guideline for mainstreaming HIV and AIDS in sectors and

UNAIDS, the World Bank and UNDP (2005b) in their guideline for mainstreaming HIV and AIDS in sectors and
programmes identify a number of key steps for moving from intention to action, namely:
Defi ning the sector or programme level at which interventions need to take place.
Identifying entry points (see Tool 6).
Developing a shared goal and commitment (Tool 7 provides you with suggestions about potential stakeholders).
Drawing up an HIV and AIDS profi le.
Building support within the organization (see Tool 8 for suggestions on how to advocate within an organization).
Developing an activity plan.
Costing and mobilising resources.
Documenting and taking stock of progress.Ylandia is a middle income small country with a vibrant economy.
The current population stands at 2.3 million; a signifi cant number
are migrant workers who work in other countries regionally and
around the world. In Ylandia, the National AIDS Council monitors
the progression of the HIV epidemic on a yearly basis and the
most recently available statistics show that, while prevalence
remains relatively low at 1.7%, the profi le of the epidemic is
changing. The population groups in which prevalence has grown
exponentially are young people aged 15 to 24 and women aged
25 and above. The results of a recent survey among young
people highlight signifi cant continuing misconceptions around
the disease. Many still do not take precautions to protect
themselves against the risk of infection.
In Ylandia, the HIV and AIDS response has been mainly carried
by the Ministry of Health, which has received both national
funds and international support to improve access to testing
and treatment. The education sector has made an important
policy commitment to addressing HIV and AIDS in its sector
plan, but there has been very little concrete action. In practice,
most of the senior and middle management leadership of the
Ministry of Education remains unconvinced that HIV and AIDS
represent a threat to the sector and they are not convinced that
the education sector has a relevant role to play in the national
response.
ZLANDIA – SUBSTANTIAL ACTIVITY BUT
LITTLE PROGRESS?
Zlandia is a poor landlocked country. Its population of 16 million
has been severely affected by the impact of HIV and AIDS.
Current adult HIV prevalence levels are estimated to be 11%
and there is almost no family that has not been directly affected
by the impact of the disease. The government of Zlandia has
instituted a national multisectoral plan for addressing HIV and
AIDS which identifi es priority sectors, one of which is education.
As a result, the number of activities focusing on HIV prevention
in the sector has increased dramatically over the past fi ve years.
Most of these activities are carried out by local NGOs and
consist of short training courses for teachers, which provide
important information and teaching strategies around HIV and
AIDS, and create awareness about the importance of getting
tested.
Despite the signifi cant number of activities that have been
implemented over the past years which have given high visibility
to the epidemic, there are no data to show that things have
substantially changed. Although there is some evidence that
young people have better levels of knowledge, STIs are still on
the rise and HIV prevalence is still increasing. There is a rising
sense of frustration among the various partners involved who
– while publicly united – tend to point fi ngers at each other when
asked why so little progress is being made.