A comprehensive sexuality education module is to be included in the United Nations Population Fund’s (UNPFA) Health and Family Life Education (HFLE) Programme, given that teenage pregnancy is still very prevalent in the Caribbean.
UNPFA’s Caribbean Director Alison Drayton gave an indication of this as she met on Monday with Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment Charles Griffith who noted that although teen pregnancy is not out of control in Barbados, the UNPFA’s assistance could help prevent the incidence of teenage pregnancy from rising.
“As you’re very well aware, the Caribbean overall – fortunately, not Barbados per se – has some of the highest rates of adolescent pregnancy in the world. As a region, we’re second only to Sub-Saharan Africa,” Drayton said.
Griffith added that while the HFLE is primarily taught in the school setting, it could expand beyond that and be taken into communities.
“So, for those who may not be involved at the school level, then at the community level when we do our programmes we can infuse a whole lot of what you’re doing into our programme,” he told Drayton.
The UNPFA, the UN’s sexual and reproductive health agency, seeks to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, and to end preventable maternal death, gender-based violence and other harmful practices by 2030, as well as to help every young person fulfill their potential.
Against that background, Griffith said his ministry was willing to work with the UNFPA in implementing aspects of their programme to provide necessary training and information for young people in a wide range of areas.
He said one of the avenues for that would be through summer camps once they resume later this year.
“It is expected that with the relaxing of the COVID protocols, that we can go back to summer camps…. So, that is one captive group that I believe we can focus on, in relation to delivering your programme. In addition to that, we have several sporting initiatives, sports training programmes – that is again at community level – where your programme can come in,” he said.
During her meeting with Griffith, Drayton also touched on the issue of high unemployment among the youth, violence against women and girls, and the need for young people to have proper nutrition.
UNFPA has provided support to the Caribbean since 1969 and remains the largest international source of population assistance to governments, non-governmental organisations and civil society.
The agency has assisted Barbados with the improvement of its National Strategic Adolescent Health and Development Plan, and Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Programmes. (BT/BGIS)
