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Higher education partnership against HIV/AIDS
DoE, SAUVCA and CTP
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"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.
Why the need for a national response?
SAUVCA and the CTP represent the institutional leaders of higher education in South Africa. Whilst higher education institutions have made invaluable contributions to research on HIV/AIDS and lead the way in advocacy programmes, more work needs to be done to put in place institution-wide comprehensive policies and programmes for prevention, treatment, care and support. Leaders in the higher education community have therefore committed themselves to putting in place policies, procedures and programmes through this initiative, which aims to keep students and staff free from the threat of infection and to ensure that those who are infected or affected are supported and remain active, productive and valued members of the higher education community.
Why does HIV/AIDS concern universities and technikons?
This is a question we must answer decisively. There is no doubt that the HIV/AIDS epidemic poses the most serious threat in recent memory to South African society, our economy and our people. In the Department of Education's TIRISANO programme, government has placed the epidemic highest on its list of priorities. There are basically five reasons why members of the higher education community should be interested and involved in the struggle against HIV/AIDS:
1. HIV/AIDS is a development issue, not just a health issue. The epidemic affects not just the health status, but also the social, economic and psychological wellbeing of individuals and communities. HIV/AIDS is more than a disease - it has the dimensions of a problem far larger than a medical issue.
2. HIV/AIDS affects not just individuals but institutions. Higher education institutions in all countries are highly prized national institutions and a resource for the nation. All the evidence tells us that these institutions are vulnerable to the impacts of HIV/AIDS and that their core operations of management, teaching, research and community outreach therefore need to take account of the impact of the epidemic.
3. HIV/AIDS affects human resource development. Higher education institutions are the educators and trainers of the most skilled people in most economies. Without planned and sustained efforts at prevention and changes in behaviour, students are particularly vulnerable to infection due to factors that make institutional environments a focal point of social and sexual interaction. We are at risk of losing the most valuable citizens in our economy.
4. The struggle against HIV/AIDS requires new knowledge. Higher education institutions prize their role in the development of new technologies, new theories, new practices and new ways of understanding our world through research and development. These roles are critical in our search for new and better ways of preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS and learning to understand and cope with a world affected by HIV/AIDS.
5. The fight against HIV/AIDS requires leadership. Universities and technikons, the professionals who staff them, their students and their associated communities are being called upon to take a stand against denial and prejudice, and to lead open debate and social action against the epidemic.
How is the progamme organised?
National level: A small, dedicated staff and office manages the programme, provides support to institutions and delivers national organised capacity-building activities. These include training, workshops and research in areas like peer education, voluntary counselling and testing, curriculum development and HIV/AIDS in the workplace. The national project office also provides links to partner organisations such as the Department of Health, NGOs and international networks.
Institutional level: Roughly 60% of programme funding is distributed directly to institutions as grants towards meeting the objectives of the programme and their own priority areas. These areas may include research, development and delivery of teaching programmes, as well as prevention, treatment and care services for students and staff.
The programme acknowledges the generous support of DFID, Ireland Aid and other donors. For more information, contact:
Barbara Michel (SAUVCA)
The Programme Director
Higher Education Against HIV/AIDS
P O Box 27392, Sunnyside 0132, South Africa
Telephone: (27) 012 481 2884 or
Fax: (27) 012 481 2850 or
e-mail: [email protected]
Regular updates and information on the programme, as well as links to all institutions involved in it are also available at: www.heaaids.ac.za |
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