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As part of the preparations for the
implementation of the Global Initiative on HIV/AIDS and Education, the
Zambia Ministry of Education in collaboration with Harare Cluster Office and
the Zambia National Commission for UNESCO from 13 – 14 December held a
National Stakeholder’s Consultative Meeting on HIV/AIDS and Education (EDUCAIDS)
in Zambia’s capital, Lusaka.
Countries in the Harare Cluster involved in the
implementation of EDUCAIDS are Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Following UNESCO Harare’s identification of the need to consult the key
stakeholders in HIV/AIDS in Education in Zambia, the Zambia National
Commission organized the workshop to take stock of initiatives being
implemented by the United Nations System, national institutions and other
key stakeholders on HIV/AIDS in Zambia through formal and non-formal
Education.
The meeting was also held to identify activities to be
implemented in 2006- 2007, in Zambia as part of the UNESCO’s Global
Initiative on HIV/AIDS and Education (EDUCAIDS) and to develop a framework
for co-operation between UNESCO and all the key stakeholders in providing
comprehensive response to HIV/AIDS through formal and non-formal education
and strategies that maximize synergies of prevention and access to care.
The Minister of Education in Zambia, Hon. Brian Chituwo opened the meting
and acknowledged HIV/AIDS as an issue of national concern that requires varying interventions.
The Minister bemoaned duplication in
the provision of services and HIV/AIDS and Education Programmes in the
communities as opposed to complimenting each other. Hon. Chituwo pointed out
that the United Nations would appreciate the formation of a common
framework, and evaluation system as a way of ensuring consistency in the
provision of services programmes in the HIV/AIDS and Education (EDUCAIDS) to
avoid duplication.
Zambia has established the National Aids Council to
coordinate the efforts of all issues on HIV/AIDS.
The first phase of the consultative meeting consisted of presentation of
reports on various organizational initiatives on HIV/AIDS and Education.
These included the Anti-Aids Teachers’ Association of Zambia (AATZ),
Ministry of Education (MOE), Copper belt Health Education Programme (CHEP),
UNAIDS, Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development, Non-Government
Organisation Coordinating Committee (NGOCC) and the Nkrumah College of
Education.
The second phase of the meeting involved the identification of key
components in areas of co-operation and, the development of a framework of
cooperation.
The meeting noted that there was political will from Government to support
HIV/AIDS initiatives and participants agreed to implement decisions that had
been made during the meeting. It also brought out a shared vision of
HIV/AIDS Education in the formal and non-formal education sectors.
UNESCO as the lead agency in the UN System on HIV/AIDS in Education is
prepared to support programmes working on this Initiative. Given the
devastating impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, the implementation of framework
needs to be treated as a matter of urgency. |
