UNFPA calls for sex education to youth

A United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Programme Analyst, has called on parents to give appropriate sexual and reproductive health education to their wards to prevent them from going wayward.

Madam Doris Mawuse Aglobitse, the Communication and Resource Mobilization Officer at UNFPA, said sexual and reproductive health education would help children to make informed decisions as they grow to become responsible adults.

Madam Aglobitse made the call when making a presentation at a three-day media orientation on the UNFPA Strategic Plan for media practitioners in the three northern regions in Tamale.

She urged stakeholders including parents, religious leaders, district assemblies and civil society organizations to educate and discuss with the youth reproductive health issues.

“If it is penis, call it as it is, if it is vagina call it as it is and not refer to them as sticks or hole,” she emphasized.

She stressed on the need for parents to empower the youth by giving them education and knowledge without discrimination.

The overall objective of the workshop was to build the capacity of media personnel to effectively contribute to the publicity, education and advocacy on the Millennium Development Goal Five (MDG5 – Improving Maternal Health)) and other issues affecting women and young people.

Participants were taking through topics such as UNFPA Strategic Plan, priorities for Country Programme Six (CP6) and role of the Media and Communication Advocacy Network (MCAN).

In addition, they were taken through practical sessions on reporting on MDG5 and young people issues using articles, features, press releases and messages on world population day celebration as illustrations.

The orientation also created the opportunity for UNFPA to establish and consolidate a formidable network of MCAN dedicated to population and development issues.

Source: GNA