Reports coming out of the twin island republic of Trinidad and Tobago have revealed that at least five primary school students have tested positive for the HIV virus and several other students have engaged in sexual activities “willingly”.
Parliamentarians in the land of the hummingbird were given the frightening details by officials from the Ministries of Education and Health who appeared before a Joint Select Committee (JSC) of Parliament on Wednesday.
The officials confirmed that the five students, aged seven to 11, and including three girls were receiving treatment.
“They will remain in the system unless their health factors should warrant that they should be removed,” said Guidance Officer in Ministry of Education Darlene Smith, noting that the ministry believes in inclusive education and they should be treated in the same manner as other students.
Addressing the JSC on the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), specialist medical officer Dr Aruna Divakaruni said a significant number of school aged children had sought the services of the Queen’s Park Counselling Centre.
“Most of them are school children. They have older partners. Most of the time they are abused by stepfathers or a brother or cousin or somebody like that,” she said, adding “others [are] engaged in sexual activity willingly”.
