Story by Tamuka Charakupa
THE government has pledged to continue promoting platforms that enhance access to information for the citizenry countrywide.
A campus radio station interface organised by the National Aids Council (NAC) in Darwendale this Wednesday focused on ways to improve content and information dissemination, especially in tertiary institutions.
Participants hailed the platform as key in addressing life challenges faced by young people, especially on mental health, HIV and AIDs and depression.
“This platform has brought us together as campus radio stations to deliberate on content production and to find ways to put across useful information in fighting HIV and AIDS,” UZ Pachikomo FM Station Manager, Dr Ngonidzashe Muonwa said.
“We came all the way from Lupane to interact with colleagues, experts and engage government officials towards enhancing our mandate as information disseminators. It is a fact that HIV/AIDS prevalence is high in tertiary institutions so we are delighted to have NAC coming on board capacitating us with relevant material and skills to package them,” LSU editor, Miss Tafadzwa Mukome said.
“We also welcome the move by the government to allow us to monetise through advertising. This way we can create content that appeals to our audience while also sustaining our operations,” NUST FM’s Mr Bhekizulu Tshuma added.
Event organisers, the National Aids Council, noted that such engagements capacitate stakeholders in addressing the HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in tertiary institutions.
“As NAC, we think that campus radio stations are the appropriate platforms to get this information to students without them being condemned, blamed, and also being able to freely ask questions and be assisted from a non-health practitioner.
“New infections are coming from young women, adolescent girls and young women aged between 15 and 24 and this group is mainly exposed in colleges and tertiary institutions hence our focus in that regard,” National Aids Council Communications Director, Ms Madeline Dube noted.
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere, who was represented by Director Media Services Mr George Chisoko, reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting campus radio stations in promoting access to information.
“As the government, through the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, we remain committed to supporting community and campus radio stations so that we bridge the information gap between our communities.
“The media should inform, entertain and educate our communities and this partnership with NAC will go a long way in addressing HIV/AIDs prevalence rate, especially in tertiary institutions.”
Meanwhile, the engagement also saw campus radio stations being encouraged to maximise advertising opportunities to generate income to sustain their operations.
