Articles · Vol. 1 No. 1 (2003): Journal of Higher Education in Africa · Pages 1-23

1 - The Significance of HIV/AIDS for Universities in Africa

Vol. 1 · 2003 No. 1 Journal of Higher Education in Africa JHEA

Abstract

There are several reasons why universities in Africa should respond comprehensively to HIV/AIDS, but institutions across the continent are only slowly acknowledging these reasons. Despite the high prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the environments in which many universities operate, it does not appear that they have institutionalized a consistent response. Instead, there seems to be a tendency to treat the epidemic as a student or health issue, but not as something that must be integrated into a university’s core operations of reflecting on issues affecting society, teaching, research, and community engagement. The paper argues for a radical change in institutional focus that would allow the university to use its full potential to get ahead of HIV/AIDS, in its own ranks and in the world it serves. For such change to be realized, institutions must focus on developing dedicated high-level university leadership and total management commitment.

Keywords

HIV/AIDS of HIV infection University of Zambia,

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