Integrated Humanities SIA Proposal Literature Review (2nd)
Zhang Yangfan
HIV/AIDS Education in Uganda is a research report written by Danielle Buonocore, an undergraduate student from U.S. The objective of this report is “to help us continue to successfully fight the pandemic”, AIDS. It evaluates the process as well as the effectiveness of the education program in Uganda for fighting against AIDS. Because we are seeking a feasible solution for AIDS problem, it is useful to us.
We can learn how the government and the Ugandans came together to combat AIDS from the report. Firstly, the President Museveni and his wife addressed AIDS in order to break the stigma and let their people know the disease. Secondly, a unique education program which was based on the ABC program; Abstain, Be faithful, or Condomize was developed so that children in primary schools would receive HIV/AIDS education. This system was designed to “educate the youth about HIV/AIDS, sex, and how to protect themselves”.
We realize that the solution for AIDS problem will only work if it is coincident to the characteristic of the target region. The education program is a success because it matches the reality of the Uganda. As these days children are becoming sexually active younger and younger, it is necessary to integrate sex and HIV/AIDS education into the school curriculum. Because teachers are the most respectable people in Uganda, children tend to listen to them. By instilling morals, values, and information in children’s minds while they are growing and developing there is a better chance it will make a lasting impact. This elucidates why taking education as a solution impacts most significantly in the long run.
We are also impressed by the unities of the people shown in the report. The schools surveyed had solid HIV/AIDS education programs. Each school seemed to take real pride in their HIV/AIDS programs. All the representatives interviewed respected the president and his approach. People followed the president’s initiative in the fight against AIDS willingly and responsibly. Uganda came together as a country to fight AIDS. This may be one of the important elements for achieving the final success.
On the other hand, some weakness of the education program is mentioned in the report. For example, the writer discovered that none of the schools surveyed distributed condoms. This is perhaps due to the mindset that condoms equal sex. However, condoms also equal protection and reduce the transmission of AIDS. Such mindset might be broken when we look from a different perspective. Interactions between infected and uninfected individuals were not observed as well. Therefore, we would like to research on how other countries have done on these aspects.
The AIDS rate in Uganda decreased drastically from 30% in 1992 to 6% in 2002. This specific data shows the effectiveness of the education program executed by the Uganda government. Uganda’s success should be a model for other countries to follow. As the reporter said, the only way to prevent AIDS is to educate and inform others about it. Ignorance is not bliss, it is dangerous and life threatening. Schools every where, not just in Uganda, need to teach AIDS as they would any other subject.
As an American student, the writer also admitted that the HIV/AIDS education in U.S. might not be so properly done as in Uganda. He urged to see the improvements made in the future. Since this reported was written in 2005, we will continue to trace the information about the actions done to solve or prevent AIDS in American or other countries.
Bibliography:
Danielle Buonocore ‘HIV/AIDS Education in Uganda’ Future Leaders Summit, [Online] Available at: http://org.elon.edu/summit/essays/essay12.pdf
