Lifestyle

Cayman Islands releases report on adolescent health and sexuality

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  1. The Ministry of Health has with stakeholders developed the CI National Health Policy and Strategic Plan and is underway to develop the National Health Operational Plan to accompany the Policy. The Operational Plan will initiate and strengthen areas of health care that will support the health of adolescents in the Cayman Islands.
  2. The Ministry of Health has also commenced, along with the newly formed Mental Health Commission, training to accompany the Mental Health Law 2013, for front line personnel and others who in the performance of their duties may interact with adolescents.
  3. The Cayman Islands Government along with various private stakeholders created the CI National Sports Policy, and the Ministry of Sports is now working with the Strategic Sports Advisory Group (SSAG) to develop the comprehensive plan to accompany it, which will include aspects specifically tailored for our adolescent population.
  4. Since 2012, the Ministry of Education has ensured that canteen guidelines and policies are in place in the government schools, which will help with adolescent nutritional concerns.
  5. The Ministry responsible for Gender Affairs has noted that if the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) is extended to the Cayman Islands one requirement is for both sexes to have access to information on health services, which will mitigate some of the concerns highlighted by the report.
  6. The Ministry of Health is looking at ways to improve adolescent health services.
  7. A programme is currently being conducted by CI Red Cross with funding from the Cayman Islands Government in the high schools “It’s not your fault”, and another conducted at the Early Childhood Centres with a focus on “touching.” Both programmes are to mitigate sexual abuse.

Published May 13, 2015

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