Dear Editor,
When child sexual abuse occurs the results are damaging psychologically, and they range from suicidal ideation, to substance abuse, to loss of sexual identity, to anxiety, to promiscuity. In the worst case scenario the abused child can grow up to become a perpetrator, thereby continuing the cycle of child sexual abuse. There are five steps to preventing child sexual abuse as articulated by the Virtus Programme of the Catholic Risk Retention Centre and these are: 1. Know the warning signs. 2. Control who has access to your children. 3. Monitor all programmes that your child/children are involved in. 4. Be aware of what is occurring in your child/children’s lives; and 5. communicate your concerns if you suspect that all is not well with your child/children. The three basic guiding principles of virtus are: Awareness, Communication and Timely Response. I am encouraging parents and all citizens to prevent child sexual abuse by following these five steps. A DVD is available via the Guyana National Faith and HIV coalition which is comprised of five faiths, namely, Rastafari, Christian, Hindu, Muslim and Bahai. Our work thus far has included (a) parenting, (b) VCT training for persons of faith, and (c) preventing child sexual abuse. One office is located at the Bishop’s residence (Catholic Bishop) opposite the Cathedral of the Immacu-late Conception in Brickdam. I pray for Guyana’s children.
Yours faithfully,
Nicole Cole
