The Department of Health (DOH) in the Philippines is planning to distribute condoms to students in schools starting next year.
This is to help the department handle the sharp rise of HIV and AIDS among the local youth, Manila Coconuts reported.
In a press conference for the World AIDS Day 2016, Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial told the press that they are working on curbing unprotected sex between students. Because if they really wanna do it, better do it safely right?
The Health Secretary said,
“As soon as we thresh out the strategy with the Department of Education (DepEd), we can distribute (condoms) after providing them proper counseling.”
“Of course, we also have to prepare the school authorities, teachers, principals, healthcare providers.”
Even a priest, Father Dan Cancino expressed worry for the Filipino youths. He said,
“The cases rose, especially for those aged 15 to 24 years old. They are [our] future, our high school and college students.”
It seems like 38,114 HIV cases were reported between 1984 to October 2016. Moreover, 32,099 cases were reported between 2011 to 2016 alone! And among those huge numbers, 10,279 cases were youths between 15 to 24 year olds alone, Inquirer reported.
However, as good as this move seems to be, there are other religious figures against this new campaign. Father Jerome Secillano explained that it was a waste of taxpayers’ money to do such a thing.
The priest added that distributing condoms will do more harm than good. He said,
“Distributing condoms will only condone sexual activity among students.”
This isn’t the first time a government has gone to desperate measures to handle sexual related issues. Previously, an Indonesian minister actually wanted doors in dormitories to be removed so that students won’t have sex.
Read More: Indonesian Minister Wants Dormitory Doors To Be Removed So Students Won’t Have Sex
