2011: Estimated 31% of all deaths in South Africa were AIDS related.

In 2000 the South Africa Medical Research Council reported that the largest single cause of death is HIV&AIDS which accounted for 132,990 deaths - approximately 25.5% of the total deaths for that year. Death from AIDS was at least five times greater than the next largest single cause of death - Ischaemic heart disease and stroke which accounted for 6.5% of all deaths. Tuberculosis and interpersonal violence were next in the ranking, (Revised Burden of Disease Estimates for the Comparative Risk Factor Assessment, South Africa 2006, MRC).

Fast Forward to 2011, where, according to a recent report by the SA Institute of Race Relations (SAIRR), an estimated 31% of all deaths in South Africa were AIDS related. Based on data sourced from the Actuarial Society of SA and the Institute for Futures Research, the report further indicates that SA's current population of around 50 million would have been closer to 55 million if it were not for AIDS. The institute said an estimated six million people would be living with HIV&AIDS in SA in 2015, double the number recorded in 2000. (Medical Chronical Report)

With these statistics and deaths weighing on us, and after 4 years of managing an NGO program that addresses the schools. response to managing the pandemic through education, I still remain shocked at the lack of leadership taken by schools to educate their learners. At the very least, our youth need the correct facts about HIV&AIDS transmission, prevention and management.

The HIV&Me experience of working with over 500 schools consistently suggests that learners are eager and willing to learn about HIV&AIDS (we know that children are more curious and less afraid than adults), and that learners are therefore not the reason for knowledge not being transferred. We also know that it is relatively easy to get kids to unlearn their incorrect understandings. However, to change behaviour long term requires continuous life skills training and a reinforcement of learning, but the starting point must be knowledge transfer - a basic element and right which (and I will generalise here), is severely lacking in actual school education.

I will support my stance by sharing learner input to a recent Regency Foundation Networx survey conducted with learners attending an accelerated program for maths, science and technology in rural Limpopo (Tzaneen) and rural North West (Mogwase).

Learners attended a one-day HIV&Me training workshop and were then required to respond to various questions. In response to the question Since attending this workshop what have you learnt about HIV&AIDS that is new? learners wrote:

There was a lot of myths that I was not sure about but as for today I am really sure. E.g. if an infected person has sex with a virgin he /she will be cured - and this is not true. (female aged 16)

Yes, I now know what would happen if I have unprotected sex. (male aged 16)

If you have unprotected sex you would be at risk of contracting HIV&AIDS. You cannot get HIV from toilet seats. (male aged 16)

I have learnt how HIV&AIDS is spread. Even if you are faithful yourself your partner may not be faithful and if you have unprotected sex you may get HIV. (female aged 16)

I will no longer believe those myth stories that people say around my village because now I know the truth. I learnt it. (female aged 16)

You can't get HIV&AIDS just being bitten by a mosquito (female aged 16)

I knew that HIV&AIDS could be passed from one person to the other through eating from one plate, but I was soon corrected on how it is passed to other people. (male 16)

This feedback clearly demonstrates that the basic facts around HIV transmission are not being taught....and I continue to ask myself why the gatekeepers of our education system are not managing this better.

Whilst a lot is being done with much support of some wonderful, helpful and caring educators; for the most part teachers, even where willing, do not know the facts themselves, and feel ill equipped to provide this much needed HIV&AIDS education.

It is imperative that the schooling system dispel the myths and negate the words of naivecommunity members who are influencing our youth with misinformation and fuelling the ignorance and stigma that pervade our communities... and I believe our Department of Education needs to significantly increase their commitment and engagement towards achieving this objective.

Discussion with these same learners and other learners from all over the country has always highlighted how open most of our youth are to being educated in these life skills; and how much they absorbed, learnt and unlearnt that which was personal to them. Furthermore their willingness to then commit to sharing this new knowledge with friends and family highlights the impact that youth can have on influencing behavioural change.

We should be relying on the youth to influence our society so that projections such as those of the Actuarial Society of SA and the Institute for Futures Research, which estimate that six million people would be living with HIV&AIDS in SA in 2015, are not actually realised.

Program Manager - HIV&Me