USAID Grants $2.4M for HIV/AIDS Media Training Program in Kenya, Nigeria
The U.S. Agency for International Development on Friday announced a two-year, $2.4 million grant for Internews Network to "improve the ability of broadcast media in Kenya and Nigeria to effectively cover the HIV/AIDS epidemic." The grant will fund the "Local Voices" program, which is scheduled to begin in Nigeria this month, and will "foster a more supportive social environment for preventing and mitigating the impacts of HIV/AIDS." The program will offer "intensive training" for journalists, talk show hosts and radio disc jockeys; "[e]ngage" station owners and managers to promote management support for quality reporting on HIV/AIDS; establish and bolster national journalistic associations focused on HIV/AIDS; offer "modest" equipment grants and travel opportunities for journalists to research stories on the epidemic; and establish in each country new media resource centers including radio production facilities, Internet access and print and audio libraries. USAID Assistant Administrator for Global Health Dr. Anne Peterson said, "With the epidemic showing no signs of slowing, it is critical that leaders in all parts of society, particularly the media, play their role in educating the public. That's why we're very excited about our new partnership with Internews" (USAID release, 11/22).
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