Condoms, sex issues no more a taboo at Jamia
0 views
Skip to first unread message
Avnish Jolly
Sep 14, 2010, 8:47:03 AM9/14/10
to SAFE - Social Action Foundation for Equity
Condoms, sex issues no more a taboo at Jamia
http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/condoms-sex-issues-no-more-a-taboo-at-jamia-51929
Indo-Asian News Service, Updated: September 14, 2010 17:23 IST
Ads by Google
Looking for bright career – Study BBA at IIPM with world class
Academicians & Experts. Apply Now!
www.iipm-iipm.info/BBA
New Delhi: Not so long ago, the mere mention of the word "sex" would
raise eyebrows and spark a debate in Jamia Millia Islamia, recall old-
timers at the 90-year-old university. Today, however, students freely
walk up to a university facility to collect condoms.
The transformation in outlook towards sex-related issues has occurred
partly because the university has taken the lead in setting up a
unique health center, which not only creates awareness about sex-
related health problems like HIV/AIDS but also educates students on
personal hygiene.
"Students used to shy away from any workshop that was related to
physical awareness or sex education for that matter," Abid Hussain,
counsellor at the Youth Friendly Health Care (YFHC) center in Jamia
Millia Islamia, told reporters.
"But the situation has changed to a great degree. Today students come
and ask for condoms without any hesitation. They want to know about
their safety and are ready to take precautions. Self-awareness is on
the rise," added Hussain.
Share on Twitter
Share on Social
Gmail Buzz
Print
What started with small Red Ribbon clubs and weekly National Service
Scheme (NSS) workshops is now a path-breaking health-awareness hub in
the university, he said.
The center's main aim is to promote youth health on the campus and
create awareness about prevention of HIV/AIDS. In 2009-10, there were
7,290 people living with AIDS in the national capital; the disease
affects 2.5 million people in India.
The center has already reached out to nearly 14,000 young people
studying in the sprawling campus of Jamia in the Okhla area of south
Delhi.
"From holding private counselling sessions on HIV/AIDS to giving
condoms to students, this centre is creating awareness in every
possible way," said Hussain, adding that on an average 10-15 students
visit it daily.
The center was inaugurated by Delhi Health Minister Kiran Walia Aug
12, celebrated as the International Youth Day. It was opened in
collaboration with the Delhi State AIDS Control Society (DSACS), under
the Delhi government.
Doctors and youth consultants are available round-the-clock for
personal counselling session with any of its 16,000 students.
"We ensure that every student's privacy is respected. Confidentiality
is a prime issue," added Hussain.
Seeing the popularity of the center, the authorities are now planning
to reach out to more and more students. One way is by roping in the
university's Red Ribbon clubs.
The centre also shares a link with a toll-free helpline that provides
guidance on teenage problems, puberty and other matters of
reproductive health.
Emphasising the importance of opening such a center in the university,
Faizi O. Hashmi, project director of the DSACS, said: "The aim was to
provide clinical services to students on campus and simultaneously
disseminate information pertaining to health and youth awareness
programmes. It's happening now."
The Delhi unit is already running 94 integrated counselling test
centers, nine anti-retroviral treatment centers and five drop-in
centers for those seeking medical help on HIV/AIDS in the city. This
is their first initiative with a university, he said.
According to the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) report for
2008-09, over 35 percent of all reported AIDS cases in India occur
among young people in the age group of 15-24 years, making the group
highly vulnerable.
Unprotected sex is suggested to be the prime reason for the disease
and also the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
"Students want awareness to be presented in an interesting way. So we
combine youth health seminars with vocational trainings such as public
speaking and job-oriented workshops," Tasveer Khan, who has been
organising workshops for the Jamia centre, told reporters.
Coming in soon at the YFHC is an audio-visual room that would screen
documentaries and create awareness through various other multimedia
tools. The counsellor's room also provides literature on youth health
and AIDS awareness.
Students also have a word of praise for the center.
Anjali Arora, a law student in Jamia, told reporters, "We had an hour-
long session on public speaking in the center last week and there was
a short skit on HIV prevention also."
"It actually made me feel responsible towards my safety and health,"
she added.
