Summary of pre-dialogue discussions

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These are the slides that were presented by Johnston at the PMD on behalf of NYF 08. I have put it up as I think it is a good summary of what was discussed at the pre-dialogue session. These are some of the issues that you might want to keep in mind while you think of your projects. I hope to be able to compile a more comprehensive one too. Look out for that soon!

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Risque of teens at risk

This article reports on the statistics of teenagers having casual sex in Singapore and what is being done by various groups to curb the growing trend. The issue is both a health-related one (spread of STDs) and also a social one (more under-aged teens engaging in casual sex and the rise of teenage pregnancy).

Here are some excerpts:

"Sexually active teens are on the rise but many are ignorant of the deadlier aspects of unprotected sex. ..."

"... Even in supposedly conservative Singapore, the number of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among teenagers last year hit a high of 820, up from 775 in 2006, according to the Ministry of Health. In addition, there were 833 pregnancies in girls 19 years and under last year, 16 of whom were below 15 years old. There were also 1,363 teenage abortions. ..."

"... Sarah (not her real name), 17, a secondary school student, said: "It's almost like no one's talking about it but everyone's doing it." ..."

"... Sexual health experts Mind Your Body spoke to said that for youths who are already having sex, combining oral contraceptives with the use of condoms is the best form of protection against STIs and prevention of unwanted pregnancy.

However, some, like Focus On The Family - a charity body dedicated to the strengthening of Singapore families - and DrChristopher Ng, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at GynaeMD Women's & Rejuvenation Clinic, mooted teen abstinence. ..."

Read the rest of the article here or download the pdf.

British pre-schoolers to get sex education

With teenagers getting exposed to all kinds of information through the internet and mass media these days, the question is, at what age should sex education begin? The British believe that it is necessary for children as young as 5 to be educated about the birds and bees. When the new policiy is implemented, Britain which has one of the highest teen pregnancy rates in Europe, will see sex education brought to all schools, including kindergartens.

Here are some excerpts:

"... At the very earliest stage, sex education will mainly be about self-awareness, he said.'We are not talking about five-year-old kids being taught sex,' he said. 'What we're talking about for key stage one (ages five to seven) is children knowing about themselves, their differences, their friendships and how to manage their feelings.' "

" ... 'I am not the parent who calls her son's penis a wee-wee. But I should decide if the word penis enters my child's vocabulary at five or not,' said Ms Elizabeth Talbot, of London, who has two sons, aged four and six months old. ..."

"... 'When parents fail to educate their kids properly, the government has every right to step in,' said Ms Gayla Coil, a Londoner and mother to two kids aged 13 and 10. 'Me, I welcome the help.' "

In Singapore, there is Breaking Down Barriers - a broad-based sex education programme taught at Secondary 3 level, that is disseminated through science, health education and civic classes. The Ministry of Education will also be introducing a customised programme which aims to raise awareness of STIs in November this year (2008).

Whose responsibility is it to educate our children? Should parents have a right to opt out of a programme if they feel their children are not ready for such lessons? Should sex education in Singapore be targeting teens from Sec 1, since research shows that out of 833 pregnancies in girls 19 years and under last year, 16 are below 15 years old. What do you think?

Download the full article here.

Ernest Madu: Bringing world-class health care to the poorest

Ernest Madu founded the Heart Institute of the Caribbean, a revolutionary clinic for cardiovascular diseases in Kingston, Jamaica -- revolutionary for offering first-class health care in a developing nation. He proves that -- with careful design, smart technical choices, and a true desire to serve -- it's possible to offer world-class healthcare in the developing world.