Sexual education does not expose children to promiscuous lifestyle

Akropong (ER), May 28, GNA- A Specialist Microbiologist and Volunteer with the Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG), Dr. (Mrs) Cecilia Bentsi has expressed concern about equating sexual education to promiscuity thereby denying many children the opportunity to be exposed to a vital part of their development process.

Dr Bentsi said sexual education has a social relevance in the fact that it is a proven method for promoting good health using time-tested educational methods which have no connection with deliberately feeding young persons with promiscuous information.

She was addressing the teachers and pupils of Akropong School of the Blind at Akropong-Akuapem at the weekend as part of activities planned to mark the 40th anniversary of PPAG in Ghana. Dr Bentsi said through family life education, some Ghanaian children for the first time learn something about their reproductive cycle despite the fact that reproduction is an event that affected all human beings.

She said in the face of mounting statistics about the impact of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, people cannot continue to be denied information on them and that it was incumbent on all to avail the youth of sensitive information on their sexual processes. Dr Bentsi was also critical about the exclusion of children with special needs such as the blind from national projects on HIV/AIDS and demanded for their involvement.

She said it was in recognition of that compelling fact that, the PPAG, in collaboration with the leadership of special schools such as the Akropong School for the Blind was trying to equip their students to face reproductive challenges that lay ahead of them. Volunteers of the association from far away as Cape Coast, Tema, Koforidua and the University of Ghana all converged at the special school for the day's event that included counseling students per their age or other social indicators.

Instead of a one-sided lecture on reproductive health, the students and their visitors engaged in other programmes, including a musical session, a football match and playing of cards.

The blind students blazed the hilltop with local high-life renditions that left the visitors, especially the first timers awed about the prowess and dexterity in handling musical equipment. The Senior Housemaster of the School, Mr Sam Appiah Larteh, appealed for Braille materials for the over 300 students. He also commended the PPAG for the productive relationship it has initiated with students of the school and appealed to the organization to sustain the momentum for the mutual benefit of the two organizations.