Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2006. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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New Vision (Kampala) - December 19, 2006
Mary K
Dear Mary K,
Thank you for this interesting question about how teachers can assist students. HIV in children is a real challenge to society. And with improved care and the advent of Anti-retroviral Therapy (ART), many of the children with HIV/AIDS will grow and end up in school.
I believe the right approach to this problem is for school authorities to work closely with parents or guardians of the affected children and health workers.
It is important for the parents to give as much information as possible about the child to school authorities.
The fear we all have concerning HIV/AIDS stems from our having limited knowledge about the disease.
As a headteacher, you should try to find out as much as possible about the disease and be willing to give support to children who have it.
It is a pity that most adults who have HIV/AIDS do not like to talk openly about it because of stigma. But by sharing their experiences, they would act as an inspiration and role models to these youngsters.
Remember many of the children who have HIV/AIDS do not know what they are suffering from because proper disclosure has not been done.
They may be taking drugs just because their guardians have told them to do so. But with time, their adherence to the drugs dwindles and as they grow older, they begin to wonder why.
For your school, you could start by sending your school nurse for training in caring for children living with HIV/AIDS so that she can deal with the students easily.
At The Mildmay Centre, there are short causes tailor- made for nurses where they learn principles of ART plus learning to communicate with children.
It is also important that as a school, you employ a counsellor who has trained in HIV/AIDS care.
The children must be supported and counselled, especially on issues to do with their sexuality and reproductive health because they can infect others with HIV if they engage in unprotected sex.
061219
NV061237
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