Introduction
One of the most challenging issues in the contemporary society is the HIV and AIDS menace. In particularly developing countries, have numerous serious issues that need attention and immediate solution despite limited resource endowment in those countries. WHO and other relevant agencies have tried their level best in putting measures necessary in reducing the widespread of HIV and AIDs in the society.
These intervention measures are necessary in that they put the country in the correct path in realizing socioeconomic and political development. By doing so, the governments of these countries have implemented education system that create awareness of the causes, impact of HIV and AIDs to the society. With the ever-changing environment in the present world, many stakeholders have demanded an education system that addresses to the desired and emerging issues in the society.
Most of the victims of the HIV and Aids die because of the ignorance on the transmission mode of HIV infection. Due to the impact of this challenge in many countries, better education system that informs the youth and new generation is essential in informing the youths on the safety behaviors that can help reduce the menace of HIV and AIDs.
To begin with, the youths through proper education system come to understand the cultural and religious values essential in preventing the widespread of the infection. It is important to use education system in introducing the concepts such as the causes, effects, and prevention, measures that are necessary in reducing the menace of this killer disease. Through education system, many young people and new generation understand the effects of the deadly virus in our body system.
Education in essence helps the policy makers to communicate effectively with the young population on the possible threats of the fast spreading and killer disease. Furthermore, education enables the policy makers and other government agencies to highlight the socioeconomic impact of HIV and AIDs on the development process of the people. In other words, effective education system reduces the misconceptions and prejudices about the disease by giving clear facts to the causes and effects of the disease to youths who are actively involved in sex activities (Webb & Elliott, 2000).
Secondly, proper education system reduces the chances of stigmatization and discrimination associated with the disease. One of the most challenging hurdles in reducing the infection of HIV and AIDs is stigma and discrimination at various stages of the epidemic. With proper education system, prevention measures would be increased if the chances of stigmatization and discrimination becomes smaller and smaller.
In particular, ignorance among many people in the society concerning the disease has made people to view the infected persons as promiscuous and thus dismissing such members of the society. Many people especially the new generation believe that HIV infection relates to unacceptable activities and the panacea to this misconception is proper and effective education system that informs about the causes and the impact of this deadly disease.
As Bruess and Greenberg (2004) denote, the outcome of the HIV and AIDs epidemic is so threatening making it one of the most concerns over the world. With high death cases associated with the epidemic, the world community has raised concerns on the need to address health issues and other epidemic leading to human crisis (Webb & Elliott, 2000).
The most vulnerable group that has borne severe effect of the spread of HIV and AIDs is the youth and the only way to reduce this high vulnerability is by adopting effective education system that aims at improving and achieving sustainable human development. What is more, the youths are found to engage in sexual activities for financial gains especially in the developing countries where meeting basic amenities is challenging.
Factors such as poverty, ignorance, and disempowerment are among impediments contributing to the spread of the HIV epidemic. Bearing this in mind, education has become the chief cornerstone in reducing the impact of both poverty and the spread of HIV and AIDs. Since majority of the youths, undergo the current education system, this make it possible for the policy makers to give appropriate responses to the preventive measures other than the solution to the epidemic (Bruess & Greenberg, 2004).
Education in addition, plays a significant role in encompassing life skills hence making the new and young generation to grow as responsible adults in matters relating to sex. Since the contemporary society is synonymous with decaying cultural and acceptable values, the only hope in counterattacking these immoral values is through developing appropriate standard of conduct.
This is achievable only through effective education system that promotes and creates s healthy state of behavior and mind. Education is the appropriate tool that the government and other relevant agencies can use in combating the widespread of HIV menace since it can reach many young people at an early age of their life before they are either infected or participated in any risk behavior that increases the chances of infection.
Lastly, since many young people cannot openly speak loudly on matters relating to the spread of this epidemic, education provides appropriate avenue for the young people to seek answers on sexuality and sexual health. In particular, lack of counselling and unwillingness by the young people to share sexual matters with doctors, parents and other older people make it difficult for them to seek healthy information on the dangers of performing unhealthy actions such as unprotected sex and sharing of sharp materials. Considering these facts, education enables young people to get correct information and skills in developing healthy sexual behaviors.
Conclusively, education plays an important role in disseminating information and life skills that are essential in developing healthy behaviors among the youth. In addition, education aid in reducing other factors that indirectly contribute to the widespread of this fatal epidemic. By so doing, education plays a vital role in reducing infection rates associated with poverty, ignorance, and incorrect information especially among the youths.
References
Bruess, C., & Greenberg, J. (2004). Sexuality education. Sudbury, Mass.: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.
Webb, D., & Elliott, L. (2000). Learning to live. London, UK: Save the Children.