EI affiliates the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) and Teachers and Educational Workers’ Union (TEWU) have just finalised research on HIV/AIDS in the education sector.
The draft of the research entitled “An Assessment of the Awareness of HIV/AIDS in the Education Sector and the Needs of Teachers and Education Workers Living with HIV/AIDS in Ghana” was presented to GNAT and TEWU representatives on August 23rd. The meeting was also attended by officials from UNAIDS, WHO, EI, the Ghana AIDS Commission, and the Ministry of Education Youth and Sports. The findings were presented on behalf of the team by Dr Anthony Yaw Baah, a researcher from the Ghana Trade Union Congress (TUC).
The meeting heard that there is a very high degree of awareness on HIV/AIDS among teachers and education workers. This awareness was attributed to television and radio, newspapers and information from other people. More than half of the respondents had had direct contact with someone living with HIV/AIDS. The report also shows that, despite the high level of awareness, few people are willing to find out about their status. Although a majority believed that it was useful for everybody to know their status (85%), only a few (20%) had actually done the test. More than 70% of teachers and education workers had benefited from education on HIV/AIDS, but only one in ten had attended Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT), probably because of a lack of access to facilities. Other findings included that only 16% of the teachers and education workers in the sample used a condom during casual sex.
The research study, which was funded by the LO-TCO Secretariat of International Trade Union Development Co-operation in Sweden, explored the experiences and needs of teachers and education workers living with HIV/AIDS. Many of the HIV positive people interviewed discovered their status for the first time when their spouse or child fell sick. Many are still transmitting the disease unknowingly and what is more, most only received counselling after they got to know their status. A good number preferred then not to disclose their status to families or colleagues, out of a fear of discrimination and to avoid losing their jobs. Workers living with HIV/AIDS singled out financial support for food and medication, love and care, professional counselling and education for their children as their essential needs.
Whereas records show that the prevalence rate of HIV infection in Ghana is about 3% - which is among the lowest in Sub-Saharan Africa – the research stresses the fact that the consequences of a generalised lack of awareness about status in the future may be disastrous and that more VCT and prevention strategies should be emphasized.
Referring to the International Labour Organisation’s statement that HIV/AIDS is a crucial workplace issue because “the majority of those infected or likely to be infected are in the working-age population,” the writes conclude that the responsibility for caring for those infected lies not only with governments, but also with the employers and trade unions. The research therefore calls upon all partners and stakeholders in the education sector, including the trade unions (GNAT & TEWU), the General Education Service, the Government, the District Assemblies, the National Health Insurance Council (NHIC), the SSNIT (Social Security and National Insurance Trust) and Pensions Reform Commissions, to stand up for the well-being of the infected teachers and their families.
Dr Anthony Yaw Baah who is also from the research department of Ghana Trade Union Congress hailed GNAT and TEWU for being the first workers’ organisations in Ghana to embark on this initiative in the name of workers. He said that it was an initiative which should be emulated by the rest.
To download a copy of the report, please click here.