The Family Planning Association of T&T (FPATT) wishes to make reference to an article published in the Newsday of Friday January 23, 2015, headlined "Girl, 13, pregnant...again" and calls on the Prime Minister and the Minister of Education to keep their promise and introduce age-appropriate, comprehensive sexuality in all schools now.
What is the future of this teenager who is experiencing her second reported pregnancy? According to the Prime Minister's baby care initiative, the pregnant mother will at least be guaranteed $6,000 for this year to help her with expenses of the baby. But what happens after that?
Comprehensive sexuality education is essential if young people are to have responsible, safe, and satisfying sexual lives. Also, the increasing rates of HIV particularly among young females, remain a serious public health concern in T&T, and whether we believe it or not, unprotected sexual activity is driving the high rate of infection among youth.
The Family Planning Association of T&T wishes to reiterate its recommendations made in an open letter to the Prime Minister in September 2014 on the minimum package of sexual and reproductive health information and services to complement the baby care initiative. These are:
�2 Universal access to age appropriate, comprehensive sexuality education for all young people in and out of school, starting at the primary school level;
�2 Universal access to quality, comprehensive and integrated sexual and reproductive health information, education and services for women, men and young people;
�2 Ensure that all sexual and reproductive health programmes and services systematically integrate responses to gender-based violence, as part of a multi-sectoral, co-ordinated response; and
�2 Development of comprehensive parenting programmes that integrates information on sexual and reproductive health care.
FPATT participated in the Prime Minister's National Conversation on Children and Domestic Abuse held on June 4, 2014 in Chaguanas, at the end of which the Prime Minister made a stirring commitment which we quote here.
"I know that at times, you may have felt that we were not moving fast enough, or delivering as much as you needed. I am not here to make excuses. For everything we do well, there are things we must do better. I am here to re-establish our connection so we can ensure that you have what you need to live full, free and happy lives. What we have achieved so far came through our sincere belief that the people constitute the Government.
What we achieve from here on in will rely on your contribution and your participation. And the National Conversation is my guarantee that this contact, this listening process, will become a permanent part of how we govern...I will listen and then lead." The Prime Minister also stated that "what the nation, and in particular children, can look forward to is a strong and responsive collaborative partnership between Government and stakeholders."
Also, the Minister of Education indicated that two stand-alone modules on Sexual Health and Sexuality Education will be developed and introduced along with the Health and Family Life (HFLE) Curriculum for secondary school students. Have these been implemented? Have teachers been trained to deliver these modules?
The veracity of these expressions can only be tested against the demonstrated actions of the Government to listen and engage.The Family Planning Association, as a key stakeholder in sexual and reproductive health for 58 years, continues to be willing to share its experience and work in collaboration with the Government in order to make a difference in the lives of our young people. We stand ready to be engaged.
Dona Da Costa Martinez,
Executive Director, FPATT