Collaboration: A viable strategy in combating the HIV/AIDS crisis in Swaziland

Shokahle R. Dlamini
Institute of Distance Education(IDE) - University of Swaziland

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     Last modified: October 15, 2006
     Presentation date: 11/02/2006 2:30 PM in NT Portland B
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Abstract
HIV/AIDS is a threat in national development worldwide. Research has indicated that societies carrying the heaviest burden of HIV/AIDS are the poor developing societies of the world. The link between poverty and HIV/AIDS is well established. Unfortunately, if developing nations are faced with the endless problem of HIV/AIDS, they stand a very limited chance of achieving the millennium goals by 2015.That being the case, the health crisis besetting developing nations in Sub- Saharan Africa should be given the seriousness it deserves in order to achieve the millennium gaols. HIV/AIDS could only be effectively dealt with if action is carried out on numerous fronts, including the educational front. Unfortunately, Swaziland, a developing kingdom on the South Eastern part of the African continent, only has one university which cannot enrol all qualifying candidates. The limited resources at the University of Swaziland make Open and Distance learning the only way forward if we want to educate thousands of Swazis on HIV/AIDS.

This paper discusses factors fuelling HIV infection in Swaziland. It shows how multi-sectoral collaboration could be used to solve the problem of HIV/AIDS. As that happens, the paper further describes the role which Open and Distance learning could play in combating HIV/AIDS.