OTGV #21 - Aids Series 3/5 - Media's role
Broadcasted on 16/12/02
AIDS can be seen as a disease, a social problem or a public policy planning headache.
In whichever guise, AIDS isn't dirt that can be swept under the metaphorical carpet.
Hi, I am Chong Ching Liang and welcome to On the Grapevine.
There's no carpet big enough for the problem to be swept under.
The plight of the infected has to be brought to light.
Dr MeeChai Viravaidya is the Ambassador for UNAIDS and has been an incessant voice in the fight against AIDS in Thailand.
"We have very little time. The pandemic has leapt upon us with appalling sadness. In 1980, we knew nothing about AIDS, right now, 20 million have died."
For nearly two decades, Dr MeeChai has been educating his fellow Thai on the cheapest and most effective ways to prevent AIDS is the humble condom.
He feels governments should do more even if AIDS isn't a big problem yet.
"Once AIDS takes hold, it explodes. Don't wait for it to happen. Enjoy the luxuries of doing a bit too much, too soon. Enjoy the luxury of that."
The media is one tool where policy planners and governments have tried to harness in their fight against AIDS
When he opened the Third Singapore AIDS conference, Minister of State for Health Balaji Sadasivan took the Singaporean media to task for not doing enough to educate the public on AIDS prevention.
"I was greatly disturbed by a 2 Oct report in the New Paper that highlighted the plight of a young lady who had unprotected sex with a man dying with AIDS because and I quote 'I didn't want him to feel that there's a barrier between us'. In a similar article, a doctor had stated that he had known people who wanted to be HIV positive just to be equal to his or her positive partner. What disturbed me was the article covered in a rather neutral manner. While we empathize with those suffering from HIV/AIDS, we and in particular the Media, must send a clear message to young people that it is not OK to get AIDS."
Dr MeeChai issued a similar call to governments and the media to do more.
"It's now as never before, not only to advocate for the afflicted, and pressed for more effective, more effective treatment but also to turn back the time. There's no cure. There's no vaccine. The only way to end this pandemic is to end new infections. We have to say this loudly and often, and we have to back it up with action, not just with words."
The next world AIDS conference will be held in Thailand and Dr MeeChai wants it to be a major coming-out party
As host, Thailand plans to raise some eyebrows
"When you land on the airport, I hope I can have the airport authorities to have the red ribbon on the tarmac. So every pilot landing, whether you are bringing people to the conference or not, the red ribbon is there. And when you hand in your passport, instead of just smiling stamping, they'll stick a condom in your passport. We will have children marching, the whole of Bangkok will know what's happening, and we will also have our policemen working with us, any parking ticket will also have a condom attached to it. We'll call that our 'cops and rubbers' programme."
The next step is to educate.
Education will break stereotypes, prejudices and most of all myths.
Dr Meechai's team has produced an information booklet that they had mass-distributed in the past.
"Well they were given a book that we produced earlier. Questions and answers on HIV, questions such as can you get AIDS in a swimming pool? Well you can get it anywhere. It not where you are, it's what you do. You can get it on a kitchen table as well. And we trained them so they were aware of AIDS and when people talk to them, [they say] 'yes it's real. and here's a book and you can't get it from kissing. Well, in a way I guess you could but you have to kiss and exchange saliva for 50 litres!"
AIDS is a sensitive topic because it affects cultural sensibilities and dampens the tourist trade
So, statistics may be manipulated to give a false indication of the AIDS problem
"And then one day, yeah just a few, yeah a little bit more. And then they still lie about the figures. Just keep the figures low and the fewer people you tests, the fewer HIV positives. In many counties, the testing is low, that's why the figures is low. But that's not the issue, the issue, and it is the most evil element in government, is denial, because denial means you lose time and you lose lives unnecessarily."
But times are changing.
Political leaders are acknowledging the problem.
In southern Africa where the problem is at its worst, Nelson Mandela has been a tireless campaigner.
"There can be no doubt that humanity faces a major challenge. The severity of the economic impact of the disease, is directly related to the fact that the most infected persons are in the peak productive and reproductive age groups."
Famous movie stars have also joined in the fight.
Elisabeth Taylor in her speech to the UN two years ago petitioned for cheaper drugs for AIDS sufferers.
"When will the world find the human and financial resources to replicate these life saving programmes across the region if not the world? How much longer can we afford to wait? Our hopes for effective treatments are surely closer to us than ever before."
Perhaps star power can open more eyes than dreary educators or politicians.
Only when the veil is lifted can the society see AIDS as a disease that can be controlled.
Here's actor Danny Glover's message.
"I have to say something. If I am disappointed with the take, we go again. Shoot it again. But with AIDS, the movie's over. It's the last show. It's up to you and me. Lend your voice, to break the silence."
Tune in next week for a look at the social implications behind not providing cheap medication.
This is Chong Ching Liang for Newsradio 938.
=========================
Related Websites:
Newsradio938
http://newsradio.mediacorpradio.com
Action for Aids
http://www.afa.org.sg
Ministry of Health, Singapore
http://www.moh.gov.sg
http://www.moh.gov.sg/corp/about/newsroom/speeches/details.do?id=29294601
World AIDS Conference 2004
http://www.aids2004.org/
United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)
http://www.unaids.org/en/default.asp
AIDS can be seen as a disease, a social problem or a public policy planning headache.
