The World Association for Sexology (WAS) in association with the Indian Institute of Sexual Medicine on September 7 launched a one million signature campaign and an exhibition as part of week-long celebrations to mark the World Sexual Health Day.

CPI(M) Tamil Nadu Unit Secretary K Balakrishnan and Congress MLA H Vasantha Kumar inaugurated the signature campaign and the expo at Dr Kamaraj Hospital for Men's Health in the city in the presence of WAS Member Dr T Kamaraj and WAS Media Committee Chairman Dr K S Jeyarani Kamaraj.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Balakrishnan expressed concern over the rising incidents of sexual abuse against women, especially young girls and children, and wanted to make sex education compulsory in Tamil Nadu. Talking to reporters after inaugurating the expo, he said the only way to bring down the incidents sexual abuse against women was to introduce sex education as part of school curriculum in the State.

Both Mr Balakrishnan and Mr Vasantha Kumar also suggested that the speeches delivered by Dr Kamaraj and Dr Jeyarani Kamaraj in various National and International foras on sexual education should be compiled as a book and
distributed among the school students to create an awareness on sexual education and sexual health.

Dr Kamaraj and Dr Jeyarani Kamaraj said the main aim of the expo organised by WAS, which was celebrating its 40th year of existence, was to highlight and provide counselling on sexual health issues and infertility among men and women to mark the World Sexual Health Day. They said during the three-day expo, free consultation would be given by experts on male infertility, infertility, low sperm country, erectile dysfunction and pre-mature ejaculation, apart from collecting one million signature, formation of a human chain and a seminar for medical experts.

The expo was to create a awareness to prevent child sexual abuse among girl children and parents. The theme for this year's World Sexual Health Day, being celebrated with a host of events across the world by the WAS, is 'Sexual Health, Sexual Rights--Fundamental for Well being'', they said. Dr Jeyarani said after the week-long programme, she, as a member of the WAS Media Committee, would submit a representation to the Tamil Nadu government to make sex education compulsory in the State.