The Role of Forestry Education in Rural Strategies to Cope With HIV/AIDS in SSA
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Date
2008
Authors
Kung'u, J.B.
Otor, S.C.J.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
ANAFE
Abstract
The HIV pandemic is deeply entrenched in many countries and has had
dramatic effects on rural livelihoods. In poor rural communities only a few
people have access to treatment due to high prices of conventional medicine,
poor health infrastructure and long distance to the health centres. The
combination of the high incidence of HIV-related illnesses, high cost of
treatment and the scarcity of health services in the rural areas have led to a
greater dependence on the natural resources. Forest products are easily
accessible to most people and their use has increased over the years. The
higher mortality rate of adults has increased the demand for wood, in part to
prepare food for increasingly frequent funerals, among others. The impact of
HIV and AIDS on household labour has intensified the dependence on forest
food products. This paper examines the role of forest education in response to
HIV and AIDS, particularly in terms of food, herbal medicines and energy. It
is based on the findings of different case studies that have been carried out in
different parts of the world over the years. The paper shows that HIV and
AIDS epidemic has increased the dependence of communities on forest
resources and that the pandemic has environmental and natural resource
management implications. Some forest policies and programme interventions
that might help lessen the impact of the pandemic on natural resources and the
role forestry education can play in the multi-sectoral response to HIV and
• AIDS have been highlighted.
Description
Book Chapter