‘No’ to exclusive Abstinence Clubs

THE EDITOR: I am a worker in the field of HIV/AIDS and I am really concerned about the abstinence issue. I agreed abstinence should be taught to young people, but I also believe that it should be a first choice not the only choice. The wife of the Minister of Health, Mona Rahael heads an abstinence committee at the Ministry and while this is a good venture there are some questions that need to be answered. First of all, one must recognise that young persons, especially females, face different social issues, these issues are brought about by socio-economic conditions, such as the school attended, the background of the parents, the neighbourhood in which they live, in a nutshell, it is the culture in which these children grow.

There is poverty, a lack of education, incest, rape and teenage pregnancy. Is the committee aware that there are young girls and boys who are in situations where they have no power to stand up for themselves? Is the committee aware that there are parents who “pimp” their daughter for money? Is the committee aware that there are women and girls who are sexually active by force and not choice? There are now Abstinence Clubs in schools. Does this mean that students who are sexually active would be excluded? Where are they to turn? Are guidance counsellors to be increased in schools? Who are going to attend to those students who see themselves as “bad or deviant” because they are sexually active? How would the schools deal with the reality that their students are sexually active?

Let me say that we have to reach out to all students (whatever their background). The ones who are not members of this abstinence club may be discriminated against by those who are members. There may be finger pointing by some students who perceive that they are “better” because they practise abstinence as compared to a student who has already had sexual intercourse. Who is to look after those who have problems and are the ones at risk of HIV/AIDS? I do believe that an abstinence only programme will exclude a wide section of the sexually active youth and women and these are the persons who are at the greatest risk of HIV/AIDS.

BEATRICE MUNROE
Port-of-Spain