Let’s talk about teens and sex
It is worrying to learn that cases of HIV/AIDS among adolescents in the country have increased slightly.
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Since HIV/AIDS is a deadly disease, one would have thought that with the amount of information available, everybody would ensure maximum protection at all times.
Unfortunately, the lifestyle of adolescents now, particularly those between 15 and 19 years, is opening them up to HIV and AIDS. (See story on Page 3)
According to Dr Stephen Ayisi Addo, the Programme Manager of the National AIDS/STIs Control Programme, some adolescents are engaging in sex and once they are doing so without protection, they are at risk of being infected with the disease.
It is, therefore, not surprising that the records show that in 2012, out of every 1,000 adolescents aged between 15 and 19 years, seven were infected with the disease but in 2014 the figure has increased to nine out of every 1,000.
Since young people are aware that it is wrong to start having sex at their ages, they would not want anyone to know what they are up to so it is important that youngsters are given all the relevant information regularly about their sexuality and diseases like HIV/AIDS and STIs so that they can make informed decisions.
At their ages, adolescents want to experiment with everything they hear about and sometimes these actions could lead them into trouble or even cause death.
That is the reason why once children reach puberty they should be educated on the emotional changes they would be experiencing and taught how to cope with them so that they do not ignorantly engage in avoidable acts which could cost them dearly later.
In many African societies, including Ghana, talking about sex with young people is considered a taboo; as a result, young people are left to grope in the dark about their sexuality and emotions, only for them to end up messing up their bright future as a result of ignorance and half-truths.
No parent would want to see his or her child suffer HIV/AIDS so it is time to start talking to youngsters about sex to protect them from this menace.
The Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Ghana Health Service (GHS) need to collaborate and find the best ways of reach all shades of young people to help them make the best choices for themselves and not waste their lives as a result of lack of information.
