By Tobias Lengnan Dapam
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Nigeria, and other stakeholders have called for strengthening of Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) for students and adolescents.
The foundation said this will help in protection from Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) and violence.
Speaking at the 2024 International Day of the African Child (IDAC) on Thursday in Abuja, Kemi Gbadamosi, Director of Policy, Advocacy and Marketing, AHF Africa Bureau, said CSE will create awareness amongst adolescents and parents.
She added that it will address the increasing new infection rates of HIV, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and unplanned pregnancies amongst adolescents.
“We are looking at fostering education and health through CSE and the reason is because as a HIV/AIDS organisation, we see that there are new infection rates amongst young people every week.
“For example we get 4,000 HIV new infection globally amongst young people age 15 to 24. and Africa takes the biggest chunk of that.
“And part of the reason we see this spike in infection rates amongst young people is lack of access to the right information, sexual reproductive health services, information and tools like CSE.
“Research tells us that access to age appropriate CSE helps to reduce HIV infections, teenage pregnancies, delay when young people begin to have sex and reduce. Cases of Gender Based Violence (GBV) and promote gender equality.”
She said the organisation engages parents and youths on the benefits of CSE, which contravene popular opinions that it promotes promiscuity.
“Contrary to popular opinions, alot of parents, leaders say CSE promote promiscuity but research tells us that when young people have access to age appropriate CSE, it stops the from being promiscuous.
” It protects them, builds their self esteem and are able to make better decisions and more informed choices.
“And also to recognise when issues of violence and sexual harassment is about to happen so that they can protect themselves.
“We have always got a pushback from parents, community leaders because they believe that whenever you say sexuality education, you are talking about sex.
“That is why engagement such as this also requires parents in the discussion to know the benefits.
“We also need to tell them what the data is showing us on HIV infection rates, young people getting pregnant, more Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) cases.
“And if we do not address the information, skill and knowledge gap,then we cannot make any progress.”
Also contributing, AHF Nigeria Country Programme Director, Dr Echey Ijezie, harped on importance of discussing CSE, saying research has shown that CSEs improve health outcomes, empower youths and adolescents.
“So that they can make informed choices and not contract HIV and other STIs, as well as reducing the risks of unwanted pregnancies.”
Mrs Mariam Shu’aibu, Assistant Director, Child Development, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, said: “issues on child marriage, HIV are issues that the ministry is advocating against and we are ready to collaborate with AHF to deliver your programmes in the FCT and other states.”
On her part, Mrs Okhilua Maria, Director, Monitory and Evaluation, representing the Secretary FCT Education Board, reiterated their commitment towards promoting health outcome and reduce STI amongst youths.
Assistant Director, Education Support Department, Federal Ministry of Information, Njideka Ogbuke,said: “considering there are lots of information on the Internet.
“But when you equip a young person with what is right, even when faced with wrong information, pornography and others, but the fact that the young mind has already been formed based on the information he or she has acquired, they will find it repulsive.”
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