Education Development Centre, Inc.: Education Development Centre, Inc. Response to Change - Changing the Response: Increasing Donor Involvement in the Spectrum from Prevention to Care for HIV and AIDS Cheryl Vince Whitman GEG Tenth Annual Meeting Kiev, Ukraine


Overview of Presentation: Overview of Presentation Interdependence of health with all aspects of life Need for comprehensive approach to HIV and AIDS Major barrier of stigma and discrimination Schools, community agencies, PLWA must do more Countless opportunities for donors


EFC Goals for HIV and Health: EFC Goals for HIV and Health HIV and AIDS Donor Group European Partnership for Global Health (EPGH) European commitment to the Millennium Development Goals MDG #6. “Halt and begin to reverse the spread of HIV and AIDS”.


Slow Pace Donor Participation: Slow Pace Donor Participation Perceive a fit with mission? Stigma through association with HIV Label HIV and AIDS as health problem Are prevalence rates perceived as threat for Europe: Eastern Europe?


Do Donors Perceive HIV/AIDS a Problem?: Do Donors Perceive HIV/AIDS a Problem? Approximately 1.4 million people living with HIV/AIDS (Eastern Europe & Central Asia) Fastest growing rate in world Young people <30 at high risk (80% Eastern Europe compared to 30% Western Europe) Fewer than 5% young people have access to services


Tipping Point 5 %:Not Hypothetical Construct: Tipping Point 5 %:Not Hypothetical Construct Eastern Europe 1% and less Botswana 37% South Africa .5 -1% (5 years) 1 - 20% (7 years)


I. Health Interdependent with –: I. Health Interdependent with – Academic Performance Family & Community Stability Workforce Productivity Economic Development


International Definitions and Movements: International Definitions and Movements WHO: health is not absence of disease but physical, mental and social well-being. WHO Ottawa Charter 1986: Health is created and lived by people where they learn, work, play and love. WHO Bangkok Charter 2005: a globalized world health requires strong political action, broad participation and sustained advocacy.


II. Need for Comprehensive Response: II. Need for Comprehensive Response Causes HIV and AIDS rooted in all facets of society and institutions: families, schools, employers, government. All sectors must be involved in a comprehensive response from prevention to voluntary counselling and testing to care and bereavement and children affected and infected. Response needs more donors involved -education, public health, mental health and social services, law enforcement, (ICT) information and communications technologies and media and all civil society.


Figure I: Societal Factors Contributingto Rising Rates of HIV and AIDS: Figure I: Societal Factors Contributing to Rising Rates of HIV and AIDS Comprehensive Approach: ARV Intervention Services Voluntary Counselling &, Testing for HIV Counselling Prevention General Population


Risk Factors: Substance Abuse: Risk Factors: Substance Abuse


Spectrum of Response: Spectrum of Response Universal: Awareness and skill building Norms of Tolerance Selected: Early screening & intervention Indicated: Clean needles, Condoms VCT Treatment ARV Primary Prevention Secondary Intervention Treatment and Care


III. Stigma and Discrimination: III. Stigma and Discrimination First and foremost barrier Stands in way of prevention Negatively affects preventive behaviours, such as condom use, diagnosis, and treatment Disenfranchising people fuels the epidemic


Most Effective Strategies to Combat Stigma and Discrimination: Most Effective Strategies to Combat Stigma and Discrimination Review of 22 studies: Contact with PLWA along with information about transmission Significant effects of educational sessions given by someone who has disclosed status compared to someone who has not Greater involvement of PLWA has positive impact on policies and programmes


IV. Schools, community agencies, together with PWLA must do more.: IV. Schools, community agencies, together with PWLA must do more. The education sector must play more of a leadership role Population in Eastern Europe very young; school plays key role Schools workplaces for thousands of staff School success and completion are preventive Schools can identify and refer youngsters at risk early on


… continued: … continued Education leaders influential in setting tone Schools transmit culture formally and informally: set norms for tolerance in classrooms, hallways Provide accurate information and skill development Serve as coordinating mechanisms with community and civil society By policies, change dynamics of acceptance


Schools working with civil society: Schools working with civil society


Policy Elements: Policy Elements Information about epidemic in country Mechanisms for cooperation health sector Emphasis on prevention, staff training Confidentiality of PLWA Universal precautions Access to services Code of ethics, tolerant, non-discriminatory


UN AIDS IATT –Education SectorGlobal Readiness Survey 2004: UN AIDS IATT –Education Sector Global Readiness Survey 2004 HIV/AIDS Education Policies in 7 Eastern European Countries


UN AIDS IATT –Education SectorGlobal Readiness Survey 2004 : UN AIDS IATT –Education Sector Global Readiness Survey 2004 HIV/AIDS Education Policies in 7 Eastern European Countries


Summary: Summary Health and HIV affect all society Intervention with high risk groups essential but not enough Barrier: stigma and discrimination Changing social norms essential to halt or stem rising rates Comprehensive approach: prevention -intervention - care Schools with communities and PWLA key role to play Need for multi sectoral involvement and support from donors


Many Opportunities for Donors: Many Opportunities for Donors Across sectors: education, public health, mental health, youth development and employment. Research, tracking and monitoring. Leadership development and capacity building. Prevention – early intervention – testing – treatment – bereavement Young people’s involvement action research, use of technology.


Impact of Connecting Young People to PLWA: Impact of Connecting Young People to PLWA I wish to share this poem with all countries. AIDS is not a disease, although the virus has killed millions. AIDS is not a set of statistics, although the numbers are horrific. AIDS is not a conference in Durban. AIDS is not a presidential PR problem. AIDS is not advertisements and education programmes, although these help. AIDS is a feeling of hopelessness and despair. AIDS is young people who believe they’re immortal. AIDS is a secret known by everyone. AIDS is not knowing what’ll happen to your children when you’re gone. AIDS is people who are part of families. AIDS is everyday life carrying on against the odds. ---a student from iEARN--Ukraine


Contact Information: Contact Information Cheryl Vince Whitman Senior Vice President Education Development Centre, Inc. Director, Health and Human Development Programmes Affiliated EDC-Europe 55 Chapel Street, Newton, MA, U.S.A. 02458-1060 cvincewhitman@edc.org 617-618-2300 http://www.hhd.org http://www.edc.org