CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
For broadcast media
campaign on any issue to interest the public, it must not be regarded as
fallacious or unsystematically prepared but rather involving messages on
existing public interest to the people
based on experiences, facts, beliefs, socio- economic and educational
backgrounds.
Against
this background, the federal government in conjunction with other countries of
the world through the World Health Organization (WHO) decided to embark on
massive campaigns against AIDS pandemic in the country.
The broadcast media, as
part of its effort to eradicate this deadly scourge in conjunction with the federal
government through the ministry of Health in 1986 established the National AIDS
control Programme in response to public concerns raised of the presence of
Human Immune Deficiency syndrome Virus (HIV) infestation in .
Again,
in response to the evidence and the debate
on the existence if AIDS in
Nigeria, the then Minister of Health,
Profession Olukoye Ransom Kuti in 1987, instituted the National expert Advisory committee on AIDS
(NEACA) and was charged with the responsibility of establishing whether or not AIDS exists in Nigeria . They were also
mandated to advise the government as well as draw up programme, strategies and activities
to prevent control of HIV infection in the country.
The
report from the committee stated that “HIV and AIDS existed in and
warned that unless immediate steps were taken to prevent the spread of the
diseases, the country would be faced with tremendous health problem. This necessitated
the establishment of AIDS Co-coordinating units and twenty one (21) testing facilities
in the various states of the federation. Training was conducted for personnel
to man these centre. There were also public enlightenment activities and
production of educational materials like posters, handbills, pamphlets, and
books on AIDS.
In
February 1989, a two weeks workshop was organized by the Federal Ministry
of Health, and other Human services Organizations including states ministries
of health with the technical assistance from the global programme on AIDS (GPA),
World Bank and other international agencies to
address the issue of AIDS in . In March 1990, a resources
mobilization meeting was convened with participation by the Federal ministry of
Health, by the World Health Organization, Global Programme on AIDS and other
International donor agencies.
Also
in march, the National AIDS Co-coordinating units had the first “All Nigerian conference on AIDS” during which the then vice President,
Admiral Augustus Aikomu (LTD) launched
the maiden edition on the Hand book on
HIV infection and AIDS for health
workers. All these efforts were aimed at affecting possible solution towards
cursing the AIDS measure in
and to ensure healthier environment for the popular.
Assertions
have been made that the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a mere
fallacy and government propaganda of scaring people from enjoying sexual relationship. Some ridiculous names
have been given the acronym AIDS, such as idea of Dissuading Sex,
Animal infected diseases syndrome and so on. It has been discovered that the
greater number of people infected by AIDS fall within the range of 20 – 40
years of age which is the prime age of life.
Despite
this fact, the non-challenge of our masses still prevails in relation, to
accept the media campaign on AIDS as a complete truth. Moreover, one should not
forget that it takes a lot of courage and grief to affect change in a society.
Though
this study may not go into the structure of the AIDS control Programme or the
dangers inherent in AIDS, it will look at the information management and the
use of media campaigns to facilities proper public understanding of programme.
It will prove the degree of which the entire public have related to the AID campaign
and to what extent these campaigns have helped alert the masses on the dangers
of AIDS, and then make recommendations.
THE AIDS DISEASE IN
Human Immune virus (HIV)
infection and AIDS in Nigeria
was first discovered in 1984 among researchers at the National Institute for medical
Research, Yaba Lagos .The first evidence of AIDS in was reported to Health Officials
by Nasidi and Heavy in 1986. According to him, the first few cases were seen in
prostitutes in and former ,
now Anambra and
respectively.
In
September 1991, Federal Ministry of health and social services reported
officially that out of
125,00 book sample screened for HIV infection nationwide, 830 were seropositive
given a seroprevalance rate of about
0.66 percent and these confirmed the
existence of HIV infection nationwide.
BROADCASTING IN
British Broadcasting Corporation
(BBC) started to broadcast to its dominions in 1930. By 1932, Nigeria started receiving BBC; received and disseminates those
messages into homes through re-diffusion sets in the major cities of the colony.
Later
in 1959,
became the first African country to operate and own a television station called
Western Nigeria Television (WNT) followed by East central state broadcasting
services on October 1st 1960, the former eastern Region transmitted
its own radio and Television signals over the air to coincide with the
attainment of Nigeria Independence.
In1962,
the Northern Region Governors started its own broadcasting system, which was
the most successful among the three in commercial advertising and coverage of
public awareness programme. To achieve this, it started a bolster television
station near
so that its residents could equally switch on to the regionalization of the
broadcast media. They were used as powerful political instrument for the
integration of each region and cultivation of regional awareness more than
national consciousness and integration. The politicians, who established this,
tremendously exploited them for sectional politics.
