Communication in couples helps fight HIV and Aids

Relationships have different challenges that differ from couple to couple. Challenges become complex if couples do not communicate or share ideas. Lack of communication can lead to misconceptions and lack of trust. WATIPASO MZUNGU JNR writes.

Under the Bridge II Project, Galaxy Media Consultants, conducted a national dialogue on couple communication to open up dialogue between couples within families, across genders, communities and the nation at large.

This was done to create a better understanding between men and women in terms of what each one of them values; how they can work together to improve and sustain their relationships; their families and their communities.

The campaign engaged the nation through phone-in programmes with selected radio stations as one way of fighting HIV and Aids.

Galaxy Media Projects Manager, Benson NkhomaSomba, said on Tuesday this week that it noted during the radio programmes that most HIV and Aids situations are perpetrated by lack of communication between couples on critical issues that affect their daily life.

“Most callers in these programmes explained that they do not discuss matters of sex with their spouses for various reasons, including fear of being called a ‘prostitute’ on the part of women.

And because of this lack of communication, most spouses fail to satisfy each other in bed, which also brings a threat of extra-marital affairs as one seeks satisfaction elsewhere,” said NkhomaSomba.

He said that lack of communication among couples is one of the contributing factors to the transmission of HIV and Aids in the country; hence, the need to address the problem.

“We’ve initiated the process and we believe that the dialogue will continue. It is only when we address communication gaps among couples that we can successfully talk about reducing the transmission of HIV and Aids in the country,” said NkhomaSomba.

Thirteen radio stations participated in the survey. These are Dzimwe Community, Joy FM, MIJ FM, Star FM, Radio Maria, Radio Islam, TransWorld, Living Waters Church, FM 101, Mudziwathu Community,

Nkhotakota Community, MBC Radio 1 and ZBS.

Meanwhile, Galaxy Media has awarded Radio Maria Malawi, Nkhota Kota Community Radio, Trans World Radio (TWR) editor and producer Ali Kalichero and MIJ FM’s Rachel Mhango for their brilliant production and presentation of programmes on national dialogue on couple communication.