MIRI: An outreach programme aimed at strengthening awareness of risky behaviour and sexual and reproductive health among adolescents has been rolled out here, underscoring growing concern over early exposure to social and health vulnerabilities among schoolchildren.
Organised by the Miri City Health Clinic, the Adolescent-Friendly Services Outreach Programme brought together 150 Form One students at SMK Baru Miri today (April 15).
The initiative forms part of a broader public health strategy to embed early-stage education and preventive frameworks within the school ecosystem.
Officiating the programme, Dr P. Raviwharmman Packierisamy stressed that timely, structured exposure to sexual and reproductive health issues is critical in shaping informed decision-making among adolescents.
He pointed to teenage pregnancy as a key concern, noting its far-reaching implications on health outcomes, educational continuity and long-term socio-economic prospects.
Framing the programme’s core messaging, he urged students to internalise the guiding principle, ‘Know Yourself, Set Boundaries, Build Your Future’, positioning it as a practical decision-making compass amid increasing social pressures and digital exposure.
The programme was designed with a strong emphasis on engagement and behavioural insight.
A series of interactive sessions addressed a spectrum of themes, including high-risk behaviours, sexual and reproductive health literacy, sexual grooming, and the cultivation of a resilient and healthy mindset.
In a move aligned with early detection and intervention protocols, participants also underwent screening using the Children and Adolescents Social Screening Guidance (BSSK) instrument.
The assessment is intended to identify at-risk individuals at an early stage, enabling targeted follow-up and support mechanisms.
Also in attendance were SMK Baru Miri principal Wong Kung Kui, and Miri Division Family Medicine Specialist head Dr Maurice Steve Utap, reflecting a coordinated, multi-stakeholder approach to adolescent health governance.
The Miri Divisional Health Office said the programme is expected to function as a scalable platform to empower adolescents with critical knowledge and life skills, ultimately contributing to the mitigation of social and health-related issues within the district.
