Magna Carta of Women’s comprehensive health services provision stressed in UNICEF’s report

MANILA, Philippines (PNA) – Comprehensive health services provisions of the Magna Carta of Women (MCW) were heightened during a forum of the United Nations Children’s Fund’s (UNICEF) in Quezon City Tuesday.

The forum was the press launch of the United Nations Children’s Fund’s (UNICEF) flagship publication, “The State of the World’s Children 2011 – Adolescence: An Age of Opportunity” at Sulo Riviera Hotel, Diliman, Quezon City.

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Country Representative Ugochi Daniels recognized the MCW as instrumental in combating the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the Philippines.

Section 20A of the law provides for the youth access to sexuality education for the prevention of reproductive tract infections, such as Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).

Resource speakers from various government and non-government organizations shared concerns affecting Filipino adolescents.

Dr. Enrique Tayag of Department of Health (DOH)-National Epidemiology Center (NEC) said the Philippines is one of the only seven countries with increasing HIV cases out of the 63 countries reported in the 2010 UNAIDS Global Report 2010.

Data from the Philippine HIV and AIDS Registry showed more than 1,000 percent increase in the number of cases from 2006 to 2010 in the 15-24 age group. From 44 cases in 2006, it has ballooned to 489 in December 2010.

The Department of Education (DepEd) is sustaining its efforts in curbing HIV/AIDS through integrating reproductive health topics in school subjects such as Values Education, and Music, Arts, Physical Education, and Health (MAPEH) according to Dr. Lolita Andrada of the Bureau of Secondary Education.