Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan has issued a statement that many look as regressive and has been the subject of much discussion and debate since then. He said that to prevent AIDS, fidelity in marriage is better than use of condoms. Vardhan’s statement has sparked controversies and invited sharp reactions from many. And rightly so because sex education is important for a child during his ‘growing up’ years. Children feel the urge for sex when they are young and if there is no one to guide them, they might end up exploring their sexuality in different ways which might be regretted by them in the long run.
Many teenagers after the age of sixteen or eighteen are sexually active. At such a vulnerable age, they are sensitive when they enter into a relationship and often get carried away to indulge in a physical relationship. Not having sufficient knowledge, they often have unprotected sex which might be dangerous and if they end up in a pregnancy, they are left traumatized for a life time. So it is important that they address their sexual needs and have a healthy discussion about the same at home. Once children gain in-depth knowledge, they can choose what they want for themselves.
I talk about children addressing their sexual needs because sex is a common need of people just like hunger or thirst. Not looking after this need might lead to several mental problems. At the same time, exploring this need without proper knowledge can lead to other problems as well. When it comes to sexual satisfaction, emotions are also involved. Teenagers are immature and their mind changes frequently. Many a times, they take decision for which they have to repent later. Here the role of parents come. They know the best how their kids respond to relationships with the opposite sex and the act of sex itself. They should help their kids to have healthy sexual relationships.
If you keep your kids away from knowledge about sex, you cannot take away their interest from it. Books, magazines and conversation with friends might be their source of knowledge. Young minds can get influenced easily. So sex education is very important in schools. As for not using condoms in order to prevent AIDS, it is the same as saying that don’t eat sweets or else you might get diabetes when you grow old. One needs to grow up and look at the broader picture.
