Dulu sebelum I mula kerja kat ABU ni, tak banyak yang I tau pasal HIV and AIDS ni.. Sekarang ni alhamdullilah dah banyak la sikit ilmu yang diperolehi especially bila I dapat jumpa dengan "people who live with HIV and AIDS" not only in Malaysia but also from other countries in Asia-Pacific..
Disebabkan my medium is media -- whenever we attend seminar and conference, mesti akan kedengaran suara2 NGOs or UN agencies yang menyuarakan rasa tak puas hati dengan media.. Sebab according to them, media la penyebabnya why the discrimination and stigma against PLWHA started.. And it's still much alive in our communities. I guess there are some truth to it..
Ye la dulu2 kalau kita tengok kat TV -- messaging dia balik2 -- HIV/AIDS ialah penyakit yang berjangkit, berjangkit melalui seks bebas, not curable -- so mestila orang ramai jadi takut dengan disease tu..And bermulalah diskriminasi terhadap orang2 yang menghidapnya..
Itulah sebabnya sekarang ni, kami sedang mencuba untuk merubah tanggapan ini. 'Kami' disini bermaksud our little team kat office ni (consists 3 ladies) who are working hard to help change that perception. However, it will definitely take time -- our main role now is to change the broadcaster's perception first then only can the audiences perception change.
In order to change the broadcaster's perception, we have to train mainly the producers and reporters on the sensitivity of the issue (language/picture usage etc) and not further discriminate the PLWHA. A lot of other issues pertaining to confidential rights, verification of facts and preventive measures which are acceptable in their communities that journalists/producers need to understand.
Because of that, we are given the mandate by the Global Media AIDS Initiative to bring along about 6 journalists from the Asia-Pacific Region -- namely Thailand, Indonesia, Fiji, Malaysia, Pakistan and China to the XVII International AIDS Conference in Mexico City next month. Estimated about 25,000 delegates will be at this conference including people who are living with HIV/AIDS. I really hope that this will be an eye opener for the journalists as well as myself. And I also hope that this small steps we are taking will eventually benefit the PLWHA and ease their burden in their life.
So, it's definitely not just a makan angin trip for me.. it is work..
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6 comments:
Anom,
How very true... there are many more pressing issues that we need to look into... this is one. Shadilia (she's working in Hospital Sg Buloh now) told me that there are so many HIV/AIDS victims in Malaysia (as the hospital is apparently the centre for those people here) and they are from all walks of life.... like you and I. Like makcik2 kampung and all. Kesian. About time we help these people by first acknolewdging their existences to exist in our society and to embrace them as they are. Sapa yang nak sakit... kena pulak it's not their own fault..
So iot's good thing your unt is doing and have fun in Mexico. Selamat Bersidang!!!!!
Jadik ker gi LA?
(oooh it feels good not to write or read about politics here..)
Thanks Abg A.. Shadilia skrang tengah buat housemanship ke kat sana ? ke dah abis ? Good for her. What she says is so, so true..especially when you see the children.. tak sampai hati nak tengok they all kena live with it for life.
Thanks and insyallah.. LA -- jadik, tapi kejap je la, while transiting -- kejap tak kejap pun about 15 hours la transit, jadik la. Ni pun baru balik from US Embassy to apply visa, mak ai punye la panjang prosedurnya.
(Betul! Dah boring and muak dah nak membaca dan mendengar -- needed the diversion badly)
Salam Anom,
To change people's perception - well, it takes patience and requires hard work. It may take some time but it's not impossible..
Wah.. Mexico City! The furthest I went dulu pun cuma Tijuana saja..he..he.. Hope you can find halal food there or bawak serunding ke apa. Mexicans like to use lard as the minyak. Even Vegetable Fried Rice diorang pun pakai lard.. vegie apa camtu... Anyway, I know it's work, but try to have fun ok? Take care sis.
Betul tu Kak Ja..That is the most hardest thing, but when the change happens -- it is so rewarding..
Tijuana -- Wah.. I have no idea where that is - hehehe..Halal food is the most tough thing to cari I guess -- I was thinking baik I puasa je kat sana..Tengok la dulu camna..Thanks for the advise. I memang dah agak that they will use lard as cooking oil..However, as part of the conference, they have this faith-based participation -- they even have what they call interfaith prayer/meditation room consists of individual and organised prayers for Muslims, Buddists, Roman Catholics and Protestants -- so hopefully they are as sensitive to the halal needs at the conference too.
Hi Anom,
Selalu singgah kat sini, tapi tak pernah left a comment :)
How's your kaki now? Hope dah okay 100%.
My daughter's school just organized a trip for the students to visit an exhibition on HIV/AIDS, and PLWHA somewhere in PJ. I think it really left an impact on my daughter - she kept on telling me about the stories of real people with HIV/AIDS and how they actually got the virus, etc., and how it affects innocent spouses and children.
I think kids nowadays are more aware of the disease, and hopefully will take heed from whatever information and knowledge that they have to lead a safe and healthy lifestyle, insya Allah.
Have a safe trip to Mexico City. Bawak Maggi and Brahim banyak-banyak ;)
Hi Kak Shana,
Eee.. seronoknya you left a comment here in my blog.. I pun selalu gak lalu kat ur blog tapi segan la nak leave comments. Ur cerita chenta is marvellous..
Alhamdullillah my kaki is much, much better..dah boleh jalan like normal dah, drive pun dah ok sikit2.. cuma solat je masih duduk sebab nak lipat kaki masa sujud tu masih sakit..
Your daughter must have visited the exhibition organised by the World Vision called One Life Revolution last week kat Section 13kan, yeah I was there too.. Really an eye opener especially for those yang tak banyak tahu pasal HIV ni..lagi2 the young generation.
Thanks for the wish. I am planning to bring as much food as I can. ;-)
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