High-level panel discussion to commemorate World AIDS Day

In commemoration of World AIDS Day, UCT together with the Reuters Foundation will host a panel discussion entitled HIV/AIDS Lessons Learnt From South Africa: How can the media best carry the message, on December 1 in Jameson Hall from 10h00 to 12h00.

Hosted by Vice-Chancellor Professor Njabulo Ndebele, the high-level panel of speakers will include Emertitus Bishop Desmond Tutu; Dr Peter Piot, Executive Director of UNAIDS and Under Secretary-General of the United Nations; Dr Rose Malumba, Director: National HIV/AIDS and STI Programme; and activist Fezeka Kuzwayo.

"UCT has been at the forefront of responses to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the areas of teaching and research output," said Ndebele. "We believe that part of UCT's role is to share and disseminate this vital information with journalists who can carry these messages to the world."

The panel discussion forms part of an international journalism workshop presented in Cape Town by the foundation and the university from November 24 to December 2.

As well as honing skills, the Reporting HIV/AIDS workshop aims to give journalists a specialised grounding in all aspects of the epidemic, including economic, scientific and social positions.

Participants will be briefed on the latest developments by senior specialists from UCT and other institutions, as well as visit various HIV/AIDS treatment centres.

While the majority of the workshop will consist of closed sessions, the UCT community is invited to attend the panel discussion as well as the keynote address to be presented by Zackie Achmat from the Treatment Action Campaign.

Achmat's address, How to beat HIV/AIDS - what the media can do, will take place on November 24 at 10h00 at UCT.

The Reuters Foundation is an educational and charitable trust funded by Reuters, the global information, news and technology group.

Rosemary Martin, Director of Reuters Foundation said: " Reuters' independence, integrity and freedom from bias in the gathering and dissemination of news puts us in the best position to hold a workshop on an issue as globally important and emotive as HIV/AIDS.

"By bringing together our experts from UCT, in addition to speakers such as Bishop Desmond Tutu, Zackie Achmat and Dr Peter Piot, the workshop will deliver a detailed grounding in the topic and the opportunity to learn lessons from Africa in the reporting of HIV/AIDS."