[procaare] IAC 2008: Challenges of the Educational Responses to HIV/AIDS

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IAC 2008: Challenges of the Educational Responses to HIV/AIDS
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Cross-posted from SEA-AIDS list


Eyes and Ears  
Challenges of the Educational Responses to HIV/AIDS  
Sheila Marunga Coutinho  
           
  
An article from the HDN Key Correspondent Team  
27 August 2008  
              
     
Education, especially of children without one or both parents, is a key thematic area addressed at the XVII International AIDS Conference.

The strong correlation that exists between HIV risk and limited access to education confirms that this topic is a vital one. In addition, the right to education is a fundamental, regardless of the sero-status of their parent or guardian.

In some countries, the epidemic is reducing demand for education, with households financially unable to support their children's attendance at school; the children, especially the girl child, are taken out of school to care for the sick. The completion of primary education can effectively reduce the risk to HIV infection provided a protective and enabling environment exists in schools. A poster presentation at the conference, 'Lets Talk and Walk the Talk', a school based peer education program in Fiji confirms that children and teachers have the capacity to reach very large numbers of their peers and other members of the communities with HIV/AIDS prevention, care and support information and skills

Most the countries subscribe to the 'ABC' strategy (Abstinence, be faithful and correct and consistent use of condoms) for HIV/AIDS prevention. However in the education sector, some schools with strong religious and cultural foundations have limited the option only to abstinence. This is because the school management believes that the majority of younger people are not sexually active and therefore abstinence was the best known means of keeping them free of infection. Ines Gill-Grill from Educational International is concerned with this approach, saying "young people have the right to knowledge about condoms as a method of keeping them safe from sexually transmitted infections, HIV infection and unwanted pregnancies".

Apart from the children, HIV/AIDS also poses a grave threat to the education workforce. Unfortunately, in most countries, policies to address workforce issues are either very weak or non existent. Moreover, because teachers are perceived as key duty bearers and role models, those with HIV have in some cases been stigmatized and discriminated. This coupled with little prospect of confidential counselling and testing services or affordable access to treatment, they are afraid to disclose their status. The aforesaid was portrayed during a poster presentation session presented by Ekua Yankah from UNESCO on the issues and concerns observed in providing support to HIV positive teachers in Eastern and Southern Africa.

In conclusion, the challenges outlined above must to be looked at opportunities for taking action now to improve the educational response to HIV/AIDS. This is imperative because the protective benefits of education will be missed when some children either fail to enrol in primary school at all, or drop out before finishing. This will not only impact on them but also their children and subsequent generations.
                 
The KC Team is coordinated by Health & Development Networks (HDN).  
Website: www.healthdev.net/kcteam   Email: kcc@hdnet.org