By Rene V. Carbayas
ISABELA CITY, Basilan – More
than 600 students from the different high schools in Isabela City tackled the
issue on adolescence and youth reproductive health and committed to protect
themselves from risky behaviors.
An inter-agency technical working group (TWG)
on adolescence and youth reproductive health has visited at least five high
schools in Isabela City for the campus tour youth forum on adolescence
reproductive health.
Campus tour youth fora were conducted in the
following schools: Basilan National High School (Feb 10), Begang National High
School (Feb 11), Latuan National High School in Baluno (Feb 12), Isabela City
National High School in Cabunbata (Feb 13), and Claret College of Isabela High
School Department (Feb 27).
During the school visit, the TWG was divided
into 3 teams to handle around 30 to 50 students where topics on love,
courtship, adolescence reproductive health, risky behaviors, and the risks of
teenage pregnancy and early marriage were discussed.
Prior to the visit, an assessment survey on
the student’s psychosocial history was made to determine the student’s overall
health makeup. This will also help in identifying students who needed
counseling and help.
The team is composed of the Isabela City
Health Office, Department of Education, City Population Office, Child Fund
Philippines, the Philippine Information Agency, and Department of Health with
funding support from Mindanao Health Program Jhpiego and IMPACT of USAID.
Data from the Isabela City Adolescence and
Youth Reproductive Health Program of the city health office reveal that teenage
pregnancy cases in the city is alarmingly high. Records show that there are 414
cases of teenage pregnancy in the city for 2014 alone. Health authorities fear
that there are more unreported cases as data was gathered from those who only
submitted for prenatal checkup.
Top barangays were Begang (44 cases), Baluno
(33), Sumagdang (30), Sunrise (19), Tampalan (17), and 16 cases each for Aguada
and Menzi.
Teachers and students have expressed their
gratitude to the team for holding such rare awareness campaign on health and
sexuality issues that shed light on the young minds experiencing confusion and
emotional challenges of growing up.
“Sexuality education is not bad, as what was
believed before. In fact, knowing the physical and emotional changes in
adolescence will enable us to understand ourselves better, act better, and
decide better,” a student from Begang National High School said as she gave her
impression on the campus tour youth forum.