HIV/AIDS Prevention
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The EI/WHO/EDC Progamme on HIV/AIDS prevention in schools is being implemented by 26 teachers’ unions in 17 countries worldwide.
The unions seek partnership with the Ministries of Education and of Health. Such partnership is intended to strengthen the response from the education sector to the HIV epidemic. In many instances Ministries give their full support to the union efforts since they realise that the union has the best network to reach out to all schools and teachers.
Each of the participating union has made HIV/AIDS part of its policy, working programme and structure. Through the cascade model, the 26 unions involved have succeeded in training and reaching out to thousands of teachers and schools worldwide.
All trained teachers are provided with the Teachers’ Exercise Book for HIV prevention (available in French and English from www.ei-ie.org/aids). The Exercise Book forms the basis and framework for the training provided to teachers and tens of thousands of copies have already been distributed to trained teachers around the world. The book contains a number of participatory learning activities on how to prevent HIV infection and related discrimination. With these activities, teachers can help adults and students develop skills relevant to HIV/AIDS prevention.
Knowledge alone is not sufficient to enable teachers to prevent HIV infection and skill-based activities are therefore essential to complement their existing knowledge. This makes the EI/WHO/EDC programme unique and sets it apart from many other HIV/AIDS prevention efforts. Teachers and quality education are essential elements of an effective response to HIV/AIDS. This is why EI is urging governments and non-governmental organisations to support the EI/WHO/EDC programme on HIV prevention in schools and the work of teachers' unions in the fight against the pandemic. It is time to give HIV/AIDS the attention it deserves and to ensure that the unique quality and positive impact of the EI/WHO/EDC programme are recognised!
For more information, please visit our EFAIDS website: www.ei-ie.org/efaids