On Tuesday, April 5th 2016, Konbit Pou Potapiman (KPP) organized a Health Conference, its first to target the female adolescent population of Port-a-Piment.
One hundred and ninety (190) girls, from age 13 to 19, and from the 7 schools of the town attended the event from 12 Noon to 1:30PM at the Salle Paroissiale. Each group reported in, accompanied by their school directors.
They were greeted first by Frantz Jean, president of KPP Inc, and also by Mrs. Paule-Edeline Orcel, KPP Executive Secretary. Both welcomed the participants and encouraged them to take full advantage of the program.
Mrs. Nicole Jean, KPP member, informed the audience of the sponsors of the program: The Links Incorporated, Fort Lauderdale(FL) Chapter and the Broward County Chapter of the United Nations Associations of the United States of America (UNA-USA). She advised them on the long relationship of KPP with these organizations and of their missions.
Mrs. Orcel then introduced the guest speaker, Mrs. Violette Jean, Nurse at the local hospital. Mrs. Jean gently invited the male guests to step out as to offer full privacy to the teen girls.
Nurse Violette Jean has held many health sessions for KPP in the past and was very much at ease to discuss with the teen girls many different topics such as:
Body changes that occur with Puberty
Managing discomforts of monthly periods
Principles of feminine hygiene
Avoiding infections and Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Practicing abstinence
Taking responsibility for birth control
And the newest danger to their health, the Zika virus, and its ill effects on pregnancies.
Throughout the talk, the focus remained on improving self-image, the importance of higher education, and avoiding pregnancies early in life, which hamper the girls’ education.
The talk included many light hearted moments and the girls felt at ease to ask questions and share health tips with their fellow teens.
The girls were then treated to their very own Hygiene kit. Mrs. Nicole Jean described the contents and the use of the different components.
As the program reached its end, the teen girls expressed their thanks with a song, as each also received a pack of cookies for the road.
Konbit Pou Potapiman Inc. is grateful to the Links Incorporated, Fort Lauderdale (FL) Chapter, the Broward County Chapter of the United Nations Association of the United states of America (UNA-USA), for the gift of Hygiene kits. KPP thanks Violette Jean, Paule-Edeline Orcel, Nicole Jean, as well as the school administrators for their valuable cooperation. It is our hope that this program will contribute fully to the formation of the future mothers and the female leaders of tomorrow.