Higher Education HIV/AIDS Programme

Strategies in turning the tide against

the spread of HIV

13 May 2009

University of Zululand

Ms Managa Pillay

Context - the epidemic has changed the world as we know it….

Peter Piot (2008):

‘ AIDS is a supremely complex issue that demands an unparalleled response

from all sectors of society’

WHY

Reduced life expectancy > 20 years

Slowed economic growth

Deepened household poverty

Exposed our children to unprecedented conditions that children should

never have to endure

UNDP (2005) – single greatest reversal in human development

What are we dealing with???

Globally:

30.8m adults and 2m children living with HIV

2.7m newly infected

2m deaths

SSA:

Little more than 10% of the world’s population – accounts for more than

67% of all people living with HIV

Further 1.9m infected in 2007 = 22m by end of 2007

SA:

5.7m people living with HIV

1000 deaths

South African in context

Life expectancy on average - 54 years (64 without HIV)

High risk group = 15 – 35 age band (most economically productive)

Generally poor track record

Some 20 years into the epidemic, little signs of significant reversal

Politicised – Mbeki (‘does it exist or not’) and Manto (“nutrition indeed!!’)

Initial reluctance to provide ARV and the slow roll-out

Service delivery challenges – quality, efficiency and access to VCT

Prevention efforts – some have been notable – generally not having the

desired impact, minimal resources

Stigma and discrimination

Gender equity and sexual abuse

Context

Peter Piot:

‘AIDS is a supremely complex issue that demands an unparalleled

Response from all sectors of society’

Against this backdrop that the higher education sector positioned its response

HOW COULD WE NOT

HEIs - Microcosm of society

Threatening the very fabric that fuels our purpose = the

development of competent and efficient graduates

Einstein’s theory - ??

No…..re-inventing the wheel…..No!

knew that we needed to move this beyond the health debate

knew that education seen to be the ‘social vaccine’

knew that education could make a contribution to the mainstreaming of

HIV and AIDS

knew that education provided strong leadership that needed to be

harnessed

knew that there was a great divide between knowledge learning and

skills development

Knew that we needed to debate the issues of personal and professional

competencies

knew that there was a need to sustain long term and adequate funding

and resourcing

Cont…

knew that prevention was critical, as was accessible services

knew that we needed to mitigate its impact and potential impact on the

sector

knew that HIV was affecting our staff

knew that any response would needed be governed by policy

knew that collective ownership would be critical

Certainly knew that we needed a comprehensive response

Having assessed where we had come from since 2001 – which saw the

sector’s first attempt at addressing HIV, we knew that we needed to start

deliberately talking to each other and co-ordinate our efforts

HEAIDS Key Result Areas

KRA 4 - Best practices with respect to, inter alia, prevention, behavioural change, care &

support, gender (including masculinity), curriculum integration etc. is identified, investigated,

tested and replicated.

KRA 5- Knowledge generation, assimilation and dissemination with respect to the Higher

Education sub-sector, the Education sector and the population as a whole is supported.

KRA 6 - Human resource capacities and systems development with respect to the challenges

posed by HIV&AIDS are supported.”

Research & Knowledge generation

Community Engagement(Prevention, Treatment

Care & Support Services)

HEAIDS Strategy

ENABLERS Teaching & Learning(Curriculum Integration)

Policies

Funding

HR Capacity ↓ Stigma

↑Quality of Life

↓ Prevalence

OBJECTIVES

Purpose

‘To reduce the threat of the spread of HIV and AIDS in

the HE sector, to mitigate its impact through planning

and capacity development and to manage the impact of

the pandemic in a way that reflects the ethical, social,

knowledge transmission and production responsibilities

that are the mission of HEIs in society and in South

Africa’ – HEAIDS Strategic Framework 2006-2009

The Programme

Funding

Workplace

Services

Curriculum

Sero-prevKAPB

Research

Policy

HIV and AIDS Policy Framework

PF – Guiding Principles

Supportive and committed leadership

leadership at the highest level

harnessing core mandates – intellectual leadership

Students as the future leaders

Promotion of Human Rights

human rights of dignity, privacy, non-discrimination, equity and voluntary participation

diversity, social change and cohesion – de-stigmatisation

Inclusive of vulnerable and marginalised groups

encouraging open debate

Comprehensive response

recognition that HIV is a bio-psycho-social-developmental and economic pandemic

dictates a comprehensive approach

cognisant of global developments and Good practice

continuous cycle of improvement - M and E

Where are we at

Policy Framework with Implementation guide

M and Framework – under consultation – establish sector level indicators

Development of funding models and mechanisms – sustainability

Research:

Roles of Educators in mitigating the impact of HIV

Research – id gaps in HIV research

Graduate competency study

Good practice – Prevention

Sero-prevalence, KAPB and risk assessment

Curriculum - Pilot of HIV module at TE faculties

Work Place Programme – Framework with implementation assistance to

HEIs

Grants to HEIs (R60m)

Many Questions?

Policy Framework – HE Strategy – HE Policy

What does the adoption of the PF mean?

Institutionalise response- institutional autonomy- competitive edge

Competing priorities

Strategic agenda

Emerging findings – baseline data, ‘relunctant academics

Social environments – breeding ground (KAPB)

Behaviour and practices

Equity issues – merged HEIs

Many questions! Many questions! Many questions! Many questions!

Stellenbosch…Zululand…..Fort Hare

ASK YOU: Are we turning the tide!!!

References

2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic

www.avert.org

HEAIDS Strategic Framework 2006-2009 and beyond

Policy Framework on HIV and AIDS for Higher Education in South Africa

World Bank – Global HIV/AIDS Programme (Accelerating the Education sector

response to HIV/AIDS in Africa, August 2005

UNESCO – Expanding the filed of enquiry: A cross country study of HEIs

responses to HIV and AIDS, 2006

MANAGA PILLAY (Ms)

012 4841141 / managa@hesa.org.za