TEAM HERALD
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PANJIM: The Directorate of Health Services will integrate around 30 counsellors recruited in the recent past to re-launch their teen health services under the re-branding of Yuva Clinics as they move to refocus on Adolescent Reproductive & Sexual Health Services.
Speaking to Herald, Dr Jose de Sa, of the State Family Welfare Bureau said that the counsellors was being posted to help guide the young people growing into adults, to answer questions that they may not ask anybody else.
“The Central Government has been stressing that if we focus on adolescent health, a lot of diseases and infections acquired during adulthood can be avoided. We can educate them about reproductive systems and hygiene. Besides, both boys and girls have a lot of questions at this stage about reproduction, menstruation, etc. We want to answer them,” Dr de Sa said adding that there are a lot of cases of infections in teens which they often keep silent about in order to avoid embarrassment and these clinics were to help them speak about it.
The Directorate of Health Services earlier had started ‘teen clinics’ for the same purpose, but according to admissions by health officials themselves, they were not functioning satisfactorily.
This time the counsellors are expected to assist the Medical Officer at the respective Health Centre ~government primary, community and urban health centres from where the ‘Yuva Clinic’ will function.
There are currently 19 health centre, five community health centres and four urban health centres.
The moves are as part of the governments Adolescent Reproductive and Sexual Health (ARSH) programmes in schools.
On Friday, a Yuva Clinic was inaugurated at Primary Health Centre, Corlim on Friday. Medical Officer In-charge Dr Kedar Raikar speaking on the occasion of the inauguration said that this clinic will cater to all teens under the jurisdiction of Primary Health Centre Corlim and any teen with problems related to health and other problems such as depression, stress, tension, etc.
