Sexuality in Media: Emerging Issues in Africa - Africa Regional ...

Sexuality in the Media: Emerging Issues in Africa
In a daily column “A Perspective” (Al-Ahram, 19-5-2004), the writer suggests
that “the population of Egypt will be around 100 million on 2020, he explored
this reality with regard to Egyptian lives and called for reviewing the
situation” : The same idea was mentioned in another column “Hot issues” in
EL-Akhbar on 17-5-2004. In fact, most of the writings on family planning
concentrate on its impact on the economy of the country, few concentrate on
the health aspects of the issue. News and stories articulate the efforts of the
First Lady in this regard as well as, the statements made by the President and
the religious opinions that allow family planning. El Akhbar, 0n 10-2-2004,
indicated that “the population bomb is on the President's Desk”.
The Minister of Health on 24-5-2004 indicated that “It is not true that we are
proposing laws to enforce birth limitation, what we call for is the birth spacing
which is not contradictory to the religion” (Al-Ahrar). Religious acceptance of
family planning was mentioned repeatedly in all the newspapers: Al-Akhbar,
9-1-2004; El-Messaa, 22-4-2004. On 10-3-2004, a joint statement of the
Coptic Orthodox Pope and the Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar indicated that they
reject any law to enforce family planning and this should be left to the couples.
This statement was published in almost all the newspapers. The Minister of
Education, on 14-4-2004, in the People's Assembly announced that “Family
planning is necessary for our existence and religious and political duty”. He
added “The power of a nation is measured by the scientific level not by the
number of population”. This was published in most of the newspapers.
Statements like these have a very positive impact on the efforts to promote
family planning education in the schools. However, this particular Minster
who said this was replaced recently.
Decrease in fertility rate was mentioned by some articles. For instance, El
Ahram and El Messaae on 9-2-2004.
News about training courses on advocacy, were many. For instance, El-
Ahram 26-1-2004, Al-Ahrar, 26-5-2004, El-Messaa, mentioned these courses
and the fact that some of the training courses take place in Mosques (on 16-2-
2004).
Very few articles addressed family planning methods. One interesting article,
in El Gomohorrea, on 8-5-2004 dealt with a new method “A Chewing gum
Print Media Coverage Of Sexuality Issues in Egypt
with Mint Flavor to Prevent Pregnancy in USA”.
Different approaches to family planning were attempted by some newspapers.
For instance Al-Akhbar, 6-4-2004 indicated that: “Frequent pregnancies is
dangerous to the health of the mother and child”. In El-Akhbar, 14-2-2004 an
article was published indicating that the “Oral Contraceptive Pill is not a cause
of the increase of weight”. Also, EL-Wafd, 24-2-2004 indicated that “There is a
new born in Egypt every 23 seconds”. Al-Ahrar on 6-2- 2004 indicated in an
article that “Birth spacing ensures a better health for the mother and the
child”.In addition, Al-Ahram, on 8-3-2004 published an article that suggesting
that “the best age for pregnancy is between 20 and 35”. Another story was
published by Al-Ahrar on 28-4-2004 which indicates that frequent deliveries is
dangerous for women's health.
HIV/AIDS
An article by El-Gomhorrea on 27-2-2004, quotes from a research at
Baltimore University (without a date) which suggests that “Male
Circumcision protects against HIV/AIDS”. News about 39 countries,
including Egypt to be supported by the WHO in the treatment of HIV/AIDS
was published in Al-Akhbar on 17-2-3004. The same news was published in
EL-Wafd on 28-2-2004. In this article they quoted the Minister of Health. The
article suggests that women living with HIV/AIDS should not stop
breastfeeding. Al-Ahram also, on 14-3-2004 published a news story about a
new drug for HIV/AIDS which was developed in UK. News about a vaccine
against HIV/AIDS developed in Germany was published in Al-Ahram on 22-
2-2004. News about the number of HIV/AIDS patients was published in Al-
Ahrar on 31-3-2004. This was revealed in a meeting attended by
representatives of NGOs and other civil society groups. The notion that
HIV/AIDS comes from abroad was clear. The participants suggested that
mobile clinics for testing should be made available in the areas visited
frequently by tourists. However, earlier in Al-Ahram, on 24-3-2004
published news about the same conference but focused on the attendance of
several famous actors and actresses who have been named as ambassadors for
the UN. While El-Messaa on 25-3-2004 also published an article, on the
same meeting, quoting the Governor of one of the most attractive tourist sites
in Egypt, Aswan, who claimed that his governorate is free from HIV/AIDS.