KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 8 (Bernama) -- Over the next eight months, the Federation of Reproductive Health Association Malaysia (FRHAM) will impart information on reproductive health to teenage schoolchildren.

This will be carried out through a series of programmes conducted by the association, in collaboration with an international oil company, Chevron Malaysia Limited.

The 'Caltex Body Works' programmes would be held for pupils aged 15-18 at selected schools in Selangor, Perak, Melaka, Terengganu and Kelantan, FRHAM chairman Dr Kamaruzaman Ali told a press conference Monday.

He said imparting sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education to the young was imperative as they needed to know about HIV/AIDS.

"We also hope that by introducing the SRH education to schools, the public would be aware of the importance of life skills and together, advocate for a more comprehensive SRH education into the school curriculum.

"According to the Malaysian Population and Family Survey, about half the adolescents in the country have limited knowledge on sexual and reproductive health," said Kamaruzaman.

Chevron Malaysia Limited country chairman Jeremy Oh said the programme represented the company's belief that fuelling young minds with information and knowledge on reproductive health and diseases would shape them into healthy and responsible adults.

Source: BERNAMA, 8 February 2010