Ona: Let's stop abortion
STOP ABORTION. The Department of Health is against abortion. File photo by LeAnne Jazul/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – As cases remain high in the country, Health Secretary Enrique Ona again made a clear stance against abortion.
"The Department of Health (DOH) is against abortion. This is the reason why we want to provide accurate information to our people so that individuals can take charge of their health," he said in a statement Thursday, March 6.
He made the statement as abortion cases in 2013 ranked high among obstetrics and gynecology (OBGyn) admissions in major medical centers in Cebu, Metro Manila, and other parts of Luzon. It is among the top 3 in 8 out of 9 medical centers cited in a recent DOH report.
|
HOSPITALS |
NUMBER OF CASES (2013) |
% OVER TOTAL OBGYN ADMISSIONS |
RANKING AS CAUSE OF DISCHARGE AMONG OBGYN ADMISSIONS |
|
Dr Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital |
1,240 |
5.6% |
TOP 1 |
|
Tondo Medical Center |
508 |
18% |
TOP 2 |
|
Quirino Memorial Medical Center |
1,272 |
9.4% |
TOP 3 |
|
Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center |
624 |
17% |
TOP 2 |
|
East Avenue Medical Center |
1,819 |
13% |
TOP 3 |
|
Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Research & Medical Center (Cabanatuan City) |
869 |
10% |
TOP 3 |
|
Cagayan Valley Medical Center |
438 |
7.4% |
TOP 3 |
|
Baguio General Hospital & Medical Center |
635 |
7% |
TOP 2 |
|
Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center |
1,915 |
15% |
TOP 5 |
The number of cases increased in 4 medical centers (Quirino Memorial Medical Center, East Avenue Medical Center, Cagayan Valley Medical Center, Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center) while it decreased in 5 others.
DOH said 5 R's can stop abortion:
- Ready facilities - Improve and upgrade birthing facilities. Improve referral system. Bring awareness to mothers where they can give birth in.
- Ready skilled health workers - Increase number of deliveries performed by skilled health workers. Train doctors, midwives, and nurses to deliver babies. Give adequate prenatal care to mothers. Seek the care of a skilled professional.
- Ready funds - Save enough money for child birth. For indigents, avail PhilHealth membership for free coverage of birthing expenses.
- Right knowledge - Know when a child birth is at high risk: First baby, 5th baby onward, mother is 18 years old, mother is more than 35 years old. See your doctor every two months and get pre-natal check-ups. Stop smoking and drinking alcohol.
- Responsible parenthood
Reduce teen pregnancies – Health education, faith-based or community-based intervention to avoid risky behavior. Choose the 3-year birth spacing rule to reduce unplanned pregnancies. A woman is advised 2-3 years before getting pregnant again to help body recover from stress of pregnancy.
RH law soon?
Abortion in the Philippines continues to rise, and local and international leaders look to the Reproductive Health (RH) law as the life saver of thousands of women and young people. In 2011 alone, there were 600,000 reported cases of abortion. (READ: Abortion cases in PH rising: 'RH law would be life saver')
But the Supreme Court stopped the controversial law's implementation in March 2013 and it has been stalled there ever since. Back then, Ona told RH advocates to calm down and wait some more, even after more than 14 years of waiting.
After one year, it seems the long wait will soon be over. According to reports, the High Court will vote on the RH law this April during its annual summer session in Baguio City. (READ: 'Declare SC has no jurisdiction over RH challenge')
Once implemented, the law will fund the distribution of free contraceptives, require government hospitals to provide reproductive health (RH) services, and mandate public schools to teach sex education – all seen as necessary to curb high abortion cases in the country. (READ: A hard look at abortion in the PH)
"The data shows us that abortion is happening in our midst more likely because these women lack the proper information on how to deal with high-risk or complicated pregnancies. Let’s stop abortion. Pregnancy can be a welcome phase for any woman and her partner, if it comes as planned and without any complications,” Ona said. – Rappler.com
