Access to Health Care, Prevention of AIDS, Maternal and Child Deaths Stress Urgency of RH Bill

“Withdrawing the Reproductive Health Bill from thelist of legislative priorities only speaks of this administration’s insensitivity to the plight of Filipino women and children. It is indeeddisappointing that President Aquino does not consider it urgent to address thegrowing problem of maternal mortality, infant deaths and Filipino families’lack of access to health care.”

Thus said Gabriela Women’s Party Representative LuzIlagan following President Aquino’s latest decision to exclude the Reproductive Health Bill from the list of priority bills for this year because it does not fall under the category of disasters.

“Eleven women die everyday due to pregnancy and complications related to child birth. Is this fact not compelling enough for the Aquino government to make it a priority to enact measures that will prevent the deaths of over 4,000 women every year?”

Ilagan said that maternal deaths are highest among the poorest 20% of the population which clearly indicates that “it is the poor women’s lack of access to adequate maternal health care that is bringing about this tragedy.”

Out of the 19.4 million Filipino women of childbearing age, 1.73 million did not have access to prenatal care from skilled health workers and birth attendants.

The Gabriela solon further said that aside from resulting to maternal deaths, the lack of a government policy that will help ensure access to comprehensive reproductive health is also responsible for the increase in AIDS cases. The Department of Health has reported that AIDS cases in the Philippines have reached 6,016 since 1984. 1,591 new cases were reported in 2010 alone.

“Nonetheless, with the Reproductive Health bill already up for plenary debates in congress, we will continue with the legislative process. We hope that Malacanang reconsiders its decision and finally respond to the clamor of women for health care.” #