Oman- UNFPA workshop focuses on adolescent health

(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Muscat- A five-day workshop on adolescent health is being organised by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in cooperation with the Ministry of Education (MoE) and Ministry of Health (MoH). Thirty trainees from MoE and MoH, including 20 from five governorates, are taking part in the workshop.

MoE is being represented by the Directorate General of Education Programmes along with UNFPA-GCC sub-regional office based in Muscat at the workshop which began on Sunday.

The training cum workshop is providing the required skills and capacities to health educators, school nurses and psychological specialists at schools to deal with adolescence and its implications.

Dr Reyem Rabah from Lebanon, an international health and social trainer, is providing training at the workshop.

The workshop aims to introduce trainees on how to disseminate information about adolescent health, taking decisions on adolescent issues and increasing students' self confidence. They will also be taught the physical and psychological needs of adolescents and the concepts associated with this life stage, as well as the accompanying transformations.

They are being taught about developing programmes on psychological, social and physical problems, health habits, lack of self-esteem and drug abuse.

They are also learning about their roles on including the society in dealing with such problems. Trainees are being provided five educational and health manuals developed by UNFPA in collaboration with MoH and MoE.

Shaima Aly, a communications coordinator at UNFPA said, 'The workshop is being organised as an outcome of the continuous cooperation with MoE and MoH this year.

'The training is focusing on important aspects of young lives and improving the trainees' communication skills to address issues associated with this stage of life.

'The aim is to enhance their general knowledge on ways to tackle the challenges youth are facing. This programme comes as part of UNFPA's mandate to improve the lives of youth.'

Khalifa bin Rashid al Hikmani, an official from MoE said, 'Trainees from various parts of the country are taking part. This will help in the disseminationof information in other governorates. We have developed a system to convey positive thinking as adolescence is a tricky topic to deal with.'

Mohammed Abbas Mohammad al Balushi, a supervisor of social guidance, adolescent health, said, 'This is a tabooed topic and I feel one week might not be sufficient as trainees will slowly settle in to the discussion.'

Ibtesam al Rawahy, health awareness specialist, MoE, said, 'The main problem is that young people face isolation, violence, depression, bullying at school, smoking and the use of drugs and electronic blackmailing.

'Students usually refrain from talking about such issues. We will try to address these issues through the training acquired here.'

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