With infection rates continuing to rise globally, HIV is one of the biggest social, economic and health challenges for people worldwide. It is a global emergency claiming over 8,000 lives every day. In fact, 5 people die of AIDS every minute and more than 1,900 children worldwide are infected with HIV each day (UNAIDS Fourth Global Report, July 2004).
World AIDS Day, December 1st, is about getting involved so that everyone can make a difference in the global fight against HIV and AIDS.
The Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI) encourages all educators working with and for children and their families to help increase awareness of HIV/AIDS, and its impact on society. ACEI resolves that it will continue to work with other non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and UNICEF to promote the role of the family in reducing vulnerability through education and guidance, and ACEI will collaborate with other educational organizations and agencies to seek out opportunities for children and young adolescents to have access to accurate medical information, and affordable health care and health services necessary to develop life skills that will help reduce the risk of HIV infection.
It is estimated that there are 2.2 million children living with HIV worldwide (UNAIDS, 2004). Girls and young women are at greatest risk of HIV infection, leaving many orphaned. Show your support for increased awareness, education, and health care for all children by wearing the red ribbon.
Pediatric AIDS is a multicultural, international problem that threatens the world's children. Children with HIV and their families face a multitude of complex and interrelated physical, emotional, and social difficulties. Therefore, we must all work together to help find a cure and to increase our knowledge of HIV and AIDS. ACEI provides the following recommendations for implementing HIV/AIDS educational programs:
Provide outreach in multiple settings
Professionals who work with preteens outside the classroom, such as pediatricians, community health workers, counselors, sports coaches, scout leaders, recreational counselors, and ministers, should be encouraged to partner with educators to become informed facilitators of AIDS education.
Provide support to families
An in-school AIDS "committee" could provide needed support by collaborating with classroom teachers, serving as resources, and networking with community organizations.
Provide effective teacher education
Inservice and preservice curricula should include AIDS education. State and district curriculum development specialists should be involved in AIDS education programs and also may need inservice courses.
*Recommendations taken from "Strategies for overcoming obstacles in AIDS education for preteens," Rodrick-Athans, L. and Bhavnagri, N.P., Childhood Education, 73(2), 70-76 (1996). Full article available by contacting Jana Pauldin at 301.570-.2111.
2005 Global World AIDS Day Events
Visit World AIDS Campaign and World AIDS Day for more history, resources, and information regarding World Aids Day.
This page is copyright 
2005
by the Association for Childhood Education International.
Please send any comments to Jana Pauldin at jpauldin@acei.org.
