Sewalanka’s Psychosocial team, in partnership with the World Health Organisation, recently completed a program promoting sexual and social awareness among adolescents in the Jaffna Peninsula.

The program was initiated after investigations by WHO found that as a result of more than 20 years of instability and conflict, the majority of adolescents in the area remain poorly informed on issues relating to reproductive health.

This ignorance combined with crowded housing conditions, particularly in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, has led to the region reporting high rates of child abuse and teenage pregnancy.

To help rectify the situation WHO and Sewalanka decided to conduct an intensive program aimed at spreading awareness and understanding of topics regarding sexual health in the district. Working with local health ministry and education officials, Sewalanka devised a program covering sexual health, simple first aid, oral hygiene and child abuse to be conducted in schools across the Peninsula. Given traditional reluctance to address issues concerning reproduction at home, teachers were seen to be the most effective means of disseminating information on adolescent health.

Sewalanka’s Psychosocial Advisor Mr T Amuthan said that staff held discussions with local teachers to determine which topics would be most relevant to local communities and then in partnership with local health workers conducted a series of workshops in schools throughout Jaffna.

“While introducing reproductive health concepts to children, the workshops were also intended to inform teachers how to effectively discuss sexual health topics with students,” Mr Amuthan said.

“A booklet on reproductive health and related issues was published by WHO to complement the initiative and it is hoped that copies of the booklet which provides information on issues relating to puberty can be distributed to every high school student in the Peninsula.

“Over a hundred schools were covered by the program and I am happy to report that the impact of the initiative has been significant, given that this is the first time a comprehensive adolescent health awareness program has been conducted in the region,” he said.

The project is expected to remain sustainable as the program will be put into constant practice by teachers who will continue to work with young people. Sewalanka plans to extend the scheme to other areas in the north and east, particular those severely affected by the war where children remain poorly informed and vulnerable.