TUCP strengthens services on RH, Family Planning in workplace

Manila (25 January 2010) – The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) vowed to continue its services on Reproductive Health (RH) and Family Planning to all its union members and non-union members at the workplace .

TUCP Education and Youth Director Rafael Mapalo in an interview with PIA said that more workers, may they be union members or not, will get improved health and welfare on reproductive health and family planning as they continue on advocating and providing RH services to the community.

In its 10th year of implementation, Mapalo bared the establishment of union-run and managed family welfare clinics staffed by trained nurses and midwives in 5 different areas in the country where “our presence is strongly felt” namely Cavite, Laguna, Davao, Cebu and Bacolod City.

With funding support from the David and Lucille Foundation, TUCP’s initiative at the workplace resulted in the inclusion of some specific provisions that defines the commitment of employers in dealing with the needs of the workers with regards to RH and family planning concerns.

“We were able to capacitate the Trade Unions to negotiate with management so that management can get funds to support RH services like maternal and child health nutrition, counseling for HIV AIDS and training of trade union members and the like,” said Mapalo.

TUCP as a labor organization promised to continue on advocating and providing services to all its members for they believe that good health is a human right. (FE Abkilan, PIA-Surigao del Norte)