Integrating Sustainable HIV Prevention Information into

Bangladesh’s National Education Curricula – A best practice case

from the South Asia Region

Presenter:

Dr. Nizam Uddin Ahmed, Director HIV/AIDS Sector, Save the Children USA, Bangladesh

Authors: Anup Kumar Bosu, Nizam Uddin Ahmed, Kazi Belayet Ali, Savethe Children USA, Abu Yousuf Chowdhury, PIACT

Bangladesh

Bangladesh Situation Low Prevalence, High Risk

• HIV prevalence still below 1% but increasing among IDUs (7-10%) and HIV exits in all risk groups

• Key risk behaviours are present:

Injecting Drug Use, Drug users

Unprotected Sex

Unscreened blood transfusion

• STI is higher among MARPs

• Young People: Poor knowledge of STI, misconception is high, low risk perception, gap of knowledge & practice

• 50% young people are at risk of HIV infection

The Project: Prevention of HIV/AIDS among Young People in Bangladesh

Strategies: Provision of HIV Prevention information through Mass, Print

and creative local media. Provision of Youth Friendly Health Services, Life Skills

Education and improved access to condoms. Integration of HIV and AIDS information into secondary and

higher secondary school curriculums.• Advocacy and sensitization with “gate keepers” (religious

leaders, community leaders, parents and policy makers).• Generation of evidence based data for program and policies

through surveys, and other studies.

Goal: To prevent HIV infection among young

people aged 15 to 24 year and ultimately avert a generalized epidemic in Bangladesh

Young people ages of 15-24 including students of secondary and higher secondary schools, out of school, members of the youth clubs and most at risk young population etc.

Community gatekeepers such as parents, teachers, religious leaders and community leaders

General population at large

Project Coverage

Methodology

Conducted Needs Assessment including desk review Drafted chapter on HIV/AIDS for incorporation/adoption Pre-tested the chapter of HIV/AIDS for piloting Conducted pilot in schools, colleges, religious institutions with

72,000 students nationwide Conucted key consultations with Policy Makers, Managers,

Education specialists, NGOs and Stakeholders Final text submitted to Ministry of Health (MOH) and Ministry of

Education for approval National curriculum changed in 2007 from grade VI – XII Conducted teacher training in phase manner and developed

materials for teachers and students

Piloting of Curriculum and Texts

1st draft

2nd draft 3rd draft Final text

Piloting of Curriculum and Texts

HIV/AIDS in Education Curriculum

Cover Page of Textbook

Text & Curriculum developed on HIV/AIDS prevention information and integrated from grade VI-XII in January 2007

• The national policy has been change to ensure HIV/AIDS education from grade VI-XII

• 12 million young students exposed with HIV information, 572 Master Trainers, 18,679 Core Trainers and 65,100 subject teachers trained.

• 95% students readily engaged in discussions on HIV prevention messages, of them 90% subsequently demonstrated correct HIV knowledge

• Teachers Training institutions including religious institutions have inserted HIV/AIDS chapter for their training

• Management committees of schools and colleges oriented

• Advocacy – an integral part of the process

Results and Implications

Conclusions• Great opportunity and country driven approaches for

sustainable development and prevention of HIV & AIDS• Government has provided strong leadership and support

along with NGOs for implementing public-private partnership—a historic milestone in Asia

• Involvement of education ministry including teachers, students, education specialists, policy makers and health professionals founded ownership

• Experiences and lessons learned were utilized for national HIV & AIDS program and its scale

• Bangladesh will demonstrate leadership of prevention model in the world HIV/AIDS landscape

• Government of Bangladesh• Global Fund for Fight Against AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFATM)• Ministry of Health and Family Welfare• Ministry of Education• Country Coordination Committee (CCM) and committees• National AIDS/STD Programme• PIACT Bangladesh – the partner NGO implementing the project and

other NGOs• UN agencies, particularly WHO, UNAIDS• Save the Children USA• Teachers, students, parents and local Government• Young people of Bangladesh

Acknowledgements