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Compulsory sex education proposed to fight HIV/AIDS
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Posted on Mar 13 2001
SUVA, Fiji (PINA Nius) — Compulsory reproductive health and sexual education in schools is among key strategies identified in Fiji’s National HIV/AIDS Strategic Plan.
The plans will be finalized at a workshop in Suva this week, the Ministry of Information said.
This plan has been developed as part of the Pacific Islands HIV/AIDS and STI (Sexual Transmitted Infection) Planning Project.
The project was prepared by the Macfarlane Burnet Center and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) with support from UNAIDS and funding from AusAID.
The Ministry of Health and the National Planning Office also collaborated on the development of the strategic plan.
Other items on the workshop agenda will focus on targeted education to vulnerable groups such as young people, sex workers, homosexuals, prisoners, the military and police personnel.
Other topics include making condoms more widely available, improving the care for people with HIV/AIDS, and coordinating HIV/AIDS-related activities.
According to the Ministry of Health, Fiji is facing a potentially serious HIV problem.
More than 60 people have been diagnosed with HIV infections, but many more are likely to have the virus without knowing it, the ministry said.
Sally Gibson, the Macfarlane Burnet Center consultant who completed the final draft of the HIV/AIDS Strategic Plan, said Fiji must take a strong stand against this increasing disease.
