Health expert urges greater care for adolescents

A public-health expert at the University of Technology (UTech) is stressing the importance of health education for all teachers, from kindergarten to the tertiary level, to combat the rising levels of ill health among adolescents.

Professor Winston Davidson, head of the School of Public Health and Technology, was speaking amid calls from the Ministry of Health for increased support in adolescent health care.

During a courtesy call made by United States Ambassador to Jamaica, Pamela Bridgewater, Dr Jean Dixon, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health, said there was particular concern about the 10-19 age group and young girls in particular.

"We have seen a relatively high prevalence of HIV/AIDS infection, the levels of teen pregnancies are still not where we would want them to be, there has been an increase in the rate of suicide among them and general deviant behaviour," Dixon said.

She also noted that the ministry needed to find other ways to get "the desired behaviour change" from this age group and highlighted public education as a key component in any development initiative.

However, Davidson pointed to education of teachers specifically as the more sustainable development initiative that can be implemented to tackle ill health among adolescents.

"Guidance counselling is just a small area. Every teacher should have training in health and science and every teacher also has to be an adviser," he said. "Teachers need to understand why a child is behaving in a particular way. It is an urgent necessity."

Davidson also noted that a "revolutionary change" was required in teaching and application so as to adapt to the popularity of self-learning.

"This is going to be a major challenge to our teachers who are not up to date. Information is not locked up in the walls of libraries and schools anymore," he said.

Get rid of prejudices

Speaking to HIV/AIDS, Davidson said despite the improvements the country has made towards HIV/ AIDS prevention and treatment, society needs to be rid of prejudices and "biblical biases".

He said: "At the present time, wearing a condom and maintaining a healthy lifestyle works, but we need to educate on the science of HIV/AIDS.

"Every Jamaican should be a scientist," he said.

Davidson pointed out that the more the health sector is informed about the condition, the more preventative measures might be put in place to stop it from spreading.

With regard to suicide, depression is the most prominent factor, according to the UTech professor.

"Crises in home life and economic downturn always seem to lead to an increase in suicides.

"A high level of materialism has permeated our consciousness," he said.

Bridgewater, on her visit to the ministry's head office, said adolescent health was one of her government's interests and she was keen on discussions with the ministry.