KUCHING: Tackling social issues such as teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are high up on the state government’s to-do list.
Women, Early Childhood and Community Well-being Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said various educational awareness programmes on social issues have been conducted with school students.
“We have been assured (by the federal government) that we can work together with the Education Department to organise various programmes for students especially on social issues like teen pregnancy and STIs.
“As such, we can focus on enhancing understanding and knowledge on matters like teen pregnancy, sexual harassment and STIs among others.
“We want to make sure that our students would not drop out of school for reasons such as if they get pregnant or marry early,” she said.
She said this during a press conference after the official launch of the Sunway Group and Malaysian Aids Foundation (MAF) partnership of Sunway-HOPE Borneo Project at Teratak Kasih Tok Nan here today.
Fatimah stated that her ministry through the Social Development Council (MPS) has conducted over 63 educational awareness programmes throughout Sarawak.
She assured that more will be conducted to ensure social issues can be tackled more holistically.
“The MPS focuses on 14 social issues one of which is STIs/HIV/AIDs. Among the efforts taken to overcome this social issue in the society is through the ‘Dialog Input Komuniti Terhadap Isu Sosial: Penyakit Kelamin, HIV & AIDS’.
“STI is one of the components in the ‘Program Randau Pembangunan Sosial (RPS) which is handled by the AIDS/STIs Disease Control Section of the state Health Department.
“Moreover, STI is also one of the components for ‘Program Intervensi Sosial: Kesedaran dan Advokasi Pendidikan Seksual (KAPS) which aims to increase the understanding of teenage pregnancy, legislation related to sexual crimes, socialising among adolescents, STIs and healthy relationships as well as sex education among students in Sarawak,” she said.
