Health info campaign for teens on

The Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society (POGS) and Sanofi-Synthelabo Philippines are spearheading an education campaign for teenagers dubbed "Adolescent Health Issues and Perspectives."

The campaign, which will tackle reproductive health concerns among adolescents, seeks to increase the basic knowledge of sex among the youth who comprises 19.72 percent of the Philippine population. Adolescents are young people between the ages of 10 and 19.

More than one billion young people are entering their reproductive years – the largest generation in history. To reach their potential, POGS and Sanofi-Synthelabo believe that the youth must be empowered with the facts and services they need to make informed reproductive health decisions that are best for them.

Providing adolescents with sexual and reproductive health education contributes to higher levels of sexual abstinence, according to POGS president Dr. Rosendo Roque.

"Proper education is the best strategy to prevent unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)," he said.

Thus, the project will focus on issues that address the physical, mental and emotional well-being of adolescents, including reproductive health issues like unwanted pregnancy, unsafe abortion, sexually transmitted infections, HIV/AIDS, and all forms of sexual violence and coercion.

Through this project, Sanofi-Synthelabo will provide the venue for doctors to reach out to the youth. Campus lecture tours will be organized where the POGS doctors will counsel young students on sexual health and development, fertility awareness, and the consequences of sexual behavior, among other things.

Roque said, "We hope to inculcate the practical burden of unplanned pregnancy and STDs with this project."

Health authorities have cautioned that there is a growing number of unwanted pregnancies among young girls in the country. A study by the Department of Health reveals that one out of every 10 adolescent girls has given birth.

Realizing that adolescent health and development has evolved into a primary concern in society, POGS and Sanofi-Synthelabo have joined hands to provide guidance and support to young people through a sexuality education program created especially for them.

The partnership was formalized with the recent signing of a memorandum of agreement between representatives of the two parties in brief ceremonies held at the Oakwood Premier Hotel in Makati City.

POGS is an organization primarily organized to improve the quality of women’s health in the country, while Sanofi-Synthelabo, the maker of Lactacyd, is a research-based pharmaceutical company dedicated to bringing innovative therapeutic solutions to patients and physicians worldwide.

Since 2002, POGS and Sanofi-Synthelabo have been actively engaged in conducting a nationwide Cervical Cancer Screening Program to enable more women to have access to free pap smear tests and help curb the incidence of the disease through early detection and management.

"Proper feminine hygiene is key to the prevention of infections among women," said Lactacyd product manager Agnes Francisco.

The 2004 board of trustees of POGS include Roque, Dr. Evelyn Palaypayon, vice president; Dr. Susan Nagtalon, secretary: Dr. Sylvia Carnero, treasurer; and Dr. Ditas Decena, PRO. Board members are Doctors Mayumi Bismark, Lourdes Capito, Mario Festin, Gil Gonzalez, Rogelio Mendiola and Regta Pichay.

Officials of Sanofi-Synthelabo who were present at the MOA signing were Francisco, Caloy Realuyo, director of the Primary Healthcare Division; Penn Policarpio, marketing director; and Cheryl Ann Serrano, communications manager.