Enhancing and Improving the HIV/AIDS Situation in Malawi - Case Study Example

Your Full Your 12 May Contents Introduction 3 Solutions to the HIV/AIDS Spread 3 Role of Secondary Education in Curbing the Spread of AIDS 5 Immediate Benefits of the Promoting Secondary Education amongst Girls 5 Long-Term Benefits for Secondary Education 6 Socio-Political Impacts of Girl-Secondary Education 7 Limitations of the Secondary Education Process 8 Conclusion 8 Works Cited 9 Introduction The fundamental purpose of this essay is to review the possibilities of enhancing and improving the HIV/AIDS situation through the promotion of secondary education amongst girls in Malawi. As a background to this study, it must be noted that this essay builds up on an earlier essay in which the writer deduced that the fundamental cause of the spread of HIV/AIDS in Malawi is the fact that there are extremely high levels of poverty and illiteracy/a general lack of education amongst girls in the country. This paper hypothesizes from the previous study that the promotion of secondary education amongst Malawian girls will help to reduce the HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in the country. The aim of this paper is to conduct an in-depth study into the main role of education and its potential impact on helping to alleviate the levels of ignorance which contributes to the spread of HIV/AIDS in the country. Solutions to the HIV/AIDS Spread There are numerous solutions that have been presented for the control and containment of the spread of HIV/AIDS. This varies on the basis of the social, cultural, political and economic realities of every nation (Gorji, Rahmani and Fuladi 931; Tiruneh 104). This implies that a nation will need to size up its conditions and circumstances in order to find the right solutions to the circumstances in the environment within which they seek to contain the spread of HIV/AIDS. The World Bank identifies that there is a major problem with poverty in Malawi and 50.9% of the people in Malawi live below the poverty line. The per capita income of 2012 was as low as $340 in Malawi according to World Bank statistics. This is extremely low and compares to the monthly GDP of people from many middle income countries. There is a problem with food security within the country and this causes a negative sphere of influence within Malawi and a continuous need for foreign aid and food aid (Bationo 192). This shows that the circumstances are negative and there are major problems in the country that needs to be resolved in order to improve the socio-cultural system and wealth. According to Camfed, a British charitable organization, there is about 74% of Malawians who live on less than $1.25 a day (Camfed). And statistics show that this poverty level and system is based on the fact that there are about 1 million orphans and about 14% of the youthful population are HIV positive (Camfed). Secondary education in Malawi developed fairly late and it can be considered to be one that is still developing and growing (Castel, Phiri and Marco 3). In 1994, the Malawian government sought to provide free compulsory primary education. However, little was done to promote girl-child education beyond the primary school level. The cultural norm is that most young girls after their primary education are expected to enter early marriages. Many young girls learn a trade after primary education and this has caused a situation whereby many young girls are exposed to early sex and HIV rates. Statistics show that only 15% of the secondary school students are girls (Sutherland-Addy 41). The bias towards male-education in Malawi implies that girls are literally put onto a track towards the creation of a sub-group that is subjugated to the manipulation and control of males. Hence, women are exposed to early marriages, many of which are polygamous and expose girls and women in to the spread of HIV and AIDS. This is mainly because men in Malawi have the right to marry numerous women and since they control wealth and influence in the country, they can freely engage in multiple relationships and this creates a vicious cycle the creation of a perpetual exposure of women to various levels of AIDS that can lead to fatal results for the entire nation. In order to break this vicious cycle of exposure and spread of education, it can be argued that if some degree of autonomy is granted to girls and they can get an awareness of HIV/AIDS and take independent decisions, some forms of polygamy and abuse of power by men can be controlled and there will be some degree of care and caution in sexual relationships. Thus, the unique Malawian situation indicates that the processes and procedures that worked in other countries might not be appropriate. Rather, breaking the vicious cycle of marginalized education in Malawi might provide better solutions and answers to the educational system and process of Malawi and curb the spread of AIDS both in the short run and long-run. Role of Secondary Education in Curbing the Spread of AIDS A study showed that the average age for first marriage amongst females in Malawi is 17.1 years and the main factors that determine the age of marriage include education, religion, ethnicity and poverty (Kumchulesi, Palamuleni and Kalule-Sabiti 329). Hence, it is identifiable that education and keeping girls in secondary schools will keep girls away from the possibility of getting married earlier than normal. In essence, secondary education is likely to keep girls somewhat busy and focused on things other than having an active sex life and bearing children which directly contribute to the risk of the spread of HIV/AIDS. Human Rights Watch provides various traumatizing accounts of young girls who were forced into marriage as a natural consequence of their family requirements and social systems. This includes various accounts of girls being subjugated to sexual harassment and risky attitudes and activities that promote the spread of AIDS (Human Rights Watch 3). Most of these harassments and risky situations are caused by the fact that most girls are deprived of the right to education and they are kept extremely poor and highly dependent on men and the society. Hence, these girls are deprived of the right to gain any form of economic sustenance and independence. This implies that they have to submit to the wishes of men in the society. Thus, it the lack of secondary education puts girls in a vulnerable situation and precarious condition. This causes the vicious cycle of poverty to continue and this promotes the risk of the spread of HIV/AIDS. This is because there is little or nothing that will enable women to get the right and privilege to defend their rights to personal autonomy and decisions that will preserve their sexual health. Immediate Benefits of the Promoting Secondary Education amongst Girls In most cases and in most situations, sex education is important and central in preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS. This is because most people with