The Vientiane Youth Centre for Health and Development and the Vientiane Women's Union jointly launched a new telephone counselling hotline service targeting young people, at the Lao-ITECC on Tuesday.
The launch featured a number of events, including a performance of traditional dance, a drama production by members of the centre, and a music concert by hot local bands Namtao and Fuzion.
The event was an opportunity to raise public awareness of the hotline, which offers young men and women a convenient telephone counselling service on reproductive health, HIV, AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and drug issues.
The service was first begun in November 2007, and has received on average 8-10 telephone calls a day.
Calls received to date predominantly relate to young people's health, including questions about menstruation, pregnancy, and protection against STDs and unwanted pregnancy.
To supplement the services available at the youth centre, referral and counselling networks with selected hospitals and clinics have been established, to provide youth-friendly services.
“The purpose of the telephone hotline is to provide confidential, non-judgemental counselling services that address young people's concerns, and provides information and knowledge on issues that are important to them,” said the President of the Vientiane Women's Union, Ms Naly Phommunivong, during the event.
“The telephone service does not just provide standard advice, but helps empower young women and men to make decisions themselves,” she said.
“This hotline will build on the successes of the established youth services provided by the Vientiane Youth Centre. It will offer youth from varied backgrounds and circumstances fast, accurate and confidential information, backed by youth-friendly counselling and advice,” she said.
“The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is very pleased to have been a partner to the youth centre since its inception, by providing ongoing support for the development of programmes to respond to young people's sexual and reproductive health needs,” said the attending representative for UNFPA, Ms Mieko Yabuta.
UNFPA is an international development agency that promotes the right of every woman and man to enjoy a life of health and equal opportunity, to ensure that every pregnancy and birth is safe, all young people are free of HIV and AIDS, and every girl and woman is treated with dignity and respect.
“Some are of the opinion that the provision of information on sexual and reproductive health may make young people more promiscuous. But evidence suggests that when young people are equipped with accurate information and skills, they are more likely to better cope with peer pressure, understand and respect others' needs, and become better partners,” said Ms Yabuta.
“The telephone hotline is a new way of ensuring that young people can access confidential, accurate information about vital issues related to their reproductive health, HIV and AIDS, sexually transmitted infections and drugs,” said the Chief of the Communication Section of UNICEF, Mr Simon Ingram.
“Being the first initiative of its kind in Laos , the hotline is the result of excellent collaboration between UNICEF, UNFPA and the Vientiane Youth Centre, with the support of the Lao Women's Union of Vientiane,” he said.
Young people in Laos are growing up in a time of rapid social and economic development. This brings with it not only great opportunities, but also great risks.
To reduce these risks, young people need a supportive environment - both in and out of school, where they can develop positive attitudes, and make informed choices about health and other critical issues in their lives.
“We want to encourage young people to actively participate in addressing these issues, in an open and frank manner, whether they concern sexuality, drugs, or other life choices,” explained Mr Ingram.
“UNICEF and our partners at UNFPA stand ready to support the Vientiane Youth Centre in promoting and operating this hotline, to ensure that the service benefits as many individuals as possible.”
1) How many Laotians have access to telephone 2) Are these young operators an expert or are they just reading stuff out of the book. 3) Train people who will be a counselor and specialized in this field. Place them at certain school so they can help the student directly. (which they are doing but with the money use to run this operation, it is better to set up office and staff them with a counselor) 4) Education. Teach and inform the students in school about these problems. Those are few ideas.
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"Because I criticized Laos government and it policies, it does not mean I want Laos to remain poor nor do I think Lao people are lazy or uneducated."
I think telephone is the most powerful way to discuss and consult about sex related issues. why? becuase many people don't want other to know who they are and where they are from.
