Namchi students made aware on negative impacts of early marriage

NAMCHI, 29 Oct [IPR]: To bring about awareness among adolescent students regarding the negative impact of early marriage on health, Health Department Namchi District Hospital organized a debate competition today in the conference hall of the district hospital. The topic for the debate was “Early Marriage - the main reason for School Dropouts”. Class XII students of Government Girls Senior Secondary School Namchi argued against the topic while boys from Government Senior Secondary School Namchi debated in favor of the topic.
Highlighting on the problem of early marriage, Principal of Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Archana Gurung, present as the chief guest, said that every student is an investment for the state government and even one drop out is a loss for the government.
On the views and issues discussed by the students in the contest, the Principal commended the students for bringing up issues which are considered taboo in the society. Terming the student participants as ambassadors of all the students since they have witnessed and participated in the program she requested them to spread the message to their fellow students regarding the unconstructive consequences of early marriage and dropouts.
Adolescence is a phase of confusion when students tend to act on impulse said the Principal and advised them to seek counsel on important matters from their teachers, elders or parents to solve their dilemma. She thanked the health department for arranging this program and asked them to conduct similar programs in the schools for the benefit of students.
CMO South Namchi District Hospital, Dr Bimal Rai remarked that this contest was organized mainly to assess the perception of students on the issue of early marriage and school dropout. He lauded the efforts of the students in presenting their views and opinions on the topic which he said was impressive. Dr Bimal further said that the objective is also to involve adolescent students in this type of activity to bring about awareness in them. Discussing the harmful effects of early marriage and school dropout in depth will go on to change the society and many negative social issues can be reduced, said Dr Rai. Presenting his views on early marriage, he said that early marriage leads to number of maternal and infant deaths and harmful diseases like HIV, STDs in youngsters. He informed that this is the first time in the district hospital that this type of program is being held and that the main objective is to bring about awareness on the negative impacts on the health of girls due to early marriage.
Girls of Government Girls Senior Secondary School Namchi were declared the winners of the debate competition while the boys of Government Senior Secondary School Namchi became the runners up. They received trophies from the chief guest and Mahesh Rai was declared the best speaker amongst the participants. The contest was judged by Dr Ugen Sherpa [DNO], Dr Junita Yonzon [DRCHO South] and BK Pradhan [Deputy Secretary Health Department Namchi].
The program was also addressed by Passang Bhutia [President of Drishti NGO]. Others present were vice principal Girls School, Basanti Sharma, Teacher Senior Secondary School, NT Lepcha, Deputy Director IEC Cell, CR Pradhan, staffs of IEC Cell and ASHA members.