Preamble.

Despite the continuous interventions to counteract the spread of the HIV pandemic, the scourge still proves a problem to children and young people. And yet many communities and families continue to be affected and children now head households.

It’s from such background Act: 2-7 of the constitution of Uganda provides for every child a right to education and protection from issues like child sexual abuse and neglect by parents or care takers. Having spent a good time in reaching out to communities and schools through workshops in the fight against the HIV pandemic, we realized that a lot is needed if we are to see a significant change among the people. We discovered that it is not very simple to change people’s attitude towards certain things but takes a gradual process. We felt that reaching out to communities through workshops is not enough. There has to be a continuous reminder to register the desired change among the people.

NESHIV was founded to support the continuous sensitization and dissemination of HIV preventive messages plus act as a unifying umbrella among schools by supporting them to act tirelessly in the prevention of HIV/AIDS and STI among new generations who are taken to be the windows of hope.

The network also calls for provision of material and psychosocial support to HIV positive children who are in school and the community.

It further calls for the support of vulnerable children who are unable to meet school dues or fees and requirement such as uniforms and scholastic materials

It’s therefore upon concerted effort that schools and communities large and small ought to continuously address the escalating dangers that pose risks to children in schools, thus exposing them to catching the HIV virus.

Therefore, the coalition for the establishment of this association is to reach out to the vulnerable children, youth who are and have been affected by HIV through visible action to enhance the continuity and sustainably of the preventive messages from generation to generation and bring together schools in form of a collective effort to fight HIV and AIDS.

Its imperative to note that there is great need to reach out and help the needy/affected individual who after receiving the preventive messages remain in hope for support but in vain due to the organizations’ structure objectives and policies. Many of these limit them selves to only dissemination of HIV preventive message and no further support is given.

Bringing schools together in a collective effort will help us to identify the neediest of the needy that later on will be considered for support as required.