HIV/AIDS on the campus: universities and the threat of an epidemic

Many sub Saharan African universities have been slow to respond to HIV/AIDS pandemic. This report from African Higher Education Research Online (AHERO) analyses why universities respond the way that they do and in particular focuses on developments in Ugandan universities, a country known for its forward looking approach to HIV/AIDS. The study finds that some Ugandan universities did take early action to the HIV/AIDS in the 1990s. Improved information to students, better access to condoms and voluntary counselling were typical responses. However, up to 2005, only two Ugandan universities had adopted policies on HIV/AIDS covering prevention, management and mitigation measures – most likely out of concern for future impacts of the epidemic, as neither university had any data on either staff or student HIV infections. Thus, in spite of the importance of universities nothing is known on the human losses and costs resulting from absenteeism, hospitalisation, death and staff replacement. There is no systematic knowledge of the effects on the quality of teaching, on the maintenance of library or other services, or on the administration of university functions. Makerere University, arguably the country's most important institution of higher education lacks an official position on the AIDS epidemic and its own role. This is in spite of a well recognised HIV/AIDS research department at the university.

The authors suggest that the gravity of the AIDS epidemic for seriously affected countries is an argument for governments to demand from research bodies that they develop scientific programmes directed to the different challenges caused by the epidemic. Priorities of this kind would undoubtedly affect the overall university climate in relation to the epidemic, opening also for in-house policies and action.