|
|
HHD Joins The University of the West Indies to Strengthen Education Sector Capacity in Combating HIV and AIDS
As one vehicle to combat the HIV and AIDS epidemic, CARICOM has recently
awarded a contract to EDC’s Health and Human Development Programs,
working with the University of the West Indies (UWI), to carry out The
Caribbean Education Sector HIV and AIDS Capacity Building Programme. This
programme is funded by Inter-American Development Bank, acting in its
capacity as administrator of Japan Special Funds and UNESCO funds, executed
by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat.
FAST FACTS
- 300,000 people are living with HIV and AIDS in the Caribbean
- An estimated 24,000 people died of AIDS in the Caribbean in 2005
- AIDS is the leading cause of death among Caribbean residents aged 15-44 years
Source: UNAIDS |
Over the next 18 months, HHD and UWI will aim to strengthen the capacity
of the education sector to implement a comprehensive approach to HIV
and AIDS, initially in CARICOM countries, and eventually all countries
throughout the region. Specific capacities include advocacy and leadership
development and workplace and overall education policy development to
address prevention, through voluntary counseling and testing to care
and bereavement. Capacity will also be developed in the areas of
quality control and coordination of the services that many non-governmental
organizations are providing. Initially, four CARICOM countries will pilot
tools and strategies for capacity building in these areas, as well as
for such interventions as peer-to-peer education and youth drop-in centres.
All efforts will draw on most recent findings of international research,
as well as best practices in the Caribbean region.
Kicking off the Programme in Georgetown, Guyana on February 2-3, 2006,
CARICOM hosted the first meeting of the Program Steering Committee, representing
the funders, United Nations and other agencies in the Caribbean. Meeting
participants appear in the photograph below and are listed by name and
agency in the sidebar. The meeting served to clarify activities that
HHD and UWI will carry out and to select the four initial countries for
piloting the interventions: Belize, Guyana, Suriname, and Trinidad and
Tobago. Existing and new mechanism will be used for widespread dissemination
of the materials and tools, and for professional development, technical
assistance, and facilitated networking for countries to share experiences
with each other.
Pictured (l-r): Audrey Rodrigues, Myrna
Bernard, Sheron Smith, Mignon Bowen, Ingrid Sarabo, Cheryl Vince
Whitman, Pauline Russell-Brown, Connie Contantine, Michel DeGroulard,
and Carl Browne.
Carl Browne, Project Manager of this initiative for CARICOM in Guyana,
said: “The lessons learned from this unique partnership and project
capacity building program may inform HIV and AIDS prevention work around
the world. It is expected that this initiative will contribute towards
the development of education sector policies on HIV and AIDS prevention
and mitigation, honing intervention models for HIV prevention and care
among youth.”
HHD and UWI have joined as a team to serve and facilitate learning across
the region. Drawing on two decades of HIV and AIDS prevention work, HHD
contributes its technical expertise, drawn from HIV and AIDS projects
we conduct around the globe. Working alongside education sector staff
in each country, HHD provides overall management, selection of country
partners and consultants, design of interventions, and conduct monitoring
and evaluation. The role of UWI is to draw upon UWI faculty across campuses
and to use UWI’s vehicles for dissemination and capacity building,
such as distance education, an electronic journal, and new courses in
health promotion. These activities are in development under the
leadership of Professor David Plummer, the first ever UNESCO/Commonwealth
Chair in Education, HIV and AIDS.
Cheryl Vince Whitman, Senior Vice President of EDC and Director of HHD,
stresses the promise of this approach to HIV and AIDS prevention work. “The
education sector offers real hope for combating HIV and AIDS. It leads
the way with education as the best preventive vaccine and creating environments
where issues can be discussed. Senior education leaders, speaking from
the podium, and teachers in classrooms and hallways can change societal
norms. By their actions and words, they combat stigma and discrimination,
respect gender differences and stop homophobia. Teachers can both role
model and teach preventive behaviors. Important contributions to prevent
HIV and AIDS are quality education itself, high rates of school completion,
and preparing young people for employment.”
This programme is about safeguarding the promise and potential of the
Caribbean’s next generation. Connie Constantine, Programme Director
in HHD, and Pauline Russell-Browne, on behalf of UWI, comment
, “The vision of this work is that young people and education sector
staff will adopt the values of the ideal Caribbean person, remaining
free of HIV infection, completing their education and contributing to
family, community and economic life of the region.”
For more information, please contact: Mora Oommen, Project Coordinator: moommen@edc.org or
1-800-225-4276, ext. 2845; 1-617-618-2845
April 27 , 2006
|
