Urgent Need for Comprehensive Age-Appropriate Relationship Education

• by Hans Billimoria 
 
• - on 01/27/2016 
• • 
    

On the 21st of January 2016 the Daily News published ‘Wariyapola Hit by HIV’ – a news report outlining that “The Kurunegala district has the second largest number of HIV infected cases among all districts in the country and of them, the majority has been reported from Wariyapola.” The article was apparently the result of an Awareness Programme conducted by consultant Aruna Shantha Ratnamalala of the Wariyapola MOH Office at the Minuwangoda Bodhirukkarama Viharaya. No date was specified. MOH consultant Ratnamalala is reported as stating that “a child is sexually active between the ages of 10 to 12 although he or she is not mentally strong to enter marriage.” Ratnamalala underscores the vulnerability of the child by further stating “various sexual inducements are made to them through certain print and electronic media. There are nearly 50 hotels in Wariyapola which rent out rooms for couples”. The news report concludes with the statement “The revealing attire by certain females also tempts males to engage in sexual activities promoting the spread of STDs.” It is not clear if this concluding statement was made by Ratnamalala, or whether it is the view of the Wariyapola Group Correspondent.

The Grassrooted Trust, an organization that works on education and awareness around HIV, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, Gender and Violence related issues, has two questions to address to the Ministry of Health (MOH), which coordinates our HIV response via the National STD/AIDS Control Programme (NSACP).

We also invite input from UNAIDS Sri Lanka, who work on media sensitization around HIV, and/or any agency that has the specific mandate and/or have received funds to sensitize/make aware the media on how best to report on HIV related issues. Global Fund Primary Recipients (PRs), Sub Recipients (SRs) and Sub-Sub Recipients (SSRs) – often comprising of community based organizations made up of key populations and those vulnerable to the spread of HIV – in particular, are invited to share the very real challenges they face in making sure negative stereotypes are not reinforced by indolent media coverage.          Continue Reading →