Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2007. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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New Vision (Kampala) - October 30, 2007
Titus Serunjogi
"We have had the ABC strategy (abstain, be faithful, use a condom) which targeted behavioural change among sexually-active adults, but we need a programme that will involve children in the fight against HIV/AIDS. With IBES, we shall reduce infection rates from 6.4% to less than 1% in less than a decade," says Dr Robert Muhumuza, who devised the curriculum. Muhumuza is the founder of the SAS Foundation.
Under IBES, children between six months and 14 years are imparted with several life skills like assertiveness, goal setting, teamwork, leadership and effective communication. IBES sessions are carried out alongside the ordinary primary school curriculum of Mathematics, Science, English and Social Studies.
Parents and guardians are also mentored. Pupils routinely take home questionnaires, which they are supposed to discuss and fill with their parents. The intensified parent-to-pupil interaction is aimed at encouraging sex education right from home. By upper primary, the children are expected to take on leadership roles in the Winners' Society, which promotes morality, virginity and positive peer influence.
Recently, more than 500 nursery and primary school pupils who are members of the Winners' Society met at the Uganda Manufacturers' Association exhibition hall to elect a president. Emmanuel Kawembe, 11, was elected president along with committee executives from Blessed Primary School Kitintale, Bright Junior School Mbuya, St. Mary's Primary School Kireka and Naguru Infant School.
"Peer pressure leads to risky sexual behaviour. But even then, we cannot totally eradicate it. So with IBES, we are creating a generation that will influence their agemates towards positive ideals like virginity and safer sex," says the Rev. Obeid Rubaiza, the head of mentorship at the SAS Foundation.
He said the curriculum would keep children away from drugs, alcohol and sex.
The Ministry of Health says more than 15% of Ugandans have sex before they are 15 years old. Although Uganda is famous for spreading anti-AIDS knowledge, only 30% of Ugandan children have awareness of the pandemic. Most children with AIDS today acquired it from their mothers during birth.
But two million children have been orphaned after their parents died of AIDS. These live far below the poverty line and cannot afford food and education.
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