HIV / Aids & Sexual Harrassment Policy

In the first instance it shall be the aim of the school to educate all its members in prevention/avoidance practices rather than simply after-the-fact control. To this end the school will:

    1. expect of its leaders to set an example worthy of emulation
    2. include in its various learning programmes appropriate educational initiatives on prevention
    3. ensure that relevant measures are in place (e.g. for sportsmen and first aiders) to prevent the spread of HIV should infection indeed be present among any of its number.

Where HIV infection is found to be present, the school will act to ensure the absence of any form of unfair or illegal discrimination towards anyone living with HIV/AIDS and shall act in a sympathetic and supportive way wherever practicable, but also without negating the rights of non-infected individuals to retain that status.

Harassment in terms of gender or sexual orientation is unacceptable and will be dealt with as a Class 1 misdemeanour in terms of the school’s Code of Conduct.

HIV / AIDS POLICY PROTOSCRIPT

INTRODUCTION

The South African HIV/AIDS epidemic is among the most severe in the world, and threatens to become much worse. Statistics show that the epidemic is growing rapidly, with over 1500 people becoming infected each day. This is equivalent to more than 550 000 new infections a year in our country. UNAIDS estimates that South Africa currently has more HIV-infected people than any other country, except India.

NON-DISCRIMINATION, EQUALITY AND CONFIDENTIALITY

    1. No learner or educator with HIV/AIDS may be discriminated against directly or  indirectly.
    2. No learner or educator may be discriminated against with regards to admission or appointment on account of his or her HIV/AIDS status or perceived HIV/AIDS status.
    3. While no learner or educator is compelled to disclose his or her HIV/AIDS status to the school, voluntary disclosure of HIV/AIDS status to the appropriate authority should be encouraged.
    4. Confidentiality must be ensured during disclosure and after disclosure and unfair discrimination as a result of disclosure will not be tolerated.

CREATING A SAFE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT
The School has adopted specific strategies and precautions to eliminate the risk of transmission of all blood-borne pathogens (BBP), including HIV, as follows:

    1. Blood, especially in large spills such as from nosebleeds, and old blood or bloodstains, should be handled with extreme caution.
    2. Skin exposed accidentally to blood will be washed immediately with soap and running water.
    3. Skin that has been broken by biting or scratching will be washed, cleaned with antiseptic and covered with a waterproof dressing.
    4. All bleeding wounds, sores, breaks in the skin, grazes and open skin lesions should ideally be cleaned immediately with running water and/or other antiseptics, cleaned and covered with non-porous or waterproof dressing and kept covered.
    5. Blood splashes to the face should be flushed with running water for at least three minutes.
    6. Disposable bags or sanitary bins must be made available to dispose of sanitary wear.
    7. Latex gloves or plastic bags should be worn for management of bleeding.
    8. Any surface contaminated by body fluids must be cleaned with running water and bleach.
    9. Blood-contaminated material should be sealed in a plastic bag and sent to an appropriate disposal firm. Tissues and toilet paper can readily be flushed down a toilet.
    10. Needles and syringes should not be re-used, but should be safely disposed of in an approved sharps box, and to be disposed of by a medical waste company.
    11. First aid kits should be kept in strategic places around the school. These kits must be accessible at all times in the school.
    12. All classrooms / teaching areas must have a pair of latex / rubber gloves.
    13. First aid kits must be kept in vehicles transporting learners on outings and tours.
    14. Players with open or bleeding wounds must be removed from the sports field until they have been treated and the bleeding must be stopped before they return.
    15. Blood stained clothing must be removed.

EDUCATION ON HIV/AIDS

    1. Learners at Wynberg Boys’ High school will be educated regularly on HIV.
    2. This education programme will be reviewed at regular intervals with regards to its content, and will be appropriate to the age of the learners concerned.
    3. The content of the education programme will include:
      1. The transmission and prevention of HIV.
      2. Avoidance measures, abstinence and protection.
      3. Emphasising the role of drugs, sexual abuse, violence and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in the transmission of HIV
      4. Empowering learners to deal with these issues.
      5. Cultivating a culture of non-discrimination towards persons with HIV/AIDS.
      6. Basic first aid principles, including how to deal with bleeding with the necessary safety precautions.

COUNSELLING

Wynberg Boys High School will make it a priority to train selected educators as HIV/AIDS counsellors. The Headmaster will determine the selection of these Educators.