PASHA
Prevention and Awareness in Schools of HIV/AIDS (PASHA)
The Education Sector in Tanzania is directly threatened by HIV and AIDS. At the same time the sector presents a window of hope for meaningful intervention, because most children and youth are still not infected with HIV. Amongst male and female adolescents the rate of HIV infection is 2.1% (as opposed to average national HIV prevalence of 7.7% for women and 6.3% for men in the age group 15 to 49). In addition, teachers are known to have a strong influence on shaping decision making of their students.
PASHA is a project of the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training (MoEVT). It is implemented by the Swiss Tropical Institute. As from January, 2007 the interventions covers primary and secondary schools in the regions Tanga, Lindi and Mtwara. In the previous Phase I, PASHA worked with all the 120 secondary schools in Tanga region (government, non-government) to pilot methodologies and activities that enable students to develop the life skills needed to make informed decisions with regard to their reproductive and sexual health. PASHA serves also to strengthen the interlinkage between the Ministries of Health and of Education.
A “whole school” development approach has been used since the outset with activities focusing mainly upon teachers but also involving heads of schools and non-teaching staff as the mediators interacting with students on a daily basis. In line with the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training’s HIV/AIDS strategic plan, heads of schools have been supported to establish and orientate “Schools Counselling and AIDS Education Committees” which involve community members, student and teacher representatives.
The design of interventions has taken the latest research and practice into consideration. Key areas include supporting the establishment of school based counselling services. The other key intervention is peer education.
Impact:During the first phase of PASHA the proportion of secondary school students with basic knowledge in the area of HIV/AIDS and reproductive health has increased from 37.6% (baseline from UNFPA KAP study, 1999) to 95% in Tanga Region. In 79% of the secondary schools in Tanga there is more than one school counsellor in place who has undergone at least 2 weeks of training. 84% of students now report that they would approach teachers, specifically the school counsellor, if they had a problem that they are not sure how to deal with. Students are also more aware where existing health facilities can be found in their vicinities and which services they can access there.
In the current phase 2007-2009 efforts are focusing on strengthening peer education programmes in primary schools and making peer education more established at secondary school level.
School Counselling Services:Particular attention is paid to encouraging schools to follow the MoEVT recommendation of allowing the students themselves to choose the teachers they would most like to be their school-counsellors. This also requires sensitization of heads of schools to ensure understanding for this move away from teachers simply being appointed for such tasks.
Once selected, the teachers undergo a two week counselling course. This covers areas as wide ranging as understanding counselling as a process, the importance of building up a relationship with the student and of confidentially, to being asked to recall their own adolescence and particular concerns they may have had themselves. The teachers are asked to consider the extent to which young people really have access to reliable information about their sexual and reproductive health and whether this varies for girls and boys. In addition teachers reflect on the students’ perspective and the problems that many of them face such as bullying, truancy, sexual harassment, pregnancy, financial problems, living far from school (arriving late), poverty, sick family members, loss of a parent, and family problems. Other discussion points include the need to be a good listener, how to respect the student’s feelings and to always remember that it has taken a deal of courage on their part to come to them with their problem. Role plays are used for teachers to practice conducing counselling sessions.
The counselors are further provided with resources on health services available in their locality so they can advise their students where to go. Schools are encouraged to assign a room where the counsellor is available at certain, fixed times.
Available download(s): Counselling Manual
Peer Education
Baseline studies show that a considerable proportion of students from primary school level already have sexual experience and that they lack basic knowledge on reproductive health and HIV/AIDS prevention.
Peer education is an approach in which members of a particular age- or social group, gender, or profession are offered information through multipliers drawn from within that group. Peer educators should be accepted members of their group. They must have a sound knowledge of sexuality, contraception and sexually transmitted diseases. They must be communicative and able to deal with complex questions.
The Ministry of Education and Vocational Training has endorsed peer education as an important prevention strategy in its Guidelines on HIV/AIDS.
Relevant materials for use in primary schools (see manuals for grade 5, grade 6 and grade 7 in two parts prelim and body text ) and master trainers at Council level have been put in place in collaboration with the District Education Authorities. Implementation of peer education involves paying close attention to their training, to the, training of contact teachers and to sensitising communities so the approach isn’t misunderstood.
Peer education can achieve a significant increase in young peoples' knowledge regarding reproductive health issues. There are indicators that young people who are better informed have their first sexual contact later than those who are less informed. Nonetheless, condom use amongst the sexually active youth remains very low.
Relevant leaflets for downloads:
1. Parents leaflet(english) / Parents leaflet leaflet (kiswahili)
3. Safer Sex leaflet for girls(english) / Ngono salama kipeperushi cha wasichana(kiswahili)
4. Condom leaflet for adolescents (english) / Kondomu kwa vijana (kiswahili)