Olney, MD, November 26, 2007---December 1 is World AIDS Day-a day to come together globally, raise awareness, and show support for the millions of people living with HIV/AIDS. Every day, the HIV pandemic causes more than 11,000 new infections and approximately 8,000 deaths. In 2006, an estimated 530,000 children became newly infected, and approximately 380,000 children died of AIDS-related illnesses (2006 UNAIDS Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic).

The Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI) urges all educators and others working with children and their families to help raise awareness of HIV/AIDS and its devastating effects on society. ACEI engages with other nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and UNICEF to promote awareness of HIV/AIDS, and collaborates with other educational organizations to increase opportunities for the education, care, and treatment of those infected. ACEI supports Education International (EI), a worldwide union federation of education workers. EI has launched an initiative called "One Hour on AIDS," an activity kit designed to help educators inform students about this global pandemic. The kit includes background information on HIV/AIDS for the educator, and a series of activities for students, and is available from the EI Web site at www.ei-ie.org/efaids/en/campaigns_wad.php. ACEI members, teachers, parents, and others can support World AIDS Day with rallies, events, letter-writing campaigns, and forums.

AIDS remains a great threat to the global community of children. An estimated 2.3 million children worldwide are living with AIDS and infants risk infection from mother-to-child transmission of the virus. Without antiretroviral treatment (ART), about one-half of HIV-infected infants will die before their second birthday (2006 UNAIDS Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic). To fight this threat, we can work together to increase our knowledge on HIV/AIDS, and search for a cure. ACEI provides the following recommendations for implementing HIV/AIDS education programs:

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.

An in-school AIDS "committee" could provide needed support by collaborating with classroom teachers, serving as resources, and networking with community organizations.

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.