For NDTV Updates, follow us on Twitter or join us on Facebook
Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/condoms-sex-issues-no-more-a-taboo-at-jamia-51929?cp
http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/condoms-sex-issues-no-more-a-taboo-at-jamia-51929
Indo-Asian News Service, Updated: September 14, 2010 17:23 IST
Ads by Google
Looking for bright career – Study BBA at IIPM with world class
Academicians & Experts. Apply Now!
www.iipm-iipm.info/BBA
New Delhi: Not so long ago, the mere mention of the word "sex" would
raise eyebrows and spark a debate in Jamia Millia Islamia, recall old-
timers at the 90-year-old university. Today, however, students freely
walk up to a university facility to collect condoms.
The transformation in outlook towards sex-related issues has occurred
partly because the university has taken the lead in setting up a
unique health center, which not only creates awareness about sex-
related health problems like HIV/AIDS but also educates students on
personal hygiene.
"Students used to shy away from any workshop that was related to
physical awareness or sex education for that matter," Abid Hussain,
counsellor at the Youth Friendly Health Care (YFHC) center in Jamia
Millia Islamia, told reporters.
"But the situation has changed to a great degree. Today students come
and ask for condoms without any hesitation. They want to know about
their safety and are ready to take precautions. Self-awareness is on
the rise," added Hussain.
Share on Twitter
Share on Social
Gmail Buzz
What started with small Red Ribbon clubs and weekly National Service
Scheme (NSS) workshops is now a path-breaking health-awareness hub in
the university, he said.
The center's main aim is to promote youth health on the campus and
create awareness about prevention of HIV/AIDS. In 2009-10, there were
7,290 people living with AIDS in the national capital; the disease
affects 2.5 million people in India.
The center has already reached out to nearly 14,000 young people
studying in the sprawling campus of Jamia in the Okhla area of south
Delhi.
"From holding private counselling sessions on HIV/AIDS to giving
condoms to students, this centre is creating awareness in every
possible way," said Hussain, adding that on an average 10-15 students
visit it daily.
The center was inaugurated by Delhi Health Minister Kiran Walia Aug
12, celebrated as the International Youth Day. It was opened in
collaboration with the Delhi State AIDS Control Society (DSACS), under
the Delhi government.
Doctors and youth consultants are available round-the-clock for
personal counselling session with any of its 16,000 students.
"We ensure that every student's privacy is respected. Confidentiality
is a prime issue," added Hussain.
Seeing the popularity of the center, the authorities are now planning
to reach out to more and more students. One way is by roping in the
university's Red Ribbon clubs.
The centre also shares a link with a toll-free helpline that provides
guidance on teenage problems, puberty and other matters of
reproductive health.
Emphasising the importance of opening such a center in the university,
Faizi O. Hashmi, project director of the DSACS, said: "The aim was to
provide clinical services to students on campus and simultaneously
disseminate information pertaining to health and youth awareness
programmes. It's happening now."
The Delhi unit is already running 94 integrated counselling test
centers, nine anti-retroviral treatment centers and five drop-in
centers for those seeking medical help on HIV/AIDS in the city. This
is their first initiative with a university, he said.
According to the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) report for
2008-09, over 35 percent of all reported AIDS cases in India occur
among young people in the age group of 15-24 years, making the group
highly vulnerable.
Unprotected sex is suggested to be the prime reason for the disease
and also the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
"Students want awareness to be presented in an interesting way. So we
combine youth health seminars with vocational trainings such as public
speaking and job-oriented workshops," Tasveer Khan, who has been
organising workshops for the Jamia centre, told reporters.
Coming in soon at the YFHC is an audio-visual room that would screen
documentaries and create awareness through various other multimedia
tools. The counsellor's room also provides literature on youth health
and AIDS awareness.
Students also have a word of praise for the center.
Anjali Arora, a law student in Jamia, told reporters, "We had an hour-
long session on public speaking in the center last week and there was
a short skit on HIV prevention also."
"It actually made me feel responsible towards my safety and health,"
she added.
For NDTV Updates, follow us on Twitter or join us on Facebook
Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/condoms-sex-issues-no-more-a-taboo-at-jamia-51929?cp
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages