pacifist
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Aids awareness in schools
IN what can only be described as a welcome initiative, the ministry of education, in collaboration with the National Aids Control Programme, will begin teaching students about HIV/Aids in public schools from January. This was a long overdue step as we all know too well that awareness about any ailment is crucial to its prevention and that can only come through education. That education will be imparted from a young age means that the message has finally sunk in with the authorities: they can no longer afford to sidestep an issue for fear that many may be uncomfortable with it. By the same token, it will be foolish not to include sex education in this initiative for that is essential in spreading awareness of HIV/Aids and other sexually transmitted diseases. One cannot ignore the subject of sex when discussing Aids and to couch it in other terms or be vague about it as one has seen in advertisements on the issue will be a great disservice. People need to be told the truth in an upfront and mature manner so that they can be better informed about their choices. By teaching youngsters that Aids can be contracted by also engaging in unsafe sex, we prepare them to make better decisions. Denying them this and other information about reproductive health spreads misinformation and, worse, puts them at risk of contracting diseases.
Although observers believe that Aids does not pose as big a health risk as it does in say India or South Africa, it does not mean the issue should be taken lightly. There are 100,000 reported cases of Aids in Pakistan but that number could spiral out of control if awareness campaigns with direct messages arent launched. The government must partner itself with NGOs working in this field and ensure that the message is spread to every village in the country and all aspects of stigma associated with it are removed.
source: dawn
IN what can only be described as a welcome initiative, the ministry of education, in collaboration with the National Aids Control Programme, will begin teaching students about HIV/Aids in public schools from January. This was a long overdue step as we all know too well that awareness about any ailment is crucial to its prevention and that can only come through education. That education will be imparted from a young age means that the message has finally sunk in with the authorities: they can no longer afford to sidestep an issue for fear that many may be uncomfortable with it. By the same token, it will be foolish not to include sex education in this initiative for that is essential in spreading awareness of HIV/Aids and other sexually transmitted diseases. One cannot ignore the subject of sex when discussing Aids and to couch it in other terms or be vague about it as one has seen in advertisements on the issue will be a great disservice. People need to be told the truth in an upfront and mature manner so that they can be better informed about their choices. By teaching youngsters that Aids can be contracted by also engaging in unsafe sex, we prepare them to make better decisions. Denying them this and other information about reproductive health spreads misinformation and, worse, puts them at risk of contracting diseases.
Although observers believe that Aids does not pose as big a health risk as it does in say India or South Africa, it does not mean the issue should be taken lightly. There are 100,000 reported cases of Aids in Pakistan but that number could spiral out of control if awareness campaigns with direct messages arent launched. The government must partner itself with NGOs working in this field and ensure that the message is spread to every village in the country and all aspects of stigma associated with it are removed.
source: dawn
