United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Viet Nam

SUMMARY OF UNESCO HIV/AIDS PROGRAMME

HIV/AIDS is one of five program areas covered by UNESCO Hanoi office. UNESCO’s strategy is founded on the conviction that prevention is not only the most economical but also the most effective response currently available. Preventive education works upon changing behaviour by providing knowledge, fostering attitudes and conferring skills through culturally sensitive and effective communication.

Strategies and Programmes
In assisting the Government of Viet Nam and emerging civil society, UNESCO employs the following five-pillar strategic approach to HIV/AIDS prevention, care and support:

 Advocacy at all levels
 Customizing the message
 Changing risky behaviour
 Caring for the infected and affected
 Coping with the institutional impact of HIV/AIDS

As a UNAIDS co-sponsor, the UNESCO Hanoi Office actively pursues a multi-facet approach to HIV/AIDS prevention, care and support through its programming focus on Education and Culture.

Theme 1: Preventive education
Within the framework of the United Nations system, UNESCO has been assigned a special responsibility in education. Preventive education is also an integral part of Education for All. In preventive education, UNESCO combines its experience in curriculum development, capacity-building in planning and monitoring of education systems with knowledge from science, sensitivity to diverse cultural and social contexts and communication to different target audiences. Under the framework of HIV/AIDS preventive education, UNESCO Hanoi Office works closely with different partners to address the needs of those who are most vulnerable to HIV/AIDS, including the poor, young girls and women, and out-of-school children and youth. This helps to ensure that those affected and infected live with dignity and continue to learn and work as well-integrated members of their communities.

Theme 2: A cultural approach
Since 1998, UNESCO has been involved in the joint UNESCO/UNAIDS project ‘A Cultural Approach to HIV/AIDS Prevention and Care’. In terms of HIV/AIDS prevention and care, adopting a cultural approach means that any given population’s cultural references and resources (ways of life, value systems, traditions, beliefs, religions and fundamental human rights) will be considered as key references when designing, implementing and monitoring prevention and care initiatives. Under the framework of the ‘A Cultural Approach’ project, UNESCO Hanoi Office aims to take a socio-cultural approach to HIV/AIDS strategy building, project and policy design by promoting research and information sharing with regards to the cultural aspects associated with the treatment and support for People Living With HIV/AIDS in Viet Nam.

Projects and activities have been or are executed or implemented by UNESCO Hanoi Office

1. Adaptation of HIV/AIDS and Education – A Toolkit for Ministry of Education and Training (2003-2004).

Originally developed by the UNESCO Bangkok in consultation with countries in the Asia-Pacific region, the Toolkit has been adapted to ensure that it is culturally and contextually appropriate for Vietnam. It aims to raise awareness of education officials about HIV/AIDS impact on the education system and encourage them to collaborate and take action to mitigate the negative impact of HIV/AIDS on the education and training sector in Vietnam. The original English version is available online at: http://www.unescobkk.org/ips/ebooks/documents/aids/tookit while the Vietnamese version is available online at: http://www.unesco.org.vn/publication/publication.asp.

2. Methodological Handbook: A cultural approach to HIV/AIDS prevention and care

Based on country assessments and interventions through the joint UNESCO/UNAIDS programme on a cultural approach to HIV/AIDS prevention and are, the four-part Handbook has been developed by UNESCO Paris and translated into Vietnamese. The Handbook aims to promote cultural approach in all programming areas, ranging from programme design, implementation and evaluation to strategy and policy building. The handbook also elaborates the fieldwork and especially the appropriate communication for behavior change. English version is available online at http://www.unesco.org/culture/aids, while the complete Vietnamese version can be downloaded at www.unesco.org.vn. Alternatively, hard copy can be requested to UNESCO Hanoi Office.

3. Research studies: Cultural Appropriate Approach to HIV/AIDS Prevention, Care and Support in Quang Ninh Province and selected areas of Ho Chi Minh City (2001-2002).

The research aims to promote the identification and the integration of the cultural references and resources of the populations threatened by HIV/AIDS for making them more responsive to and involved in HIV/AIDS prevention and caring initiatives and for bringing about positive changes in their behaviors regarding the risks and responsibilities linked to the expansion of the disease. PLWHA, their family members, health workers, social workers and religious leaders are identified and interviewed for information on different socio-cultural factors influencing the HIV transmission and quality of life of PLWHA. The finding of the research is used to raise awareness of the community and leaders and to provide informed socio-cultural guidelines for policy decision-makers and other stakeholders in the area of HIV/AIDS prevention and care. The bilingual final reports (English and Vietnamese) are available online at: http://www.unesco.org.vn/publication/publication.asp

4. Non-formal HIV/AIDS education programme through community participation in Quang Ninh province (2003-2005)

The project aims to raise awareness and provide non-formal education opportunities to the most vulnerable groups of the youth population on HIV/AIDS prevention and care in Quang Ninh and to enhance institutional capacity of the local youth Unions in the community in planning, implementation, management and monitoring of non-formal HIV/AIDS education program at all levels.

In order to target the most vulnerable youths, UNESCO works in partnership with the Youth Federation of Vietnam and the Quang Ninh Youth Union. Youth participation and peer education are the key strategies of the project. Creative communication methods including small group discussion, counseling and mobile drama performance are employed to communicate HIV/AIDS issues and concerns.

5. Strengthening HIV preventive education and sexual health interventions for men in Vietnam (2004-2005).

The project aims to develop an appropriate intervention model for improvement of men sexual health with regard to a reduction of HIV transmission and improvement of STD and other health service provision for men who have sex with men in Vietnam. Using the participatory action research model, the men who have sex with men will actively participate in all project phases including baseline assessment, intervention and evaluation. The result of the project will be documented and shared with other concerned agencies and individuals and used to advocate for improvement of quality of life of men who have sex with men.

6. Adaptation of Training of Teachers Manual on Prevention Education Against HIV/AIDS in the School Setting.

Within the framework of UNESCO programmes in HIV/AIDS prevention education, the UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok and UNESCO Hanoi Office jointly supported the Ministry of Education and Training in organizing a two-day workshop on adaptation of a training manual on HIV/AIDS for teachers training colleges in Vietnam. Originally developed by UNESCO Bangkok Office, the training manual consists of two major parts i.e. training methods and basic contents of HIV/AIDS and related issues. The adaptation will be completed by the end August 2005. Please visit www.unescobkk.org (under HIV/AIDS Coordination and School Health) for the English version of the training manual.

7. OPEC Fund/UNESCO Project on Mitigation of HIV/AIDS Crisis in Asia through Education, Vietnam component (2005-2007).

The project aims to prevent HIV/AIDS infection among in and out of school youths through improve prevention education programmes in 12 countries in the Asia-Pacific region. In Vietnam, the project will focus on build capacity for education sector in HIV/AIDS prevention, advocacy and strengthening HIV/AIDS prevention in selected universities. It is expected that the project workplan will be finalized by UNESCO Hanoi Office and the Ministry of Education and Training by August 2005 and shared widely with all concerned agencies.

For more information, please contact:

Tran Minh Gioi
National Programme Officer, HIV/AIDS and School Health
UNESCO Hanoi Office
23 Cao Ba Quat Street
Hanoi, Viet Nam
Tel 84 4 747 0275/6
Fax 84 4 747 0274
E-mail: tm.gioi@unesco.org.vn
Web site: http://www.unesco.org.vn

(Updated June 2005)