its virus, affirming that there are 66 registered AIDS cases in Palestine. He further clarified that that political as well as economic circumstanceS may have contributed to a big part of it.

Al-Ramlawi called for raising awareness with AIDS and its virus through internet and relevant institutions such as the Ministry of Labor Force and Ministry of Education.

On his part, Dr. Mahmoud Al-Khalili from the National Programme for AIDS Prevention affirmed that the first AIDS case was registered in Palestine in 1988, pointing out that there are 35 cases have passed away and 31 PLWHIV, including 11 cases among women.

Al-Khalili pointed out that sexual contact outside the legitimate relationship framework, injecting drugs or transfusion of blood contaminated with the virus are the most significant causes for infection. Al-Khalili added that the estimated number of infections in Palestine is about 320 cases.

AIDS … Facts and Information

HARPAS Senior Advisor Dr. Ihab Al-Kharat presented a number of main facts on AIDS disease and its virus, reasons for infection, means of AIDS communication, treatment and prevention as well as wrong concepts surrounding it.

AIDS in Arab Press

On her part, Sout-Al-Arab Radio media professional Amal Allam shed light on the status of Arab media in relation to tackling the AIDS issue. Allam highlighted a study conducted in 2007 to measure the language used in writing about AIDS in printed press and internet sites to identify degree of its accuracy and give a recommendation on what should be said and what should not. She further classified these materials according to what is known as "stigmatization standard" designed for this purpose. The study comprised 200 press articles that included information about AIDS.

AIDS in Cinema

Regarding the social responsibility included within writing a movie scenario that deals with a sensitive issue such as AIDS and which stands at the same level of responsibility of presenting a movie that fulfils artistic conditions therein, Amal Allam presented an introductory presentation on the role played by drama in impacting audiences and how it could change wrong ideas lying in minds.

Allam tackled (Al-Hob Fee Taba) movie as an example of Arab cinema which presented to people several incorrect information about AIDS. She also gave an example of the American movie (Philadelphia) which presented an accurate message to the audience.

Addiction and AIDS

Addiction Specialist Ayman Ghali talked about the nature of addiction, its forms and means of treatment, tackling models of well-known persons who fall victims of such trap and how addiction caused those persons to get infected with AIDS and hepatitis.

Ghali underlined the significance of exploring this anonymous world and reasons that motivate persons to approach it. Ghali talked about his experience with addiction, which lasted for twenty years before he recovered six years ago.

By narrating his personal experience and journey with addiction, Ghali meant to convince participants with the possibility of recovery as now he is standing before them to raise their awareness and he does the same thing in several Arab States which he tours for this purpose. He affirmed the feasibility of reaching addicts through addicts who recovered to convince them with the necessity of treatment and further underlined the importance of offering support, help and love to them instead of imprisonment ad punishment methods which do not give a real solution for this phenomenon which is widely spread in Arab States.

Advice for Parents

Ghali also tackled distinguished signs that may be used by parents to know if their children are facing problems of this kind. He pointed out to communication skills that parents must have to be able to keep their children away from the trap of addiction.

On the other hand, Ghali shed light on one of addiction programmes known worldwide as "12 Steps", where he pointed out to using in a big number of international rehabilitation centers due to the success it achieved.

Effective News Coverage

Media professional Ahmed Balah tackled reasons behind the fact that press coverage on AIDS in Arab media is not compatible with the degree of depth of the multi-dimensioned and different nature of the case, where most is limited to news and opinion articles, both of which does not guarantee a sufficient level of depth.

This was followed by training on writing a feature or what is known by humanized news story, considered to be an attractive and appropriate journalistic form to be covered with topics of that kind as it demonstrates human and social dimensions of the case and further provides an interpretation and analysis of facts and figures.

On the other hand, Balah tackled in another presentation vocational standards and ethical measures for media coverage of topics related to AIDS as well as the best method of coverage with sources with the aim of getting accurate information.

Media HARPAS Products

Workshop seniors held dialogue and discussions with participants on a number of drama episodes under the title of "I love life" and which deal with several real stories of persons living with AIDS in the Arab World with voices of well-known actors, specialized medics and men of religion.

The episodes tackled situations generated by community practices towards persons living with AIDS via real stories that demonstrate different forms of stigmatization and community discrimination and how lack of knowledge results in ignorance and disseminates many false impressions about the disease.

HARPAS Websites

After that, HARPAS websites were presented as well as the chapters and databases included within so that media professionals can benefit from it. At the end, participants shed light on the role to be played by Arab media based on personal commitment to significant social and sensitive issues like AIDS.

See also:

Arab Media Professionals Initiative On Responding to AIDS