Isn't prevention better than cure?
By Natascha Heuer
PERTH — During the first term of the school year, the Family Planning Association of Western Australia held a Promoting Adolescent Sexual Health (PASH) course, about sexuality and other sexual issues for 13-19 year olds.
A dozen 15-17 year olds participated in the Friday night group held at the Fremantle Quarry Health Centre. The course covered many issues, including sexually transmitted diseases, HIV/AIDS, sexual assault, gender issues and contraception.
The course wasn't presented in a school-type environment, but in a relaxed atmosphere. It was sponsored by Healthway, whose major campaign is against smoking.
Guest speakers included three young gay people, one of whom is bisexual and was in our Friday group. A young woman who had undergone an abortion at the age of 15 also came and talked about her experience, as did a young man who contracted HIV through unprotected sex.
There are not many opportunities for young people to talk about any aspect of sex and feel completely comfortable expressing their opinions. The course emphasised that young women should empower themselves and assert their rights and needs in any relationships, whether sexual or not.
PASH is being discontinued, as the sponsorship by Healthway has finished. Healthway's policy is that sponsorship lasts for about 18 months.
Not enough money is being spent in either preventive or curative health, and the government would rather spend millions on the military budget. Courses like PASH are greatly needed for young people, especially with a growing number of cases of health problems and teenage pregnancy.