Testing, Confidentiality and Disclosure of HIV&AIDS

A. Testing and medical advice

•  MoE shall not engage in the compulsory testing for HIV of employees or students.
•  Employees and students may voluntarily take tests and counseling.
•  Information will be provided on Voluntary Counseling and Testing sites

Employee
An administrator, teacher or non-teaching support staff employed in an education institution or Services.

The Ministry of Education recognizes the need to inculcate a culture of safety and security in all schools. The ultimate objective is to provide safe and secure school environments which will better enable teachers to fulfill their main duty of delivering the curriculum and students to concentrate on learning. Safety in schools is of paramount importance and necessary in supporting the all-round development of each child, giving him/her the opportunity to learn and achieve in a nurturing environment.

Ministry of Education (MoE): School Health, Nutrition and HIV&AIDS Coordination Unit (SHN/HIV)

• Give administrative support to the MoE.
• Develop SHN/HIV strategies.
• Communicate SHN/HIV policy and strategic plan.

Life skills based education will be delivered in complimentary modes, comprising five main methods – Information, Student Education, Teacher Training, Workplace Education and Parent and Community Education

 Information

•  Information provided must be accurate, appropriate, relevant, and in keeping with human rights legislation.

 Education

• The Health and Family Life Education (HFLE) curriculum will provide curricular education on SHN/HIV issues in Guyana.
• HFLE will be used to teach health issues.

Education institutions shall foster and maintain a social climate and physical environment that will promote health, well-being, non-violence and safety in working and learning.
No STIGMA NO DISCRIMINATION NO VIOLENCE

 Creating an Environment Free of Stigma, Discrimination and Violence

A. Preventing Stigma and Discrimination

• Education institutions MUST adhere to a Code of Conduct
• The Code MUST make it clear that stigmatisation or discrimination shall not be tolerated against persons living with HIV, associated with someone living with HIV, or a person perceived as living with HIV.

The MoE shall implement mechanisms to provide psychosocial support in schools, and work with NGOs, CBOs and FBOs to develop systems that provide emotional, educational and spiritual support. The services should aim at Reducing Risk, Providing Care, Psycho-social Support and Other Health Services