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Jamaica health survey sparks sex education drive

Thursday, 04 June 2009 14:51

Health chiefs in Jamaica have warned better sex education is key in the battle to curb the spread of HIV and AIDS among youths, the Jamaica Observer reported on 1 June.

The warning comes follwing the results of a recent survey which show that the number of young people contracting sexually transmitted diseases is on the rise.

The survey also found that HIV and AIDS continues to be a serious problem among teenagers and young children.

Dr Kevin Harvey from Jamaica's Ministry of Health's National HIV/STI Programme  said children with the virus face discrimination and abuse because of a lack of understanding about the disease.

He is backing a scheme called Speak Up! Speak Out! to get health and education workers joining forces to raise awareness of HIV and AIDS in young people.

the scheme aims to spread the message of healthy living by holding debating competitions to get young people thinking about sex education, by parenting seminars and the through the performing arts.

Dr Harvey said: "This initiative that is telling young ones to speak out is very timely and very necessary. If we are going to curb the devastating effect of HIV, we have to start with our children." 

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