Over 7,000 new HIV infections are reported every day from some of the poorest parts of the globe. But despite these shocking numbers, stopping this is possible and the answer could lie in schools.
Girls and women are more vulnerable to HIV as they do not have the power to protect themselves from infection by not being allowed to take decisions. This results in women not having the 'power of prevention', which is critical to bringing down fresh HIV cases.
"Staying in school strengthens girls' control, confidence and negotiating abilities to decide whether to have sex, and when they do, whether to use a condom," says David Archer co-author of The Politics of Prevention, a new title launched in India recently.
"It is easier to shape behaviours before it is formed and for young people education on HIV prevention can provide then with the knowledge and skills needed to reduce risk of infection," he adds.
Poor school infrastructure: poor prevention
For schools to be able to play this role, they need to be functioning effectively. Education systems are in shambles in the countries that have highest incidents of HIV infections, thus establishing the link between functional schooling infrastructure and ability of prevention.
"Teachers are poorly trained, underpaid and faced with overwhelmingly large class sizes. The potential power of school is seriously undermined," he adds.
Experiments from Ghana, Mozambique and South Africa show that teachers employing tools like drama to address real and personal issues to deal with their sexuality and their own risk of HIV infection can make a major difference in preparing children and young.
Extending support
When one parent is infected, the other parent is more likely to be infected. This results in many children losing both parents and sometimes struggling in households without any adults around them. For such children, the most stable part of their lives is the daily routine of being at school.
"HIV and AIDS is pushing schools to look beyond their role in prevention to explore the role they can play in a much wider spectrum of issues," he says, while adding: "The idea of schools as centres of care and support has spread across southern Africa."
The links between the extended family, the community and the school is crucial for these most vulnerable children.
"In our work with children here in India, we have found openness to be the best way to deal with issues surrounding HIV. We help parents to reveal their positive status to the kids, to test them for them as well for infection," says Christy Abraham, who leads ActionAid work on HIV in India.
"In Bangalore, a young HIV positive mother has reached out to 10 schools and 731 children and 200 families with the message of HIV prevention. We need many more such women leaders to break the silence around HIV," she adds.