26/03/2023                                                                            
                                    
                                                                            
                                            THE ECHO | NEWS UPDATE
"DINIOG NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TAKES BOLD STEP IN EMPOWERING ADOLESCENTS WITH REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH EDUCATION DURING IAHW SYMPOSIUM"
-Written by Kaycee I. Quiaoit 
Diniog National High School held a symposium on March 24, 2023, in celebration of International Adolescent Health Week (IAHW), with the theme "With and For Adolescents: Building a Healthier and More Inclusive FUTURE." The symposium aimed to promote healthy development throughout adolescence and early adulthood through lectures and discussions.
Mrs. Eljane T. Julio, the focal person of Adolescent Reproductive Health (ARH), organized the symposium. The audience was comprised of students from Grades 9 and 10, who listened to the school nurse of Dilasag district, Nurse II Rosemarie Isidora A. Lorenzana, as the resource speaker.
Nurse Lorenzana stressed the importance of the ARH program, which is one of the flagship programs of Oplan Kalusugan (OK) sa DepEd. She mentioned that without this program, adolescents would be exposed to unsafe s*x, which could lead to unwanted pregnancy.
Mrs. Julio welcomed the attendees and emphasized the importance of the symposium to the students. Nurse Lorenzana discussed the different stages of adolescence, teenage pregnancy, and the risks of premarital s*x.
Mrs. Juanita G. Asuncion, the school head of Diniog NHS, affirmed the students, stating that they were in their transition age and were not yet mature enough to make decisions for themselves. She emphasized that most students were minors and still needed guidance from their parents.
The students were asked to wear green shirts, which represented growth, happiness, health, and high energy. Mr. Tan added that in Chinese culture, green symbolizes growth, wealth, and prosperity. He reminded the students to take Nurse Lorenzana's words positively and apply them to their own growth.
The symposium officially ended after Mrs. Sol Hanna M. Alinio, the focal person of Gender and Development (GAD), gave her closing remarks. She emphasized that every program of DepEd was for the students' future, ensuring that they were informed when they went down the wrong path.
Overall, the symposium provided valuable insights and information to the students, highlighting the importance of adolescent reproductive health and the role of the school in guiding and informing students to make healthy decisions.