Recently there have been several articles in local newspapers regarding the teen pregnancy rates in Hamilton. The latest data (1997) puts Hamilton's 15-19 year old pregnancy rates at 51.3 per 1000. This represents a 25% increase since 1987, and puts Hamilton's rate 23% above the provincial rate of 41.7 per 1000.

1987 was the very year that Public Health hired additional nurses to work in school programs and clinics to deploy the "condom-based\politically correct\value and expectation -free, sex-ed philosophy" which they cleverly call Healthy Living. Under this Healthy Living guise, Public Health have written elementary school curriculum laced with unhealthy teaching such as "having many sexual partners but using a condom and spermicide every time is low-risk behavior" or "Mutual masturbation is no-risk behaviour." Public Health argues that the best way to turn around our failing statistics is to hire more nurses to do more of the same. Hamilton-Wentworth Family Action Council (HWFAC) does not support the concept of doing things the same way while expecting different results.

HWFAC has been very active presenting to the School Board and City Hall, debating on an open-line radio show, critiquing curriculum, attending the Sexual Health Network, writing letters to editors and maintaining contact with key political and School Board persons. All of these efforts have been preceded by a faithful prayer committee.

In a letter to HWFAC, the Associate Medical Officer of Health for the City of Hamilton, Dr. David Fisman, made some very revealing statements.

1. "Although abstinence is mentioned in our programs, it is not considered by us or other mainstream public health agencies as a particularly effective tool in combating sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancy." (Abstinence is the only effective tool.)

2. "Given that teenagers will be sexually active regardless of the actions of Public Health...." (Admission that Public Health feels they cannot bring positive behaviour change, which is the utmost priority.)

3. "People using seatbelts feel safer, and are thought to drive faster, resulting in a diminution of the effect seatbelts would have had if driving speeds remained the same. A similar effect may occur with condoms (people feel safer, and so are more willing to engage in sexual activity)." (Condoms fuel the fire of sexual activity with a false sense of security. Introducing condoms to children increases the likelihood of sexual activity.)

4. "The tools we introduce to teenagers reduce, but don't eliminate, the risks of STD's and unplanned pregnancy." ( Not true with the STD Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), which is now believed to be contracted by approximately 40% of sexually active women. HPV is also believed to be the source of cancer in 95% of cervical cancer patients. Many recent articles state that condoms are ineffective in preventing the spread of HPV.)

5. "Finally, it seems only fair to try to address your question of whether "sexual intercourse is healthy for adolescents". Like other normal physiological functions(eg. eating, breathing), sex per se is neither healthy or unhealthy." (If this is true, then why do we spend approximately $850,000 of our local tax dollars annually trying to make children safe while participating in this health neutral activity.)

• Call Mayor Bob Wade and leaves a message expressing your concern with Dr Fisman's statements and how they relate to the poor showing of Hamilton's Teen Pregnancy Rates. (905) 546- 4200

• Call your alderman and leave the same message.

• Write a letter to Mayor Wade regarding your concerns. Send 1 copy to your alderman and 1 copy to HWFAC.

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