Unisa online - Mainstreaming HIV and AIDS

"HIV/AIDS goes beyond statistics," stated Prof Mandla Makhanya, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, at the official launch of the seminar/lecture series on HIV and AIDS entitled "Mainstreaming HIV/AIDS in teaching, research and community engagement" in the Senate Hall on the Muckleneuk campus on 31 October 2008. "It is at the heart of our lives, touching things we touch and affecting people we love." He emphasised that African universities must be at the forefront of research and education. "Unisa, which wants to be the African university in the service of humanity, is expected to lead the way."

Prof Lionel Nicholas, Department of Psychology, University of Fort Hare, said that very little research has been done in South Africa on sexuality, which is at the core of the problem. "Universities should look at training personnel to deal with sexuality, to deal in courses to train and equip people in sexuality." He also stressed that universities should take the lead and go and do the research; they should establish the baseline data in relation to this problem.

The keynote speaker, Prof Musa Dube, University of Botswana, was introduced by Prof Tinyiko Maluleke, Executive Director: Research. After detailing her own experiences in producing relevant material, Prof Dube highlighted 11 issues to guide curriculum reform on HIV and AIDS:

• Retraining lecturers since most did not receive training in HIV and AIDS during their studies.
• Listening and dialoguing with people living with HIV and AIDS.
• Finding other ways of teaching that do not only focus on the mind but also try to reach the heart and the spirit.
• Producing relevant materials, be they modules, books, chapters or articles.
• Reviewing and revamping programmes to exclude irrelevant and colonially designed courses that do not speak to the issues of communities and nations.
• Improving libraries.
• Designing new courses that address the most current issues of communities, especially HIV and AIDS.
• Displaying willingness and flexibility in the introduction of new courses and the review of old ones.
• Establishing graduate programmes.
• Setting up interdisciplinary centres that deal with HIV and AIDS.
• Funding.

"Our efforts against HIV/AIDS in both research and teaching should work within an interdisciplinary and justice-oriented framework. They should be creative, contextual, communication-oriented and communally informed," Prof Dube concluded. "They should be a national, regional and international endeavour."

The concluding interactive section was facilitated by Ms Criselda Kananda from Positive Talk Services. Musical interludes were provided by the Unisa Melodia Chorale and the programme was ably directed by Ms Vicky Molefe, the Manager of the HIV/AIDS Division.

The event is the first in the Academic Dialogue on HIV/AIDS Project and also marked Unisa’s observance of Red Ribbon Month.