Let’s Talk About Sex… in Schools, Households, and in Malacañang
We, teachers, can give them the proper and basic education using books and forms of mass media. In schools, we can teach them how to read, write, and count. But what teenagers really need are lessons on reproductive and sexual health, responsible relationships, family planning, parenthood, and life skills. They should be provided with relevant, adequate, and useful information so that they will know and be completely aware of their reproductive biology and make healthy and responsible sexual decisions. They, especially the women, should be taught about pregnancy and childbirth as well as its possible complications. They should understand their capability to prevent sexually transmitted diseases, HIV, and AIDs. They should be prepared for responsible child-rearing and family life. Teenagers should be molded and be equipped with discipline, responsibility, and life skills in their transition to adulthood.
Aside from age-appropriate reproductive health and sexuality education in schools, parents should also take part and communicate with their children. It is the duty of the parents to educate their children and talk about sex in their household. Talking about sex in the family should be the ideal thing for parents to do. But sadly, most Filipino families usually regard sex as taboo. The study conducted by Tan (2011) shows that because they fear judgment, teenagers rather keep their silence than talk about sex in their family. Family’s ambiguous role in sex education has brought too limited discussion about sex between parents and children. And this should be changed. Parents should create a strong bond with their children and be involved with their concerns and issues, especially the changes that teenagers experience as they become adolescents. Parents should guide and empathize with teenagers as they go through their “growing up” stage.
In addition to the effort of families and the education sector, the State should also ensure and secure the youth’s future through policies and programs that address reproductive health care and promote population control. The government should give attention to the needs of people, especially the women and children, in terms of reproductive health care services and supplies. It should allocate and utilize resources in the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of people-centered programs. It should prioritize and enhance the quality of life and sustain the development of the people, particularly the poor, the needy, and the marginalized sector of the community.
The Intersection between Reproductive Health and Environmental Issues
We should also recognize that population issues coincide with global environmental issues. Population growth is just one of the several drivers of environmental problems like pollution and climate change. As more and more people inhabit the Earth, social inequities of resource distribution and consumption become a problem. As the number of people booms, the demand for natural resources increases. People exploit the environment causing the loss of the biodiversity, deforestation, soil degradation, fresh water scarcity, and depletion of oxygen in the air. As a result of human activities, people are also now experiencing climate change. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the build-up of greenhouse gases (GHG) in the atmosphere which result in warming of the earth’s surface is because of our increased energy consumption during the 20th century. The frequency and intensity of floods, droughts, and other extreme weather events is also increasing, especially in the underdeveloped and developing countries. Recently, in the Philippines, many people have been affected by the typhoon Sendong. According to a report by Associated Press, Philippine Red Cross Secretary General Gwen Pang said that 215 died in Cagayan de Oro and 144 in nearby Iligan cities, and the rest in several other southern and central provinces of Mindanao. Many have lost their homes and livelihood. Environmental groups blame the illegal loggers because there have been reports that logs from the mountains rolled down and devastated the houses and families downhill. I believe that these calamities are happening because of overpopulation and the destruction of our natural resources.
To be involved, or not to be: that is the question
Thus, we should take an action before it is too late. I am working as a volunteer because I cannot take the distraught and depression that I see in the eyes of my pregnant students before and after our class. I cannot stand the thought of killing an innocent, unborn child just because their parents are ignorant and untaught. I cannot bear the sight of poor people begging in the streets. I cannot tolerate the lack of concern of the government for its citizens. I cannot live in an overcrowded and polluted Earth. I cannot endure hearing news about calamities that take thousands of lives. I cannot imagine my future children at risk of diseases caused by corroded soil, contaminated waters, and unclean air. Can you? If we open our eyes on how bad the situation is and work together to solve the problem through proper awareness and education, communication within families, governmental policies on reproductive health and population control as well as environmental programs, then there’s still hope. We can save the children of the future as well as the Earth. But the question is: are you with me?
