World AIDS Day- Aid your child with Sex Education
World Aids day is celebrated on 1st December all across the world. So as the NGOs, film actors, theatre groups and Government Institutes do their bit on AIDS awareness, there are some things that have left me pondering.
According to a study it’s estimated that around 2.4 million people in India are currently living with HIV. And in that one in six of these new infections are among people under 15 years old. As young people represent a large proportion of the country’s population, the need of the hour is SEX EDUCATION which should start as early as possible.
Schools can play a pivotal role in taking this responsibility further. In fact, State Governments in India have tried to introduce sex education as a compulsory part of the curriculum for kids between 9-16 years of age only to face a serious debate by nincompoops from conservative political parties. They claim that sex education “is against Indian culture” and would mislead children. The committee suggested there should be no sex before marriage which is immoral, unethical and unhealthy.
What has sex got to do with marriage? Are the ministers implying or assuring that after marriage you will not contract AIDS? It seems that the Government and the panels are very confused about the concept of sex education themselves.
Let’s face it, most of the teenagers today are sexually active and doing it! You wouldn’t believe my horror when a beautician friend of mine told me that her nineteen year old client confessed to her that she was popping in emergency contraceptive pills as a birth control option. Well, who is to blame for her ignorance?
If only the Oh! so smart ministers realize that sex education in schools is essential. It covers a gamut of important topics like difference between AIDS and HIV, safe sex, preventive birth control measures and sexual abuse. It doesn’t imply anywhere that if students are educated about sex they will want to do it. Maybe understanding the repercussions of unsafe sex make them over cautious which is nothing but good.
I remember this fantastic AIDS advertisement that perfectly captured the misconceptions of people towards the disease. Often seen as “it is not my problem” and living in the notion that it affects immoral people belonging to certain section of society is far from the truth. With rapid increase in the percentage of AIDS infected victims in the country its high time parents stop looking at sex as a taboo subject. Talk to your kids about it freely and ensure legalizing of sex education as a part of the curriculum.
Handful of uneducated politicians should not have a say to your child’s future. It is sad enough that people are dying of AIDS but no one should die of ignorance.
More articles by Trupti Shetty
- Simple and unassuming Padma Cafe - March 5th, 2010
- Do you believe in making New Year Resolutions? - January 22nd, 2010
- Weekend Getaways around Pune - January 15th, 2010
- Seva Café- Enjoy the joy of “giving” - December 25th, 2009
- Drive those birthday blues away… - December 14th, 2009
