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[av_heading heading=’EDITORIAL | Freedom of informed choice’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”][/av_heading]
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Tuesday, May 16, 2017
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IT IS worth stressing that the very essence of the country’s reproductive health law is freedom of informed choice. Two years ago, however, the Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order stopping the distribution of contraceptives and pregnancy-control devises.
According to the Department of Health, the country’s maternal mortality rate remains high. Many Filipino women die at childbirth due to poverty, lack of access to facilities and professional care. We also have a very high abortion rate. The Supreme Court cannot close it eyes on these concerns when it decides on the fate of the reproductive health law.
It must be emphasized that freedom of choice is an integral part of reproductive health. No one is being forced to use one contraceptive over another. Each may choose according to their personal beliefs. In fact, promoting both natural and artificial family planning methods are under the Department of Health’s reproductive health program. People should keep an open mind about this.
With our population bursting at the seams and poverty remaining a problem, now more than ever it is most urgent to finally put into motion the country’s responsible parenthood and reproductive health law that aims to comprehensively address the people’s need, especially women’s, for genuine reproductive health care and services.
Family planning is a right of couples, especially women, to decide on the size of the family they want. But this program must be backed by information and access to safe methods to planning the number and spacing of children.
The State has a duty to provide basic health services to its people, including reproductive health. With the government vocally supporting responsible parenthood, every citizen who believes in the right of couples to make an informed choice must support it, too.
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