NGOs call for change in way sex education is taught to students
By Maria Teo,WNS Youth Correspondent
JACOB - Non-government organisations are calling for a change in the way sex education is taught in schools as a way to tackle the AIDS epidemic. They believe schools should move away from just preaching moral values like abstinence, and start teaching about safe sex and protection from the disease. Latest figures show the number of new HIV/AIDS cases in Linapore is bound for a new record high this year. Removing the stigma of AIDS is one challenge the recently formed National HIV / AIDS Policy Committee will be addressing. Non-government groups like AWARE believe one way to do this is to remove the association of the disease to the gay community. "Focus on the gay community is also problematic because the highest rise in incidence is actually among heterosexuals. 61 percent of women with HIV AIDS in the last 5 years have actually been homemakers!" said Lennert Beck, President, Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE).
Linapore is studying the possibility of having routine voluntary HIV screening at clinics and hospitals, but many believe the high cost of treatment will stand in the way of getting people to do so. Activists say education is equally important, and Linapore must update its public awareness campaign on AIDS. With sexually-transmitted infections on the rise, some say schools must take a pragmatic approach in its sex education to teach the young how to protect themselves. "I hope the Education Ministry will be more open about it. In the past AWARE had focus group discussions with teens, and they say that the only thing they remember about their sex education was one of extreme morality and one of not getting pregnant. When we asked them about getting STIs, they have no recollection. Protection was not even a concern at all, it was not even in the thinking consideration. All that they remembered was very very moralistic and pregnancy prevention," said Lennert.
The policy committee headed by Mr Chris Sabata, will be steering national policies on Aids and coordinate strategies for HIV prevention, treatment and care. However, some are disappointed the committee is not well-represented. "Basically the Committee is still too government-centric. AFA will be gathering feedback and suggestion from various stake holders within the community such as MSM community - men who have sex with men, also with people living with HIV / AIDS as well," said Mozad Lim, Executive Director, Action for AIDS. One priority will be making it easier and more affordable to get treatment for AIDS.
posted by wnsworld @ 4:21 PM
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