FMCSA gives R390 000 to HIV/AIDS project
Business must get actively involved says MD

The Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa, the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality of Port Elizabeth, Department of Education and an intersectoral project team comprising of NGOs (Life Line, PPASA, Scripture Union) and the Health and Development Research Institute of the University of Port Elizabeth have combined forces in the fight against HIV/Aids.

Starting on April 1, 2001, they will be introducing an intersectorial HIV/Aids pilot study involving 6th and 7th Grade pupils in 40 schools in the Port Elizabeth area. The programme is called the "Life Skills Programme Focusing on HIV/Aids Education for Primary School Youth".

Taking place over a period of 12 months, the primary objective of the Pilot Study is to test the hypothesis that "Effective implementation of the National Life Skills HIV/Aids Education Programme needs ongoing support for Teachers and alters Knowledge, Attitude and Perceptions in Learners".

For this purpose, a monitoring and evaluation procedure will be an integral part of the Life Skills and HIV/Aids education intervention model and will incorporate a structured intervention research component, which will run concurrently with the implementation of the programme.

Based on the final evaluation of the Pilot Study, it is intended that an effective implementation model will be developed for wider dissemination throughout the district and the Province, with the intention of eventually expanding the project nationwide.

The project team consists of the Port Elizabeth Department of Health, the Department of Education, Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa, the University of Port Elizabeth and three Non-Government Organisations, namely: the Scripture Union, the Planned Parenthood Association of Port Elizabeth and Life Line.

The Ford Motor Company, through the Centres for Disease Control (CDC), has made almost R390 000 available to fund this project.

"The mission of the Project Group is to identify and implement an effective, culturally acceptable Life Skills and HIV/Aids education programme for Grades 6 and 7 Primary School youth in the Port Elizabeth District, to empower these learners with the knowledge and decision making skills to promote appropriate sexual behavioural practices which prevent the transmission of HIV/Aids," says Nune Mgoduka, Director of Education for the Port Elizabeth Department of Education.

"We have chosen to include only Primary Schools in this Pilot Study as behavioural and bio-medical studies have shown that sexual activity and HIV infections are very low among girls and boys under the age of 15 years."

"However, by the age of 15, risks rise steeply hence it is vital to reach and influence adolescents before reaching this age. School aids prevention initiatives offer an opportunity of reaching large numbers of adolescents," says Mr. Mgoduka.

8000 pupils and 80 Teachers in Grades 6 and 7 in 40 primary schools (out of a total 176) in Port Elizabeth will participate in the Pilot Study.

Although all participating teachers will undergo initial training, only twenty schools will implement the programme with ongoing teacher support by the participating NGO's. The other 20 will receive no further support. The two groups will be monitored and evaluated throughout the twelve months to establish the difference and progress that can be made when ongoing NGO
support is provided.

"We are delighted to participate in this exciting and extremely necessary initiative," says Marcos S. Oliveira, CEO and Group MD for the Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa. "The future of South Africa lies with our youth and it is essential that we do everything in our power to eradicate HIV/Aids from our communities.

"The guidance we expect to get from the results of the Pilot Study will allow us, as a Company, to introduce an effective Life Skills HIV/Aids Awareness programme in the Port Elizabeth area, as well as in those schools in our neighbouring communities in Pretoria where most of our employees live. We believe that, in this matter, our responsibility is not just to our employees but to their families as well."

"We are hopeful that the Department of Education will draw on the results of the Pilot Study and adopt a framework which could be implemented on a national basis. Also, it is hoped that other companies will implement their own HIV/Aids Awareness programmes throughout South Africa. It is not practical to expect the Government to address the HIV/Aids pandemic in this country on their own. Business must get actively involved," states Oliveira.

The Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa has established itself as a corporate leader in the fight against HIV/Aids and, during October 2000, the CDC awarded the Company its Organisational Award for a U.S. based company with an international presence. The Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa was the only company outside the USA to receive the award, which recognises the exemplary workplace program put together by FMCSA and the contribution made by the Company towards educating other employers in the area of HIV/AIDS.