Taipei, June 18 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian called Tuesday for a promotion of family values to help Taiwan's youth avoid the scourge of AIDS.
The issue of how to teach the nation's youth to avoid contracting AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases is the top priority for the health authorities and the promotion of traditional family values is the best way to cultivate youths with self-esteem and respect in order to pursue the goal, Chen said during a meeting with Hal Wallis and Linda M. Klepachi, two sexologists from the United States. "Prevention is just a method to help youths avoid contracting AIDS, but the love a family gives to its children can help these youths build a positive and healthy attitude to life," Chen commented.
Expressing grave concern over what he said is a lack of ethics and morals among today's youth, Chen pointed out that the ratios of pre-marital sexual activity and contraction of sexually transmitted diseases have risen alarmingly among this section of society.
Statistics compiled by the Department of Health show that as of the end of May, 267 HIV-positive cases were reported to the health authorities, 20 percent of which were among teenagers.
The president appealed for concerted efforts from the government, families and schools to help the country's youth lead healthy lives and stay away from the social ills.