Brickdam Secondary cops top prize at debating competition

Brickdam Secondary School has been declared winner of the recently held inter-schools debating competition organized by the Ministry of Public Health’s Adolescent Health Unit, in collaboration with the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Held under the theme “Don’t raise your voice, improve your argument”, the aim of the competition was to spread knowledge of programmes within the public health sector.
According to representatives of the Public Health Ministry, the debates were among other competitions held to help raise awareness of the Human Papilloma Virus among other health-related illnesses.
The winning team comprised 12th Grade students Rehaca Adamson, Abiké Barker and Britney Valladares, who debated on the moot “Adolescents have the right to access sexual reproductive health services without parental consent”.
Britney Valladares was recognized as the best speaker in these debates.
On behalf of the Brickdam Secondary School, teacher Janice Williams received the winning trophy from Dr. William Adu-Krow, the PAHO/WHO Country Representative to Guyana.
Director of Primary Health Care, Dr. Ertensia Hamilton, explained that the students gathered a wealth of information on these health topics as they prepared for competition. This, she noted, now puts them in the category of persons who are better equipped with knowledge and information on adolescent health.
PAHO/WHO Country Representative Dr. William Adu-Krow said there are similar exercises conducted in different parts of Africa. He noted that through these exercise the targeted audience would be equipped with health information, and could be able to share it among their peers.
The PAHO/WHO and the Ministry of Public Health has recognized that targeting the youth population in this manner is the most effective way of sensitizing children and their families on health topics.