A group of journalists from the ten states of Southern Sudan starts this morning a two-day media forum with Southern Sudan Aids Commission and UNICEF to step up fight against HIV AIDS in the region.
The two-day forum which is taking place in Juba brings together over 30 journalists to map out an increased role of the media in creating awareness about the HIV AIDS pandemic in Southern Sudan, UNICEF said in a media release.The Government of Southern Sudan puts the HIV prevalence rate in the region at 3.1 percent among adult population.
Recent studies indicate that 3.8 million people in Southern Sudan now face a real threat of acquiring HIV and 60 thousand have so far been tested for HIV.
The media forum seeks to strengthen the role of the media to disseminate messages aimed at creating awareness and also for it to report responsibly and avoid further stigmatization.