Parents Only Worried About Yaqona Sessions, says Village representative
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) was one of the major health concerns highlighted during a two-day training programme in Nabena Village, Naitasiri.
The joint project with the Ministry of Health was attended by about 130 villagers the 16 districts of Naitasiri.
These included 21 turaga-ni-koro (village headmen), 18 mata-ni-tikina (district representatives) and 30 community health workers (nasi-ni-koro).
For turaga-ni-koro, mata-ni-tikina and community health workers in Naitasiri this is a first of its its kind for the province.
Mata-ni-Tikina of Waima Onama Tunidau during his presentation said the spread of STIs in Naitasiri because of parental negligence.
“Many of us parents are focused more on other people and commitments than our children,” Mr Tunidau said.
“At times the children will cook their own breakfast before they go to school and in the afternoon they will return from school and cook dinner again.
“Most parents are only worried about not missing their yaqona sessions.
“Children at home need our care and love while both parents grouping over a bowl of grog.”
Mr Tunidau said another problem which led to the spread of STIs was excess freedom given to the children in villages and districts.
“We let them go and do whatever they want and at times we use the name of the church and activities to be the reason of our children leaving our house. That shouldn’t be the case,” he said.
“Most of the time parents leave their children to attend youth rallies and meet in other villages where they will spend two to three days without supervision.
“What else do we expect after they return?” he asked the participants.
“These are the contributing factors to teenage pregnancies which sometimes lead to STIs if they are not careful.”
Mr Tunidau urged parents to discuss with their children the changes in their bodies, especially when they reach puberty.
“Let your daughters know when they can conceive and let your sons know the time they can impregnate a lady. This is not something to hide so we can not only prevent STIs but also prevent teenage pregnancy,” he said.
Mr Tunidau said another contribution to the spread of STIs was cheating on one’s spouse.
“While your wife is at home sleeping, you the husband is serving another lady’s grog,” he said.
“This will end up in broken homes.”
Workshop facilitator Peni Vailave from the National Wellness Centre emphasised that most of the problems faced today and all those that reach hospital started from home.
He said the solutions were also in the homes.
More than 130 villagers attended the training. They came from the 16 districts of Naitasiri.
Edited by Rusiate Mataika
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