Abstinence only is absolutely safe

THE EDITOR: I wish to express my thanks to the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education for the joint initiative to introduce the Abstinence Only curriculum in the secondary schools. In January of this year, a team representing the Governor’s Programme on Abstinence (GPA) based in Louisiana came to Trinidad to give information about the programme to a wide cross-section of key people. Subsequently, in May, a three day workshop was conducted to train volunteers which included teachers, school guidance officers, religious leaders and other key players. For this third phase, four students ages 13-15 and one teacher were selected from each secondary school across Trinidad and Tobago for training in forming abstinence clubs in the schools.  One of the three-day workshops was held in Tobago, and two here at the Rudranath Capildeo Learning Resource Centre.

This initiative is indeed highly commendable. The Minis-ter of Health, Mr John Rahael, in his feature address at the certificate awards function, spoke passionately about the sexual revolution that is destroying young lives. More than half of those infected with HIV are between the ages of 15-24. He said, “This government will campaign for the Abstinence Programme to sustain health in TT.” He cautioned that we, the adults, failed the young people by believing that they cannot abstain from sex. The new sexual revolution of Abstinence Only is 100 percent safe! When our youths are equipped with the knowledge and skills that the Abstinence curriculum offers, they are free from the worry of having a sexually transmitted infection, and being pregnant.  The Abstinence Programme is realistic! It is a matter of survival!

MERLE ALI
Barataria