Adolescent friendly clinics in the pipeline
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 09, 2012:
For the first time in Manipur, adolescent friendly health clinics would be opened in CHCs and PHCs of every district for timely examination and treatment of health problems suffered by boys and girls in the age group of 11-19 years.
It is expected that these clinics can reduce health hazards suffered by young boys and girls due to their embarrassment to disclose health problems particularly sexual problems to their parents, relatives and elders.
Whereas the rate of transmission of HIV and Hepatitis C through sexual route is high, adolescents are shy about talking sexual health matters with their parents or elders in the Manipuri society.
On the other hand, no effective policy can be implemented in Manipur under which adolescents can be imparted proper knowledge about sexual health and sex related matters.
Nevertheless, it is expected that these shortfalls can be mitigated to some extent through the adolescent friendly health clinics which are being targeted for establishment by November this year.
The proposed adolescent friendly health clinics are part of the Adolescent Reproductive and Sexual Health Programmes being implemented under Reproductive Child Health, Phase II (RCH-II) and the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM).
These programmes were specifically taken up in view of the increasing cases of sex before marriage, early marriage, infections in reproductive tract, rising cases of STIs, abortions etc.
Talking with TSE on the adolescent friendly health clinics, Deputy Director of the State Health Society Dr Ibemcha said that adolescent friendly health clinics have been opened in most of the Indian States under the RCH-II which has been implemented since 2005. Though it was somewhat late, the process to open similar clinics in Manipur is almost complete.
Health centres where such clinics would be opened have been identified and the requisite manpower and infrastructure have also been put in place.
What is yet to be completed is imparting training to doctors, ANM nurses and counsellors.
It was being targeted to open the clinics by November at the latest, said Dr Ibemcha.
The adolescent friendly clinics would be opened at Moirang CHC, Nambol CHC and all PHCs of Bishnupur district, four CHCs and PHCs in Chandel district, CHC Parbung and five PHCs in Churachandpur district, CHC Jiribam, CHC Sagolmang and 11 PHCs in Imphal East district, CHC Wangoi, CHC Sekmai and five PHCs in Imphal West district, CHC Mao, CHC Kangpokpi and five PHCs in Senapati district, CHC Nungba and four PHCs in Tamenglong district, CHC Heirok, CHC Lilong, CHC Sugnu, CHC Kakching, CHC Yairipok and five PHCs in Thoubal district, CHC Kamjong and five PHCs in Ukhrul district.
Similar clinics would also be opened in all district hospitals from next year.
The adolescent friendly health clinics would cater to reproductive tract infections, sexually transmitted infections, post and pre-natal health problems and other health problems suffered adolescents.
These adolescent friendly health clinics would be run in such a manner that young boys and girls do not feel shy or embarrassed to visit them.
In addition to treating their health problems, young boys and girls would be given counselling at the clinics.
Boys and girls would be given proper counselling on such topics like hygiene, use of contraceptives, drug abuse, anxiety, sexual diseases, tendency to commit suicide.
Boys and girls in the age group of 11-19 years would be given iron folic acid tablets at the clinics, if required.
Each of these clinics would have two doctors, two lady health visitors or two ANM nurses and counsellors for integrated counselling and testing.
These clinics would opened only on Fridays between 2 pm to 4 pm, Dr Ibemcha said.
One girl student reading in class X at TG Higher Secondary school said that they are eager to learn about sex and sex related matters just like all their peers in other parts of the world.
"We receive many sex related pictures, and information through different media but we have no idea how genuine or authentic these information are", she said.
"Though many of us have been enduring sexual health problems, we are unable to disclose our condition to our parents and elders out of shame".
The girl also conveyed her desire to open the clinics twice a week and a few hours more.
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