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A ‘Media Dialogue on HIV/AIDS’ was held in Dhaka on 30 July, 2013 organised by Bangladesh Centre for Communication Programs (BCCP) with Modhumita Project run by FHI360.  The objective of the dialogue is to enhance awareness among the people about HIV/AIDS related stigma and discrimination through advocacy to the national policy level. The dialogue was presided over by Dr. Maswoodur Rahman Prince, Editor, Stethoscope of The Independent and a senior member of the Media Advocacy Forum. A group of senior journalists and leaders of the Media Advocacy Forum attended the meeting including Shihab Sarkar, associate editor, The Financial Express, Kazi Rafique, news editor, The Daily Sangbad, Tapan Das, news editor, The Daily Samakal, Shahanaj Munni, news editor, ATN Bangla, Morshed Noman, chief reporter, ABC Radio, Monjur Ahmed, USAID representative and others.
Speakers of the dialogue agreed to run media forum’s activities towards mass awareness in future working with the BCCP, Modhumita Project run by FHI360 and assisted by USAID. In his opening speech Dr. Prince expressed his deep concerns in presenting the real scenario of the HIV/AIDS victims in a positive way in the report not hurting the sufferer’s sentiments. Mr. Wahidul Huq, line director of National STD and AIDS Programme said that his department will cooperate with all the activities under taken to reduce HIV/AIDS related stigma and discrimination taken by the NGOs and private organisations. 
In the dialogue, there was a session on experience and report sharing on HIV/AIDS victims and on stigma and discrimination. Emdadul Hoque Howlader of The Independent shared his experience on visiting drugs and HIV victims and his report published in Stethoscope of The Independent titled “AIDS at 30: Stigma and Discrimination”. Among others Shahanaj Munni, news editor, ATN Bangla and Sebika Devnath from The Daily Sangbad shared their experience and reports. 
Form it s very inception, the Media Advocacy Forum is trying to focus to reduce HIV/AIDS related stigma and discrimination among the people through publishing various programs such as talk show, news, features, documentary etc both in print and electronic media. The forum also is active in coordinating various tools and programs provided by govt and private organisations working on HIV/AIDS.  
The forum members also agreed to continue the activities relating to mitigating stigma and discrimination part of HIV/AIDS campaign.
Stethoscope Desk

Source-theindependentbd.com