Ei-iE

The Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) knows firsthand the challenges of talking HIV/AIDS in a country believed to have the highest incidence of AIDS worldwide.

SNAT recently spoke to Plus News about the difficulties of effective intervention when silence prevails, "In Swaziland, denial about AIDS is one factor that has made it almost taboo for families to admit their loved ones passed away from an AIDS-related illness. You won't find AIDS listed as the cause of death on death certificates, and so we have no official number to work with" .

During 2008, under the EI EFAIDS Programme, SNAT prioritised its work on ending AIDS related stigma and discrimination. Over 120 SNAT members took part in workshops to combat stigma and were trained to teach the EFAIDS material ‘Inclusion is the Answer: A toolkit for educators and their unions’. Facilitating the training were members of the Swaziland National Network of People Living With HIV and AIDS (SWANNEPHA), as well as representatives from the Ministry of Education and Training.

Thembi Nkambule from SWANNEPHA presented practical ways to ensure Greater Involvement of People Living with HIV and AIDS. Inclusive policies are vital not only for the welfare of Teachers Living with HIV, but also to counter the huge financial impact of HIV/AIDS on Swazi society. With education dominating public spending and with a constitutional provision guaranteeing Education for All, Swaziland needs to keep qualified teachers in the classroom.

According to IMF estimates, simply maintaining teacher numbers in Swaziland over the next seven years will cost US$230 million. Guaranteeing Swazi teachers a workplace free from discrimination and giving them the skills to prevent or live positively with HIV is vital if the education system is to fulfil its goal of providing free primary education to all Swazi children. At the workshops SNAT members agreed that publicising a defined workplace policy on HIV and AIDS was the best way to protect colleagues Living with HIV.

Victoria Nyawo, a Teacher Living with HIV, gave a motivational speech in which she praised SNAT’s proactive policy of involving People Living with HIV in their programmes and activities. A high school teacher in southern Swaziland, she is committed to breaking the culture of silence and stigma that continues to pervade Swazi society. She established a support group after discovering her status, and in this way helps other teachers to come to terms with their status and live positively with HIV.

For 2009, SNAT is determined to redress the data gap. The union is undertaking a research project to determine the impact of HIV and AIDS on the education sector. Through the survey, SNAT is confident that their work in the EFAIDS Programme will improve, and their advocacy on behalf of People Living with HIV will be more effective.