REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH PROGRAMMES FOR MALAYSIAN TEENAGE SCHOOLCHILDREN

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 8 (Bernama) -- Over the next eight months, the Federation
of Reproductive Health Association Malaysia (Frham) will impart information on
reproductive health to teenage schoolchildren.

This will be carried out through a series of programmes conducted by the
association, in collaboration with an international oil company, Chevron
Malaysia Limited.

The 'Caltex Body Works' programmes would be held for pupils aged 15-18 at
selected schools in states of Selangor, Perak, Melaka, Terengganu and Kelantan,
Frham chairman Dr Kamaruzaman Ali told a press conference Monday.

He said imparting sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education to the
young was imperative as they needed to know about HIV/AIDS.

"We also hope that by introducing the SRH education to schools, the public
would be aware of the importance of life skills and together, advocate for a
more comprehensive SRH education into the school curriculum.

"According to the Malaysian Population and Family Survey, about half the
adolescents in the country have limited knowledge on sexual and reproductive
health," said Kamaruzaman.

Chevron Malaysia Limited country chairman Jeremy Oh said the programme
represented the company's belief that fuelling young minds with information and
knowledge on reproductive health and diseases would shape them into healthy and
responsible adults.
-- BERNAMA