UNESCO in collaboration with the National Commission of Botswana for UNESCO convened on 22 to 24 May 2007 in Gaborone, Botswana, a technical consultation in order to identify recommendations to further strengthening and scaling up the roles of school in providing HIV treatment, care and support in Southern Africa.
Forty two people participated in this meeting including representatives from Ministries of Education, research institutions, UN Agencies and civil society of 7 SADC countries; Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The consultation focused on Southern Africa, the region most highly affected by HIV and AIDS in the world. Schools have been identified as being key in responding to the changing needs of learners, educators and communities.
The consultation supported and built up on the commitment made on 15 September 2005 by the Southern African Ministers of Education to taking the necessary measures to strengthen their education systems, including making schools viable both as centres of learning and channels through which essential services are provided for children.
A report of the consultation as well as a list of essential components and underlining principles can be downloaded by clicking here (pdf, 40 pages).
For more information contact: aids@unesco.org