Why HIV and
AIDS Education?

There have been few steps forward in the fight to turn the tide against rising HIV infection rates. However, UNAIDS points to one or two of the success stories which do exist to suggest that “the world is finally waking up to what it takes to bring HIV under control and that political commitment has grown hugely…grounded in the increasing involvement of community and religious organisations, businesses, individuals and activists”.

Uganda is picked out by many commentators as the great African example of a successful fight against AIDS. There, clear and effective education programmes established by Government, Church and community organisations have managed to cut the rate of adults in the country infected with HIV from 8.3% of the population in 1999 to 5% in December 2001.

This has been achieved by widespread community education programmes which have set out the simple facts about how HIV is spread, and which seeks to dispel the myths surrounding the disease so that people develop an accurate understanding and learn how to avoid infection.

There is now a desperate need for a similar approach to AIDS Education in many other nations where HIV infection levels are rising fast. Too many people are condemned to die through ignorance.
"Education is the key to the future"
(Desmond Tutu)

 
 
AIDS is predominantly spread in the following ways:

(a) Unprotected Sex - in Uganda education has led to wider condom use and an increase in the age at which a significant number of young people are choosing to become sexually active. Many have also elected to reduce the number of their sexual partners.

(b) Drug Abuse - around the world drug using groups, where shared needles are common, have a significantly higher incidence of HIV than other people living in their neighbourhoods.

(c) Poor Medical Practice - this is particularly a problem in developing nations. In China, for example, ignorant blood donation and transfusion procedures have led to a large number of HIV infections.

Education has a major place in addressing these common causes of the spread of AIDS.

Hope Education Trust plays a small role in the fight against the spread of HIV by raising money, predominantly from the UK and International business community. This money is applied carefully and effectively in AIDS Education projects telling the true facts about AIDS and HIV in countries of need.