[1]Kochin: The Cochin Obstetric and Gynaecological Society’s adolescence health programme is all set to cover other districts too after its big success in Ernakulam district.
The programme aimed at counselling scho-ol students on their teenage apprehensions, providing premarital education and spotting sexual harassments against them will now go state-wide in cooperation with the Kerala Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
The counselling classes in schools in Ernakulam district had revealed that the problems faced by school students were plenty, while they do not have a forum to vent their grievances boldly and safely, says Dr. Gracy Thomas, the president of COGS. “It is in this context the venture becom-es relevant. We decided to extend the programme to other districts after witnessing the great response from the parents, teachers and students,” she said.
DC had highlighted in its special package the need for regular counselling cla-sses in schools in the state in the backdrop of increasing number of sexual atrocities against minors.
According to counselling experts, Thiruvananthapur-am and Ernakulam are the only districts in the state that conduct regular counselling sessions in schools.
AHE is a two-hour programme for both male and female students conducted simultaneously by expert gynaecologists in this field.
“Classes are taken on various aspects of reproductive system, the physical, emotional and psychological changes they undergo as they grow up, hygiene, diet and emphasising on side effects of bad habits like smoking, alcohol and drug abuse.
The classes will be followed by counselling by psychologists or counsellors if needed,” Dr. Gracy added.
Links:
[1] http://archive.asianage.com/free-birdsjpg-085