little knowledge about the risks and spread of HIV/AIDS often take up decisions and actions that promote the spread of HIV/AIDS. Therefore, it is imperative for a system and a curriculum to be created in order to ensure that vulnerable sections of the population gets information and relevant knowledge about the causes of HIV and AIDS. Sub-Saharan African nations like Zimbabwe and South Africa have integrated elements of sex education in their curricula. This is has helped to curb the spread of AIDS because direct knowledge about AIDS causes people to identify their options in order to find various methods and approaches to prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS. Malawi already has various elements and aspects of sex education and HIV/AIDS prevention in their educational curriculum. However, looking at the current situation where there is a ratio of approximately 6 boys to 1 girl in secondary schools in Malawi, it is apparent that the state is entrusting the issue of sex education into one small class of people in the society. Boys and males are therefore the only ones given direct education about sexual health. This means that most girls are left ignorant about the causes and prevention of HIV/AIDS. It is apparent that in most situations, males initiate sexual relations in most cultures (Myroniuk 29). Therefore, investing in sex education in boys only is likely to have major shortfalls since men have the natural tendency to initiate sexual contacts and also accommodate or accept multiple partner relationships. Therefore, it is more prudent for authorities to consider giving equal opportunities to girls and encourage them to play a vital role in preventing infidelity and irresponsible sexual contacts that can contribute to the spread of HIV and AIDS. Long-Term Benefits for Secondary Education In terms of promoting secondary education, there is the tendency for two possibilities to occur in Malawi if women are included in second cycle institutions. First of all, it will promote independent thinking and independent actions that will help to promote a pervasive system of the prevention of irresponsible behavior in the country. Secondly, the inclusion of girls in secondary education in Malawi will help to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS in the community. A popular saying attributed jointly to American religious leader, Brigham Young and James Kwegyir Aggrey, a Ghanaian intellectual state that “if you educate a man, you educate an individual, but if you educate a woman, you educate a nation”. This is steeped in the fact that society is fundamentally based on the needs and expectations of women being an influence on children and on important sectors of the economy. This will generally reduce poverty and enhance the system through which people can get enhanced and improved methods and systems for the improvement of the country’s economy. This will eliminated unnecessary hardships and expand and double the work force’s competency. The implication is that more people will be aware of their rights and obligations and this will help in getting more women to stand up to ensure that the right attitudes are attained and enhanced to ensure that people are able to do the right things in order to prevent AIDS and live more responsible lifestyles. Also, the training of girls will enable women to promote sex education and responsible lifestyles at home and beyond. This is because women yield a high degree of influence on the next generation. Hence, there is the need to train women through secondary schools to attain this end. Socio-Political Impacts of Girl-Secondary Education As identified above, the system of education which is biased towards the training of boys ahead of girls creates a social system in which women become a sub-class in society. The promotion of girls’ education is naturally going to promote some degree of uniformity in development and enhancement in the society. Hence, the education of women in secondary schools will bridge the gap of discrimination against women. Through this, women can play various roles in enhancing the institutions of Malawi and this will promote democratization and the protection of women’s rights. It is only through this that women will be able to exercise power over the prevention of aggressive actions that contribute to the spread of HIV/AIDS. This will break women’s reliance on men and the preservation of negative cultural practices that contribute to the spread of HIV/AIDS Limitations of the Secondary Education Process Although it is apparent that the inclusion of girls in secondary education will promote and enhance the prevention of the spread of HIV/AIDS, it is apparent that the cultural process and systems are such that there will be some kind of resistance from certain classes and groups in society. Secondly, there is a harsh economic reality which will make it difficult for various stakeholders to eliminate the discrimination of girls in secondary education. Thus, there is the need for donor communities and pressure groups to work to promote aid to girls from families that cannot afford to give their girls secondary education. Conclusion In this paper, the primary hypothesis that secondary education will support and contribute to the prevention of the spread of HIV/AIDS is proven in the study. This is because the study shows that girl-child education in secondary institutions will help to bridge various social and cultural gaps that lead to the spread of HIV/AIDS in Malawi. Also, the promotion of female education will support the elimination of poverty and enhance equality which is essential for the attainment of some degree of responsibility in the sex life of people in Malawi. Works Cited Bationo, Andre. Fighting Poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa. London: Springer, 2012. Camfed. Explore our Work in Malawi. 6 March 2014. 13 May 2014 . Castel, Vincent, Martha Phiri and Stampini Marco. "Education and Employment in Malawi." African Development Bank - Working Paper (2010): 1-28. Gorji, Mohammed, Zeinalabadin Rahmani and Sorur Fuladi. "Exploring obstacles of administrating AIDS control and prevention strategies in Iran." Annals of Pallaitive Medicine (2014): 921-939. Human Rights Watch. ""Ive Never Experienced Happiness" Child Marriage in Malawi." Human Rights Watch Publication (2014): 1-76. Kumchulesi, Grace, Martin Palamuleni and Ishmael Kalule-Sabiti. "Factors Affecting Age at First Marriage in Malawi." Sixth African Population Conference (2011): 321-343. Myroniuk, Tyler. "Global discourses and experiential speculation: Secondary and tertiary graduate Malawians dissect the HIV/AIDS epidemic." Journal of the International AIDS Society (2011): 14-47. Sutherland-Addy, Esi. Gender Equity in Junior and Senior Secondary Education in Sub-Saharan Africa. New York: World Bank, 2013. Tiruneh, Gizachew. "Determinants of Adult HIV/AIDS Prevalence in Africa: Do Cultural Variations Matter?" Midsouth Political Science Review (2009): 103-125. Read More