THE Provincial Population Office (PPO) of Antique is involving men in promoting maternal and child health care and responsible parenting through Kalalakihan Tapat sa Responsibilidad at Obligasyon sa Pamilya (KATROPA) program.
Provincial population officer Primo Ogatis said the program aims to champion male responsibility for the development of their family and the community.
“The program is in response to the increasing incidence of malnutrition and violence against women and children,” Ogatis said.
To strengthen KATROPA in the province, Ogatis said the PPO has conducted orientation activities in three municipalities namely, San Jose, San Remigio and Sebaste which were attended by barangay officials, senior citizens, residents and tricycle drivers.
The KATROPA Congress, on the other hand, was conducted in Nov. 7 last year with around 590 barangay officials and Committees on Social Services chairperson.
Ogatis also said that they are also strengthening the implementation of the Adolescent Health and Youth Development Program to achieve the objective of promoting the total well-being of the youth in the province.
Three symposia on adolescent responsible sexuality, substance abuse, drugs and criminality were conducted to the three secondary schools, the Pascual M. Osuyos Memorial High SDchool in Tobias Fornier; San Pedro National High School in San Jose; and Laua-an National High School in the municipality of Laua-an with 820 students in attendance.
Several other activities were conducted that aimed to help reduce the incidence of teen pregnancies, early marriages, and reproductive health concerns, among others.
He said that the PPO is also helping couples, parents and individuals to achieve their desired number, timing and spacing of children through responsible parenthood and to contribute in improving maternal, neonatal and child health, and nutrition conditions.
Around 6,203 couples were reached during the 355 Responsible Parenthood/Family Planning classes, Family Development sessions and Usapan conducted in the province, while 2,016 couples or 4,032 individuals attended the pre-marriage counseling activities last year.
Ogatis hopes to increase the reach and impact of the population program this year in order to achieve the goals of the Philippine Population Management Program. (PIA/PN)
