'Make sex education compulsory in schools'

COIMBATORE: Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Sunday advocated making sex education compulsory in schools for children above 13.
   
As there was no awareness about HIV/AIDS among the public and also younger minds, those affected and infected by the disease were marginalised by the society, Chidambaram said.
   
Once sex education was made compulsory and introduced for children in the age group 12 to 13 years, this could pave way for creating awareness among the public, he said, inaugurating a 'home for children, affected by HIV/AIDS', built by a charitable trust on the city outskirts.
   
Though there was no vaccine to cure the disease, medicines were available to prevent transmission of the virus from mother to the child, the minister said.
   
The highly expensive medicines were being made available in the government hospitals and by some NGOs, Chidambaram added.