MANILA, Philippines—An overseas Filipino workers group in the Middle East called on the Philippine government Friday to include sex education in the mandatory pre-departure orientation seminars for OFWs.
Migrante-Middle East said the sex education refresher course could be a way to promote awareness and prevention of the dreaded Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
“If sex education is being proposed to be part of elementary education curriculum, the need is more pressing for OFWs’ education about sex and health,” said Migrante-ME regional coordinator John Leonard Monterona.
Monterona cited records from the Department of Health that around 6,500 Filipinos are currently infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes AIDS.
“What is quite alarming is that of the 500 HIV cases that have been reported this year, 67 involved OFWs,” Monterona said.
Monterona said though that the number of OFWs reportedly infected with HIV was “too small” compared with the total number of OFWs around the world, which is estimated at eight to 10 million.
“Still a comprehensive program of educating OFWs how to avoid sexually transmitted diseases like HIV must be crafted and implemented,” he added.
Monterona recalled an incident involving OFWs who were caught having sex on the beach in Dubai, United Arab Emirates two weeks ago.
“It made us think if these OFWs are fully aware and educated on the implications of what they’ve done, aside from once caught they’ll be put to jail, is the risk of being infected with HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases,” he said,
Monterona, however, clarified that the inclusion of sex education in OFWs’ pre-departure orientation seminars must not be made a justification to impose additional charges. –Jerome Aning, Philippine Daily Inquirer
September 18 –
International Equal Pay Day
“Increase wages now,
more than other cost items.
For widespread, practical equality!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the recommendations of the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry
against serious violations of protocols of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association.
Accept the National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
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September –
5 Sept – Intl Day of Charity
7 Sept – Intl Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies
8 Sept – International Literacy Day
12 Sept – United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation
15 Sept – International Day of Democracy
16 Sept – International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer
17 Sept – World Patient Safety Day
18 Sept – International Equal Pay Day
21 Sept – International Day of Peace
26 Sept – International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons
27 Sept – World Tourism Day
28 Sept – International Day for Universal Access to Information
29 Sept – International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste
30 Sept – World Maritime Day
Monthly Observances:
Health, Safety and Sanitation Month
National Clean-up Month
Civil Service Month
National Peace Consciousness Month
Social Security Month
Rule of Law Month
National Teachers’ Month (Sept 5-Oct 4)
Weekly Observances:
Sept 17 – 23:
World Clean and Green Week
Week 2: Education Week
Week 4: Medicine Week
Last Week: National Family Week
Daily Observances:
Third Saturday:
International Coastal Clean-up Day
Third Monday: World Health Day
Last Friday: National Maritime Day
Sept 8: National Literacy Day
Sept 15: Philippine Medicine Day
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