THE Quezon City government has taken the lead in promoting healthy lifestyle among the youth focusing on addressing the perils of teenage pregnancy, drug and alcohol abuse, among others.
City Mayor Herbert Bautista will mount an adolescent health summit to promote a healthy lifestyle among the youth, particularly high school students, on December 6 at the Quezon Memorial Circle.
With a theme “To Catch You, Hold You and Never Let You Go,” the activity will be highlighted by a video advocacy launch on the perils of teenage pregnancy and a teen walk by students from the city’s different public schools and out-of-school youth, he said.
The city government will provide the youth with more access to medical services relevant to reproductive health and development, and preventive education programs drug abuse.
“The summit is a vital part of the city government’s continuing effort to address adolescent pregnancies,” Bautista said in a statement.
City health officials said high adolescent pregnancy also means high risk of maternal death.
For other physical and mental health concerns such substance abuse, habitual tardiness, absenteeism, poor health conditions, campus conflicts, bullying and growing possibility of injuries and accidents resulting from impaired judgment will likewise be discussed as these factors contribute largely to students’ encountering drugs and alcohol problems.
Peer influence has been cited as the most common cause of drug abuse.
According to the Quezon City Anti-Drug Abuse Advisory Council, chaired by Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte, the profile of drug abusers in Quezon City based on the cases reported from 2002 to 2010 was within the age range of 12 to 17 years old when most of the students have entered high school.