The
radio is the most effective medium of information at the grassroots level in . The
effectiveness of this medium has further been enhanced by the Organizations
decentralization. The only radio network in the country is now the Federal Radio
Corporation of Nigeria(FRCN), it has in
the past embarked on the regionalizing
or even localizing greater proportion of radio programming in every part of the country,
this leaving the network look up to only essential national programmes. The
other regionally based radio stations like Radio Television Kaduna (RTK) , Western
Nigeria Broadcasting Service (WNBS), Eastern
Nigerian Broadcasting Services, later
known as Anambra Broadcasting Services were equally effective in meeting with the regional
or local needs which they were set
up to satisfy .
In
the area of health campaigns which is
the main fulcrum in this study, the broadcast media have played key roles in
bringing awareness on health Programmes
such as Immunization, Oral Retardation therapy (ORT), AIDS Polio, and
Liver blindness.
Such
campaigns are attributed to behavioural attitude change due to media effect. This
study is meant to study the role of broadcast media in the campaign against
HIV/AIDS.
1.2
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
Some people still regard
the existence of AIDS in
as a mere fallacy. Yet, the AIDS Co-ordinate unit has proved that there is
rapid emergency of AIDS infected person in .
Therefore,
the urge to identify the information efficiency of these HIV/AIDS campaigns,
their acceptance and relevance to people has led to the study.
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
This study intends to
discover the broadcast media most especially (NTA Ilorin) handling of health
problems. It wishes to know how these campaigns either locally or nationally
have restructured people’s attitude towards sexual behaviour.
It is
aimed at discovering the hindrance in accepting these jingles from the
broadcast media. It also intends to reveal the general out of outlook of
messages and to know if the broadcast media have lived up to the expectations.
1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
It has been noted in many parts of the country
that AIDS is fast spreading, Statistics show that its infected persons are
increasing on daily bases. It is very crucial to alert the entire masses of the
dangers inherent in curing an infected person.
It is
also necessary to reveal the extent the high rate especially among infants and its
remedy for the future generation.
It is
hoped therefore that the entire masses, policy makers, media practitioners,
students, government officials will benefit from the study.
1.5 RESEARCHQUESTIONS
This following question from the corner stone of the research.
1. Do the Nigeria Television Authority Ilorin
(NTA) affect the attitude of the entire masses of toward their sexual behaviours?
2. To what extent is the NTA campaign message
on AIDS helped to alert the masses on the imminent dangers of AIDS?
3. In what ways do the masses perceive the NTA
campaigns against AIDS sine its inception?
4. What is the remedy for the non-challant
attitude of the masses towards NTA Ilorin campaigns against AIDS?
1.6 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
H0 : Broadcast campaigns on AIDS
have changed the sexual behaviour of the entire masses.
H1 : Broadcast media on AIDS have
not change the sexual behaviour of the masses.
H0 : The information efficiency of
broadcast media tends to reduce the spread of AIDS on the entire masses.
1 : The information efficiency of the media
does not tend to reduce the spread of AIDS on the entire masses.
H0 The campaigns of AIDS are more
to scare the entire masses from causal sex.
1.7
DEFINITION OF TERMS
AIDS: Acquired
Immune Deficiency Syndrome AIDS is an infections diseases spread by a virus, it
is called syndrome, because it consists of several signs and symptoms.
HIV: Human Immune virus, (HIV) is a retrovirus; a group
of virus, HIV is a retrovirus, a group of virus that is still largely known. HIV
has been accepted internationally. The virus destroys genetic material and the
damage is permanent.
MASS MEDIA:-It refers to the major mass communication channels. Radio, Television,
Newspaper, magazines, film, Book, Telecommunication, media Training, Advertising
and Public relations, news can reach to a large scatted heterogeneous society.
The mass media inform and educate the masses based on the conviction that truth
and reasoned judgment would emerge from conflicts of many voices on public
issues.
CAMPAIGNS: It is organized series of
operations in the advocacy of same cause or object.
ROLE: It is a
specific task or function played by an actor, an institution or organization
for the realization of particular objectives.
TELEVISION: – It is the viewing of distant objects or event by electrical
transmission. It serves as the vital force of educational enrichment. Television
by its nature commends more audience because it combines both vision and sound to
produce a package for the viewing public. It serves as an opinion leader and
agenda setter in its news commentary.
RADIO: – It is
a genetic term applied to methods of signaling through space without connecting
wires by means of electromagnetic waves generated by high frequency alternating
currents. Radio can be used to communicate in the language of the people or
project audience without any inhabitation and does not need any particular
level of literacy.
BROADCASTING: – It is the sending forth of material by radio, television for reception
by the public. The international telecommunication union (ITV) defines
broadcasting as a radio communication services in which the transmission are intended
for the direct reception of the general public.
1:8 ASSUMPTIONS:-The role of the mass media in the campaigns
against HIV/AIDS in Nigeria
is assumed that the broadcast media play a key role in their effort to fight HIV
in .
Looking at the agenda setting theory of the mass media, which stated that the
media not only inform us but also influence us as what is important to know?
1.9 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE
STUDY: – The scope of
this study is limited to the media handling of health problems. It is also limited to the survey
of the broadcast media campaigns against HIV/AIDS. This scope is based on time
and financial constraints.