Changing course to achieve MDG 5

THERE’S always energy in the air at conferences, workshops and events related to sexual reproductive health or maternal health.

It must be the result of the tireless efforts of the advocates who have seen decades of opposition, but have remained unwavering in their stand on the issue.

The conference hosted by Likhaan Center for Women’s Health titled “Changing Course to Achieve MDG 5,” exudes with the same energy and something more. There was resolute optimism that the reproductive health bill will be passed in the upcoming 15th congress. The contentious bill has been languishing in debate for nearly two decades.

The big guns of reproductive health present arguments on why we need to pass the bill and pass it now. Let their words inspire you and make you again believe that there are government officials who not only make promises, but keep them because the welfare of citizens is a paramount concern.

The ever “ballsy” Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral opened the conference with her usual spunk and sass. I particularly enjoyed her talk about people turning into animals if given access to RH or sexual health information and services.

“Reproductive Health is a pressing public health concern. We must go beyond the arguments that it will corrupt morals, destroy family ties. We must transcend the moral and spiritual and bring the discussion to a plane of human resources, social development, governance and economics. While we respect those with contrary positions, we must make our own voices heard. Policy should not exclude others. I don’t think we are expecting too much, we only want a level playing field. We should give credit to our people that they will make proper decisions and informed choices rather than act like animals when given access to reproductive health care information and services,” Cabral said.

Congressman Edcel Lagman, known as the father of the reproductive health bill, because he is one of its principle authors echoed Cabral’s words. Lagman has been reelected and will be serving his last term as congressman of the First District of Albay. “I will not allow myself to graduate from Congress without the passage of the RH bill,” he attests.

He also said that if the bill were passed, he would have been happy to go back to his private law practice and defend Cabral, “As I am sure, there will be many law suits against her,” Lagman says, concluding, “It’s time we lower maternal deaths and give every woman an opportunity to finish her education, find productive work and elevate her self-esteem so that she may achieve her full potential.”

The conference ended with the country representative of the United Nations Population Fund, Suneeta Mukherjee quoting women’s rights advocate, Dr. Fathalia Mahmoud, “Women are not dying because of diseases that cannot be treated. They are dying because societies have yet to make the decision that their lives are worth saving.”

Let us continue the fight for every woman’s right to life. Let’s support the RH Bill. Go to www.petitiononline.com/rhan2008/petition.html and sign the online for the immediate passage of the reproductive health bill into law. –ANA SANTOS, Manila Times

For more information about your rights when it comes to sexual health, log on to www.sexandsensibilities.com