In whichever guise, AIDS isn't dirt that can be swept under the metaphorical carpet.
Hi, I am Chong Ching Liang and welcome to On the Grapevine.
There's no carpet big enough for the problem to be swept under.
The plight of the infected has to be brought to light.
Dr MeeChai Viravaidya is the Ambassador for UNAIDS and has been an incessant voice in the fight against AIDS in Thailand.
"We have very little time. The pandemic has leapt upon us with appalling sadness. In 1980, we knew nothing about AIDS, right now, 20 million have died."
For nearly two decades, Dr MeeChai has been educating his fellow Thai on the cheapest and most effective ways to prevent AIDS is the humble condom.
He feels governments should do more even if AIDS isn't a big problem yet.
"Once AIDS takes hold, it explodes. Don't wait for it to happen. Enjoy the luxuries of doing a bit too much, too soon. Enjoy the luxury of that."
The media is one tool where policy planners and governments have tried to harness in their fight against AIDS
When he opened the Third Singapore AIDS conference, Minister of State for Health Balaji Sadasivan took the Singaporean media to task for not doing enough to educate the public on AIDS prevention.
"I was greatly disturbed by a 2 Oct report in the New Paper that highlighted the plight of a young lady who had unprotected sex with a man dying with AIDS because and I quote 'I didn't want him to feel that there's a barrier between us'. In a similar article, a doctor had stated that he had known people who wanted to be HIV positive just to be equal to his or her positive partner. What disturbed me was the article covered in a rather neutral manner. While we empathize with those suffering from HIV/AIDS, we and in particular the Media, must send a clear message to young people that it is not OK to get AIDS."
Dr MeeChai issued a similar call to governments and the media to do more.
"It's now as never before, not only to advocate for the afflicted, and pressed for more effective, more effective treatment but also to turn back the time. There's no cure. There's no vaccine. The only way to end this pandemic is to end new infections. We have to say this loudly and often, and we have to back it up with action, not just with words."
The next world AIDS conference will be held in Thailand and Dr MeeChai wants it to be a major coming-out party
As host, Thailand plans to raise some eyebrows
"When you land on the airport, I hope I can have the airport authorities to have the red ribbon on the tarmac. So every pilot landing, whether you are bringing people to the conference or not, the red ribbon is there. And when you hand in your passport, instead of just smiling stamping, they'll stick a condom in your passport. We will have children marching, the whole of Bangkok will know what's happening, and we will also have our policemen working with us, any parking ticket will also have a condom attached to it. We'll call that our 'cops and rubbers' programme."
The next step is to educate.
Education will break stereotypes, prejudices and most of all myths.
Dr Meechai's team has produced an information booklet that they had mass-distributed in the past.
"Well they were given a book that we produced earlier. Questions and answers on HIV, questions such as can you get AIDS in a swimming pool? Well you can get it anywhere. It not where you are, it's what you do. You can get it on a kitchen table as well. And we trained them so they were aware of AIDS and when people talk to them, [they say] 'yes it's real. and here's a book and you can't get it from kissing. Well, in a way I guess you could but you have to kiss and exchange saliva for 50 litres!"
AIDS is a sensitive topic because it affects cultural sensibilities and dampens the tourist trade
So, statistics may be manipulated to give a false indication of the AIDS problem
"And then one day, yeah just a few, yeah a little bit more. And then they still lie about the figures. Just keep the figures low and the fewer people you tests, the fewer HIV positives. In many counties, the testing is low, that's why the figures is low. But that's not the issue, the issue, and it is the most evil element in government, is denial, because denial means you lose time and you lose lives unnecessarily."
But times are changing.
Political leaders are acknowledging the problem.
In southern Africa where the problem is at its worst, Nelson Mandela has been a tireless campaigner.
"There can be no doubt that humanity faces a major challenge. The severity of the economic impact of the disease, is directly related to the fact that the most infected persons are in the peak productive and reproductive age groups."
Famous movie stars have also joined in the fight.
Elisabeth Taylor in her speech to the UN two years ago petitioned for cheaper drugs for AIDS sufferers.
"When will the world find the human and financial resources to replicate these life saving programmes across the region if not the world? How much longer can we afford to wait? Our hopes for effective treatments are surely closer to us than ever before."
Perhaps star power can open more eyes than dreary educators or politicians.
Only when the veil is lifted can the society see AIDS as a disease that can be controlled.
Here's actor Danny Glover's message.
"I have to say something. If I am disappointed with the take, we go again. Shoot it again. But with AIDS, the movie's over. It's the last show. It's up to you and me. Lend your voice, to break the silence."
Tune in next week for a look at the social implications behind not providing cheap medication.
This is Chong Ching Liang for Newsradio 938.
=========================
Related Websites:
Newsradio938
http://newsradio.mediacorpradio.com
Action for Aids
http://www.afa.org.sg
Ministry of Health, Singapore
http://www.moh.gov.sg
http://www.moh.gov.sg/corp/about/newsroom/speeches/details.do?id=29294601
World AIDS Conference 2004
http://www.aids2004.org/
United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)
http://www.unaids.org/en/default.asp
posted by CHONG Ching-liang | 5:30 PM
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