Media professionals have been urged to effectively use Social and Behavioral Change Communication (SBCC) to aid Nigeria’s HIV response.

The role of media professionals were highlighted at a capacity building workshop organized by the National Agency for Control of AIDS, NACA in collaboration with Johns Hopkins Program for International Education in Gynecology and Obstetrics.

Participants at the workshop were tasked to channel their skills in Social and Behavioral Change Communication towards telling compelling HIV stories for better outcomes.

Director General of NACA, Dr GAMBO ALIYU, represented by the agency’s South-West Zonal Coordinator, RAHEEM MOHAMMED said the media is a critical stakeholder in the agency’s efforts aimed at ending the epidemic by 2030.

In a chat with Inspiration FM’s Health Correspondent, IMA DEM, Journalism Trainer, ANSELM OKOLO said journalists must focus on framing HIV messages appropriately to speak to the hearts of the people.