National Policy Guidelines on HIV & AIDS

Abstract

Uganda was one of the first countries in the world to experience a generalised HIV/AIDS pandemic. Since 1982 when the pandemic became known in Rakai district, the Government of Uganda has mounted a determined effort to reduce the spread of infection, protect the human and social rights of those affected and infected and mitigate the impacts of the pandemic on Ugandan society and the economy. At the height of the pandemic in the 1980s, prevalence data indicated an average 15% prevalence. Currenlty, the national sero-survey has reported that the overall level of prevalence in Uganda has declined to 6.4%. This policy and guidelines document on HIV/AIDS is a response to a Government of Uganda (GOU) initiative which requires that each sector should develop a sector specific policy that is consistent with and responds to the National Overarching Policy on HIV/ AIDS and the National Strategic Plan. Uganda also has policies developed for other specific areas; these policies include: the National Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children (OVC) Policy, National Condom Policy and Strategy, National Policy on HIV/AIDS in the World of Work, the Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) Policy and the National Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Policy. The Poverty Eradication Action Plan is the Government of Uganda's (GOU) overarching framework for addressing poverty. In this context, GOU is committed to the implementation of Universal Primary and Secondary Education. GOU is also committed to mainstreaming HIV/AIDS as part of its commitment to the goal of Education for All (EFA), the Millennium Development Goal for Education and the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS (UNGASS) Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS (July 2002) which sets the target of reducing HIV infection among 15 to 24 year-olds by 25 per cent by 2010 globally and calls upon governments to develop by 2003, and implement by 2005 national strategies to provide a supportive environment for orphans and children affected and infected by HIV/AIDS. It is against this background that the education and sports sector developed this policy and guidelines on HIV/AIDS. This document has two components: policy and guidelines. The policy section outlines an approach to HIV/AIDS in the education and sports sector, the institutions and stakeholders which the policy targets and the principles which underlie the policy. The policy treats issues of HIV/AIDS among learners and students as well as teachers, educators, education and sports managers and other sector employees and their families. The guidelines section provides specific roles and responsibilities for various stakeholders in the Ministry of Education and Sports, different sub sectors as well as other government and non- government agencies at different levels.