Project by TNMU Students “Sex Education” is Becoming More and More Popular
The project “Sex education” is initiated and implemented by the students of I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University and is becoming more and more popular among schoolchildren every year. Many teenagers want to be prepared and aware of what their parents cannot always tell them. During the last year within this project, the students of Ternopil National Medical University delivered 41 lectures in forms 8-11 of secondary schools. According to Darina Shandruk, a 5th-year student, one of the organizers of the project, we know that children listen to lectures enthusiastically, willing to contact, because the students raise a really important social topic, which, unfortunately, is not fully covered during studying at school. Another problem is that a large number of teachers and parents are ashamed to talk about it with their children.
During the lectures, pupils study the following topics:
- Anatomy of the male and female reproductive systems;
- Menstruation – what is it in terms of body needs?
- Sex and how to understand it from a physiological and psychological point of view;
- Popular myths and how to analyse them?
- Contraception and its types;
- Early pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.
During the last month, 4 lectures were organized: 2 for students of 3-4 courses of the Department of Economics and Tourism of the V. Chornovil Galician College and 2 lectures for students of form 10 of Ternopil Pedagogical Lyceum.
For student volunteers, this is a great opportunity to improve their social skills and then communicate effectively with patients. According to Valeria Blahuliak, a third-year student of the Faculty of Medicine, who has been a volunteer speaker of the project “Sex Education” for two years already, this activity brings satisfaction to future doctors. “I love talking to children and seeing how they understand more and more clearly with each new fact. I am happy when I hear any questions, when I realize that now they are not alone with this problem and they will know what to do at the right time”, Valeria shared her impressions.
Yanina Chaikivska, TNMU Press Secretary
Photos by project participants