Coimbatore: Not all children are able to make the transition from childhood to adolescence and teenage smoothly. To help the children, the Tamil Nadu chapter of the Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP) has started a counselling programme for children studying in Corporation schools.

Why just Corporation schools? "Because the awareness level among students there is low. And, nothing much has been done to improve it," says Dr. D. K. Neminathan, State Vice-President of the IAP. The IAP has chalked out a State-wide programme for adolescents. In Coimbatore district, about 50 schools will be covered. So far, three sessions have been held. And, doctors are worried at the ignorance of adolescents. "They have no idea about human anatomy, personal hygiene or what their body needs," regrets Dr. Neminathan. The programmes have been tailored in such a way that the students can directly interact with the doctors. "Children need to be taught to say `No'. Many succumb to peer pressure and land in trouble. Unless they are taught sex education and have the confidence, they cannot handle this pressure," he says.

Counselling is vital while handling adolescents. "When children are abused, they need to be counselled immediately. If not, the trauma will linger on. They need to be convinced that they are not dirty because someone behaved in a particular manner," says Dr. Neminathan.

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