Investing in adolescents can reduce HIV – UNICEF

MANILA, Philippines – More focus in reaching adolescents is needed, said UNICEF, as investing in the world’s 1.2 billion adolescents can break cycles of poverty and inequity, and reduce the risk of HIV in the country.

UNICEF underscored this today (March 2) when it launched its 2011 State of the World’s Children Report entitled “Adolescence: An Age of Opportunity” in Quezon City.

High school students at Parañaque National High School watch the interactive video Power of You to learn about responsible choices and protection from HIV and AIDS. Credit: BALUTI (Batang Laging Umiiwas sa Tiyak na Impeksyon)

According to UNICEF, not all adolescents go to school — only about 60% of children attend secondary school.

This puts them at a disadvantage since “without education, adolescents cannot develop the knowledge and skills they need to navigate the risks of exploitation, abuse and violence that are at height during the second decade of life,” UNICEF said in a statement.

“Adolescence is a pivot point–an opportunity to consolidate the gains we have made in early childhood or risk seeing those gains wiped out,” Anthony Lake, UNICEF executive director, said. “We need to focus more attention now on reaching adolescents–especially adolescent girls–investing in education, health and other measures to engage them in the process of improving their own lives.” A critical time

The age of 10-19 (adolescence, as defined by UNICEF) is critically important as this is when inequities and poverty manifest starkly.

Adolescents who are poor or marginalized are more likely to be exploited, abused, and exposed to violence, including child labor and child marriage especially if they are girls, said UNICEF.

Some 22% of the population in 2007, or 20 million, in the Philippines are adolescents.

UNICEF also revealed that in the country, about 1.4 million young people aged 15 to 24 are unemployed as many of them do not possess the skills required by an increasingly technological labor market. As a result, their talents are wasted and there is a lost opportunity for communities.

HIV risk going up

UNICEF also highlighted the fact that one-third of new HIV infections in the country are among people aged 15-24 years old. The number has increased ten-fold from 2007 (41 cases) to 2010 (489 cases).

“There is no doubt that HIV + AIDS in the Philippines has an adolescent face. We know from research and findings around the world that youth need sound and accurate information on sexual and reproductive health to protect them from teen pregnancy, early marriage, gender-based violence, risky social and sexual behaviors, and STIs [sexually-transmitted infections] and HIV. We cannot be complacent any longer about the rate of new HIV infections. Infections in the Philippines are increasing at an alarming rate,” said Vanessa Tobin, UNICEF country representative.

Dr. Enrique Tayag, director of the DOH’s National Epidemiology Center, cited the 2010 UNAIDS Global Report, and said the Philippines is one of 7 countries with increasing HIV cases. The other countries are Armenia, Bangladesh, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.

UNICEF reported that not all adolescents in the country have access to HIV information. A recent survey showed that only 18-24% of young people aged 15-17 years old considered high risk were able to answer 5 simple questions about HIV.

“The best prevention we can take is education,” said Dr. Lolita Andrada, Director IV of the Bureau of Secondary Education, Department of Education.

Investments needed

UNICEF identified key areas which need targeted investments to help adolescents deal with these challenges:

1. education and training to help adolescents “to lift themselves out of poverty and contribute to their national economies”; 2. advocacy for expanded opportunities for youth participation. These include national youth councils, youth forums, online activism and other avenues to let the youth’s voices be heard; and, 3. laws, policies and programs protecting the rights of both children and adolescents

In conclusion, the report said young people must be given the tools to improve their lives. “Only then will we foster a generation of economically independent citizens who are fully engaged in civic life and able to actively contribute to their economies,” said UNICEF.

“Millions of young people around the world are waiting for a greater action by all of us,” Lake added. –ABS-CBN