The Director-General, Cross River Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS, Dr Irene Aniyom, has stressed the importance of early sex education to children by parents.
Aniyom told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ugep, Yakur Local Government Area of the state, on Sunday that?availing the children of early educating would help to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS and other sexually-transmitted diseases in the country.
“Parents should?be bothered about and try to be aware of what their children know and are doing and sex is one of such issues that parents must be interested in.
“Indeed, sex education actually starts from home and parents who shy away from it should face it and educate their wards on what they should know about it.''
According to Aniyom,?a child doesn’t need to be 10 years and above before you start discussing sex matters with him or her; you have to start as early as possible.?
The SACA boss recalled how some boys of about 13 years old walked up boldly to demand for condoms at an exhibition ground at the just-concluded Leboku Cultural Festival in Ugep.
“It was disheartening to see such lads display such attitude in the presence of the state governor and other elders but it was a good thing that they now know the dangers associated with unprotected sex”, she stated.
She explained that the distribution of condoms at the festival was informed by the discovery that there were always high sexual activities during such social celebrations in the state.
“We plan to distribute condoms in all festivities taking place across the state this year.” (NAN)