NAMSAI, 7 Apr: The ‘Birds and Bees Talk (BBT)’ was implemented in Arunachal Pradesh on the occasion of World Health Day celebration at the Government Secondary School, Manmow in Namsai district on Wednesday.
The BBT is a comprehensive growing life skills curriculum launched in 2020 by Reckitt Benckiser Health, under its flagship Dettol ‘Banega Swasth India’, in partnership with Primus Partners. Developed for students from ages 10 to 19 of the north-east states, the programme will provide accurate, fact-based and age-appropriate information to help adolescents make informed choices.
Appreciating the intended impact of the programme, Namsai District Deputy Director of School Education Koing Samon Umbon said, “A curriculum such as the one in the ‘Birds and Bees Talk’ is much needed for students in schools because young children spend most of their growing years within the school system and need requisite support to be prepared for the changes that they will go through in their growing years”.
She further emphasised the importance of mental health and requested teachers to provide counselling assistance to students.
DPO Dr Myakan Thamoung spoke on personal health and hygiene, changes during puberty, as well as healthy habits to be followed during adolescent years.
He pointed out, “It is very important to maintain the hygiene of private parts to avoid infections. Emotional and physical changes and feelings while growing up is normal, but a student should make right and informed decisions and not be influenced by peer pressure.”
He also updated on the Covid status in the state and the importance of maintaining Covid protocols.
Headmaster Fanya Mesia Tangjang said, “Programmes like the ‘Birds and Bees Talk’ are necessary for our students. The content covered in the program is interactive, informative, and relatable and I envision that our students and teachers will benefit greatly.”
Under the BBT curriculum, teachers from enrolled schools will be appointed and equipped with complete programme essentials, including teaching methods and lessons.
The training of these teachers will begin shortly to help them execute this curriculum in a developmentally appropriate and engaging way. The unique design of the programme comprises 27 lessons, allowing the schools to teach in a staggered format, spread over the year.
Close to 130 students from Government Secondary School, Manmow were in attendance for the World Health Day celebration.
The day’s events also included an interactive session and informative activities.
