Higher education partnership against HIV/AIDS

"Higher Education Against HIV/AIDS" is South Africa's first nationally co-ordinated programme designed to improve the capacity of higher education institutions in preventing, managing and mitigating the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Launched in November 2001, the programme involves a partnership of three higher education organisations: the S A Universities Vice-Chancellors' Association (SAUVCA), the Committee of Technikon Principals (CTP) and the national Department of Education (DoE). The programme provides support to all public universities, technikons and SADC partners. These institutions comprise more than 500 000 students and thousands of members of staff.

UWC supercomputer set to 'crunch' HIV

The University of the Western Cape has just received the ultimate in research hardware - a supercomputer that will help its scientists to research into HIV in South Africa and to map human genes.

HIV-testing by Education minister welcomed

The South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) and the AIDS Consortium (an NGO coalition working on HIV/AIDS) welcomes the solidarity shown by Minister Kader Asmal and Barney Pityana principal of UNISA last week. The urgency of the disease and the devastation it is wreaking on educational institutions and our communities makes it imperative that we set aside differences (as shown by the two comrades) and work together to meet this gigantic challenge.

Turning on to safe sex

Preventing HIV/AIDS in theory seems simple enough. Provide sexually active young people with information on how the disease is spread, and they will naturally adopt safe sex behaviour. But the reality has proved much more complex. Twenty years after the disease was diagnosed, much ignorance surrounding HIV/AIDS still persists.

Two useful booklets for caregivers

Two new publications are available for those engaged or interested in caregiving, particularly those who have children in their care:

Students add their voices to AIDS battle

If you don't want AIDS then be responsible for your sexual behaviour. This was the message from Wits University students who took part in a national anti-HIV/AIDS march on Monday.

Sex education now, Asmal orders

In a desperate bid to tackle HIV and AIDS, Education Minister Kader Asmal has instructed his Department to urgently implement sex education in schools, technikons and universities.

South African National Children's Forum on HIV/AIDS - Report

The National Children's Forum on HIV/AIDS was held in Cape Town in August 2001. Ninety HIV-affected children (between the ages of seven and 18 years) participated in the event, together with 18 of their caregivers and a number of representatives from national government and Parliament. The aim of the Forum was to provide these children with the opportunity to have their voices heard and for their experiences and recommendations to inform the drafting and implementation of relevant policies and legislation.

Winning quartet up for HIV/AIDS debate

Their sassy strategy of debating real issues that affect the youth today has won four young KwaZulu-Natal pupils a chance to represent their province at the LoveLife Debating Games at national level.

Children's TV series introduces HIV-positive puppet

An HIV-positive muppet will soon join the cast of South Africa's "Takalani Sesame", a local television production of the children's educational programme, Sesame Street.