Media Watch
The ‘what’ is no good without the ‘why’
Instead of simply regurgitating stats and facts without contextualising or explaining them, a health-e article published in The Star (26 April 2012) explains the reasons why there are more women in ART programmes than men.
The subject of the article is a study that found that ART uptake increased from 47, 500 to 1.79 million between 2004 and 2011. One-third of all HIV-positive South Africans are currently accessing HIV treatment.
Of particular interest, however, are the differences in ART uptake between men and women.
New WHO guidelines good news for couples
An article in Monday’s (23 April 2012) edition of The Star updates readers on the latest developments on the HIV-testing, prevention and treatment front.
The article details the World Health Organisation’s latest HIV-testing and treatment guidelines, which advise that HIV-positive people in relationships with HIV-negative partners (serodiscordant partnerships) should be offered treatment as soon as possible regardless of their CD4 count.
Current South African treatment guidelines recommend that all HIV-positive South Africans be initiated on ART when their CD4 count drops below 350.
Media needs PEP talk
The media could play a key role in disseminating important and sorely-needed information on post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for rape survivors.According to a report in a February edition of the Mail&Guardian, rape survivors are often in the dark when it comes to preventing HIV infection by means of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). The same report also states that survivors are unlikely to be given this information in the public health care system.
This is a gap that the media could help to fill. Newspapers reach thousands of South Africans everyday, and can be very viable vehicles for information and education.
But judging from recent rape coverage, this is an opportunity the media often misses out on.
‘Joburg is where I belong’
Big bad Jozi has a reputation that precedes itself, but accidental Joburgers with tenderness for the unexpected find the city can be an ol' softie too. When newcomer from New Zealand Karen Lim heard her husband's next company posting would have them living in Joburg, it left her with nightmares and sleepless nights.
