Project Database
EFAIDS Programme
| Country: | Swaziland |
| Start Date: | 2006-01-01 |
| Deadline: | 2010-12-31 |
| Host organisations: |
Swaziland National Association of Teachers
(SNAT)
|
| Co-operating organisations: |
Education International
(EI)
World Health Organisation (WHO) Education Development Center (DCE) |
| Related Links: | |
| Grouping: | EI Education For All-HIV/AIDS Prevention (EFAIDS) Programme |
Project Summary:
Swaziland has the highest prevalence of HIV worldwide. The 2008 11th sentinel survey of pregnant women reported an average rate of 42 percent, while prevalence among the 15-24 age group was estimated at 15 percent. While knowledge of HIV is good, (80 percent of young women aged 15-24 know that a healthy-looking person can transmit HIV) this knowledge is not consistently translated into safe behaviour. A UNFPA report identified that the cultural bias that condoms were ‘un-Swazi’ and a polygamous tradition, coupled with male dominated decision making on sexual practices and family planning were fuelling the AIDS crisis. The Swaziland National Association of Teachers through its EFAIDS Programme promotes fact-based information on HIV and AIDS and frank debate on tackling AIDS in Swaziland.
In the context of the Swazi education sector, 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. With education dominating public spending and with a constitutional provision guaranteeing Education for All, Swaziland needs to keep qualified teachers in the classroom. Simply maintaining teacher numbers in Swaziland over the next seven years will cost US$230 million.
Activities in 2008
The primary focus of SNAT activities during 2008 was overcoming AIDS related stigma and discrimination. In July 2008, the HIV/AIDS focal persons at the union branches participated in a workshop where a draft policy on HIV and AIDS was produced. Four further regional workshops were held on themes of inclusion. Over 120 SNAT members were trained to teach the EFAIDS material ‘Inclusion is the Answer: A toolkit for educators and their unions’. Facilitating the training were teachers who are members of the Swaziland National Network of People Living With HIV and AIDS (SWANNEPHA, or who work with the Ministry of Education and Training.
Themes broached at the workshops included, effecting behaviour change in teachers, building capacity to mainstream HIV and AIDS in union work, achieving optimum progress on EFA ahead of 2015. The workshops showed practical ways to ensure Greater Involvement of People Living with HIV and AIDS, and provided participants with the skills to tackle stigma and adopt a rights based approach to their work on AIDS. A Workplace Policy on HIV and AIDS highlighted the union commitment.
Similar projects elsewhere in the region:
Benin - EFAIDS Programme Botswana - EFAIDS Programme Burkina Faso - EFAIDS Programme Burundi - EFAIDS Programme Gabon - EFAIDS Programme Ghana - EFAIDS Programme Guinea - EFAIDS Programme Ivory Coast - EFAIDS Programme Kenya - EFAIDS Programme Kenya - HIV/AIDS Kenya - HIV/AIDS Education Lesotho - EFAIDS Programme Liberia - EFAIDS Programme Malawi - EFAIDS Programme Mali - EFAIDS Programme Namibia - EFAIDS Programme Niger - EFAIDS Programme Rwanda - EFAIDS Programme Senegal - EFAIDS Programme Sierra Leone - EFAIDS Programme South Africa - EFAIDS Programme South Africa - HIV/AIDS Education South Africa - HIV/AIDS Education Tanzania - EFAIDS Programme Uganda - EFAIDS Programme Zambia - EFAIDS Programme Zimbabwe - EFAIDS Programme Zimbabwe - HIV/AIDS Education
