Let’s talk about sex: Governor

TEACHERS should encourage children to talk openly about sex in order to prevent the spread of HIV-AIDS, says Klemens Kashuupulwa, Governor of the Oshana Region.

“We can no longer tolerate the taboos against talking about sex,” the Governor told teachers in Oshakati on Wednesday. He said it was not only the job of schools to teach children academic subjects, but also to influence them to change their behaviour and attitudes about sex and HIV-AIDS.”When children are afraid to talk about sensitive issues, they might make unsafe choices and put themselves at risk.We know that our children face enormous peer pressure at school and this is very difficult to overcome.”Kashuupulwa added that young people are curious about their changing bodies and want to experiment with sex, so they should be informed and prepared for making safe decisions.He was speaking at a ceremony awarding ten teachers in the region for their contribution to the fight against HIV-AIDS.The 10 teachers received certificates and trophies from the Oshana Regional AIDS Committee of Education, headed by Janet Cloete, a senior Education Officer.Kashuupulwa referred to a speech by Deputy Prime Minister Libertina Amathila in Windhoek this week, where she described AIDS as a disaster.Kashuupulwa echoed her statement, saying: “This is a natural disaster, considering the millions of people that it has affected in one way or another, as well as the national economies and social dimensions it has touched, that it has left a huge score of orphans that must be cared for by society.The pandemic has consistently been tapping from the national health budgets at ever increasing rates.Why? Because knowledge about HIV and AIDS is not enough.”He said it was not only the job of schools to teach children academic subjects, but also to influence them to change their behaviour and attitudes about sex and HIV-AIDS.”When children are afraid to talk about sensitive issues, they might make unsafe choices and put themselves at risk.We know that our children face enormous peer pressure at school and this is very difficult to overcome.”Kashuupulwa added that young people are curious about their changing bodies and want to experiment with sex, so they should be informed and prepared for making safe decisions.He was speaking at a ceremony awarding ten teachers in the region for their contribution to the fight against HIV-AIDS.The 10 teachers received certificates and trophies from the Oshana Regional AIDS Committee of Education, headed by Janet Cloete, a senior Education Officer.Kashuupulwa referred to a speech by Deputy Prime Minister Libertina Amathila in Windhoek this week, where she described AIDS as a disaster.Kashuupulwa echoed her statement, saying: “This is a natural disaster, considering the millions of people that it has affected in one way or another, as well as the national economies and social dimensions it has touched, that it has left a huge score of orphans that must be cared for by society.The pandemic has consistently been tapping from the national health budgets at ever increasing rates.Why? Because knowledge about HIV and AIDS is not enough.”