Health of mums and kids - Philippines and UK

[lastlid]

MANILA, Philippines - "The World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) underscored the need to pass the Reproductive Health (RH) bill, even as the Catholic Church will hold a prayer rally today at EDSA Shrine to oppose the passage of the measure.

WHO, UNAIDS, and UNFPA yesterday said the Philippine population is growing with more people living in poverty and more young women getting pregnant.

UNFPA country coordinator Ugochi Florence Daniels said the RH bill is important for the Philippines to achieve its health-related targets in the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) like maternal health, HIV/AIDS and infant mortality.

The three agencies have reiterated their stand on the RH bill days before the House of Representatives is set to vote on Tuesday if debates on the measure should continue or not.

Daniels said that passing the bill is vital to enable couples to decide on the size of their family by making information and services available to them."

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/08...-un-bodies-say

[Doc Alan]

There are at least three other separate threads on this topic – all credit to lastlid and other members for contributing .


Health of mums and kids is NOT just about the Reproductive Health ( RH ) Bill. However, it does seem as if there is progress towards passing the bill, possibly by Christmas.


Authors of the RH Bill have made a draft to replace the proposed law, which will be introduced in plenary as a substitute bill. They hope it could be put to a vote before the 15th Congress ends.


There’s a long list of amendments which are said to have been made after consultation with “ concerned groups including some of its staunchest critics “.


These include:-
• emphasis that the bill is not a population control measure.
• The State would also guarantee “ public access to relevant information and education on medically safe, legal, ethical, affordable, effective, and quality reproductive health care services, methods, devices, and supplies that do not prevent implantation of a fertilized ovum as determined by the Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) “.
• The State “ shall likewise prioritize the needs of poor wonen and men in marginalized households as identified by the National Household Targeting System for Pverty Reduction ( NHSTS-PR ) “.
• “ Parents are given the option not to allow their minor children to attend reproductive health and sexuality education classes to accord respect to religious convictions and beliefs “.
The RH Bill is expected to be tackled on November 5 after going on recess for All Saints Day. Interesting times !


( http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/285876/...ak-says-lagman )
( http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/291106/...duced-in-house )
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/4...en-its-passage

RH Bill forum threads :-
(http://filipinaroses.com/showthread....hlight=RH+Bill )

http://filipinaroses.com/showthread....ve+Health+Bill
http://filipinaroses.com/showthread....ve+Health+Bill