An HIV-AIDS curriculum for students of agriculture and natural sciences

In many countries, HIV/AIDS has grown to become a significant health problem. In most developing countries in the tropics, the impact of HIV/AIDS is far beyond the health sector. It is affecting the livelihood of many families, clans and communities. Economies of many countries with high prevalent rates have been affected due to declining human resource productivity, and the high costs of managing the pandemic. This threatens investment in human resource development in many sectors, more especially in health and sanitation, agriculture, industry, education and civil service. Its overall impact on social and economic development is significant. There is therefore, an urgent need to develop control and management measures for the HIV/AIDS scourge from all possible angles. This document therefore, proposes a curriculum for students in agricultural and natural sciences education institutions to enable them gain a general understanding of HIV/AIDS and the related challenges, and be able to explore ways through which, the agricultural sector can provide some solutions. The ultimate objective is to expand the fronts for fighting HIV/AIDS, and assist agricultural graduates develop mitigating strategies against the pandemic, and also empower farming communities to do likewise.