Search is Powered by Google
HIV / AIDS News

HIV/AIDS Advocates In Philippines Call For Passage Of Reproductive Health Bill

Main Category: HIV / AIDS
Also Included In: Nursing / Midwifery;  Sexual Health / STDs;  Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 17 Nov 2008 - 0:00 PST

email icon email to a friend   printer icon printer friendly   write icon view / write opinions   rate icon rate article
Current Article Ratings:

Patient / Public:not yet rated

Health Professional:not yet rated

Article Opinions: 0 posts

In hopes of developing a national policy on reproductive health to help curb the spread of HIV in the Philippines, the Girls, Women and HIV/AIDS Network recently called for the passage of a reproductive health bill in the House of Representatives, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reports. During the last general assembly meeting on Oct. 26, GWHAN told lawmakers that it is their "responsibility as pioneers and leaders of the HIV advocacy to register their support for the passage of the reproductive health bill and to stand behind organized groups and networks advocating its immediate passage." The general assembly is expected to continue deliberation of the bill.

The bill would require government hospitals to include contraceptives in the supplies they purchase and make reproductive health education mandatory in schools. It also would require local governments to employ more midwives and health attendants to achieve the ratio of one midwife to 150 deliveries, the Inquirer reports. In addition, the bill would require local governments to have emergency obstetric care and maternal death reviews, as well as to provide mobile health services (Pazzibugan, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 11/12). According to the Philippine Star, the bill also would increase HIV prevention, care and support (Crisostomo, Philippine Star, 11/13).

GWHAN told lawmakers that the country is in need of a national reproductive health policy because of the increasing number of HIV cases. A national policy, according to GWHAN Chair Marlon Lacsamana, would stop people in the country who "demonize" condom use. Fifty-seven new HIV cases were reported in the Philippines in September, bringing the total to 395 new cases this year. Lacsamana in a statement said, "This alarming statistic supports the call for the immediate passage of the reproductive health bill now being deliberated in the House of the Representatives," adding, "Moreover, the widespread disinformation, misinformation and increased efforts to demonize condom use must be disproved with accurate data." According to the Inquirer, the Catholic Church in the Philippines opposes the bill (Philippine Daily Inquirer, 11/12).

Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.

© 2008 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.




Customized Homepage Weekly Newsletters Daily News Alerts
Home About Us News Licensing Free Website Feeds Free Tools & Content Links Tell a Friend Accessibility Help / FAQ Article Submission Contact Us
Urology
ADHD Autism Diabetes

add medical news today to your facebook

medical news gadget

Add to Google


developers
website gadget code
website news code
medical news rss feed links


customize your homepage


These are the most read articles from this news category for the last 6 months:
Top Article Star
Increase In Anal Intercourse Involving At-Risk Teens And Young Adults
22 Nov 2008
A new study by researchers at the Bradley Hasbro Children's Research Center suggests that the incidence of heterosexual anal sex is increasing among teens and young adults - particularly those who have recently had unprotected vaginal sex...


Talking with Your Doctor image Talking with Your Doctor

Talking with your doctor can sometimes be difficult. Good health care, however, depends on an open dialogue between patients and doctors...

Keeping a Personal Medical Record image Keeping a Personal Medical Record

Medical information is usually scattered in many different places. To receive the best possible health care, people are encouraged to gather information in one place and create a personal medical record...

View more videos...