The regional training orientations for strengthening the HIV/AIDS response among Teachers in Uganda were successfully completed by UNESCO and partners.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the Ministry of Education and Sports (MOES), and the Teachers Anti-AIDS Action Group (TAAG) formed a partnership in 2021 with the goal of reducing the HIV/AIDS danger to the provision of educational services in Uganda.
According to the data that is currently available, there are approximately 10,210 students and 1,000 teaching and non-teaching staff members who are living with HIV in secondary schools.
In the primary schools, there were approximately 38,789 students (18,848 male and 19,941 female) and 2,000 teachers who had HIV (MoES 2017).
A forum for the stakeholders to communicate correct information on HIV prevention, care, treatment, and support was provided through the regional training orientations on the education sector HIV workplace policy and the HIV information pack.
The overarching goal of the intervention was to make a contribution to the establishment of an environment that was enabling, free from the stigma and discrimination associated with HIV, and was directed toward learners, teachers, and other school stakeholders in Uganda who were living with or affected by HIV and AIDS.
Teachers living with or affected by HIV and AIDS were the focus of the regional training orientations that lasted for two days and took place between July and September 2022 in the cities of Gulu (Acholi region), Jinja (Busoga region), Soroti city (Karamoja Sub-Region), and Lira city (Lango Sub-Region).
During his opening remarks at the beginning of the two-day training workshop in the city of Lira, the Senior Human Resource Officer at the Ministry of Education and Sports, Mr. Derrick Busherurwa, expressed gratitude to UNESCO for assisting the Education Sector in the organization of the training.
He continued by saying that “the training is relevant since the Education Sector in Uganda is concerned with the growing cases of HIV/AIDS infections, HIV stigma in schools among the learners, and HIV stigma in schools among the teachers.” Throughout the period of the two-year lockdown, the Covid-19 virus has been responsible for progressively spreading these increasingly widespread diseases.
Ms. Teddy Chimulwa Nabwire, the National Program Officer for Education for Health and Wellbeing program at UNESCO Project Office in Uganda, emphasized the significance of the intervention by pointing out that it falls squarely under objective three of the UNESCO strategy on Education for Health and Wellbeing 2022-2026.
This objective lays down strategies to “nurture safe and inclusive learning environments that are free from all forms of violence, bullying, stigma, and discrimination.”
Ms. Nabwire emphasized the significance She went on to say that the workshop’s primary objective was to disseminate the Education Sector HIV Workplace policy and Information pack as critical reference resources to assist the Education sector in responding to the issues posed by HIV and AIDS.
The representative from UNESCO, Mr. Charles Draecabo, complimented the instructors for their involvement in the regional orientation exercise. In his remarks, he mentioned that UNESCO and the other UN agencies have the goal of eliminating AIDS as a hazard to public health by the year 2030.
He also mentioned that education is one of the most effective HIV prevention measures that are now accessible. “Every additional year of secondary education can contribute to a reduction in the cumulative risk of HIV infection, particularly among adolescent girls and women” (AGYW).
As a measure of prevention, the AGYW should be present in schools, and it is our shared duty and responsibility to make sure this happens. By preventing them from entering, we are putting them in a vulnerable position.
Participation was encouraged, and the orientations were organized so that group conversation could be had on a variety of important topics and topical areas.
The unpacking of the HIV at Workplace policy and Information pack was one of the topics that were covered. Other topics that were covered included the vulnerability risk factors of HIV infections among teachers and learners in the education sectors, HIV testing, counseling, and support, as well as care and support for teachers and learners who have been affected by the epidemic.
One of the most important areas of action that was gained from the workshop was the creation of district-specific action plans that would guide the execution of interventions.
The HIV prevention, care, treatment, and support workshop was attended by a total of 111 teachers, including 61 males and 50 females. These educators became ambassadors for HIV prevention, care, and treatment within the context of the school environment for adult populations as well as student populations.
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