Every woman has a right to life: Changing Course to Achieve MDG 5
There’s always an energy in the air at conferences, workshops and events related to sexual reproductive health/maternal health.
There is such determination. It must be a result of the tireless efforts of the advocates who have seen decades of opposition, but have remained unwavering, unstoppable and consistent — values in Philippine politics which can be labeled as ‘rhetoric’, at best.
The conference hosted by Likhaan Center for Women’s Health entitled “Changing Course to Achieve MDG 5”, last Friday was no different; except there was something else apart from the usual energy. There was a resolute optimism that the Reproductive Health Bill (RH Bill) will be passed in the upcoming 15th congress. The contentious RH Bill has been languishing in debate for close to two decades.
The big guns of RH dished out some sass on why we need to pass the RH Bill and pass it now. Let their words inspire you and make you again believe that there are government officials who not only make promises, but keep them because the welfare of citizens is of paramount concern.
Dr. Junice Melgar, executive director or Likhaan, presents DOH Secretary Cabral with a plaque of recognition
The ever ballsy Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Esperanza Cabral opened the conference with her usual spunk and sass. I particularly enjoyed the bit about people turning into animals if given access to RH/sexual health information and services.
Here’s what Secretary Cabral had to say, “Reproductive Health is a pressing public health concern. We must go beyond the arguments that it will corrupt morals, destroy family ties. We must transcend the moral and spiritual and bring the discussion to a plane of human resources, social development, governance and economics. While we respect those with contrary positions, we must make our own voices heard. Policy should not exclude others. I don’t think we are expecting too much, we only want a level playing field. We should give credit to our people that they will make proper decisions and informed choices rather than act like animals when given access to reproductive health care information and services.”
The host called Secrtary Cabral a “gracious brawler” and SAS couldn’t agree more. SAS is seriously thinking of a Vagina Warrior Hall of Fame just for Secretary Cabral.
Congressman Edcel Lagman, known as the father of the RH Bill, because he is one of its principle authors echoed Secretary Cabral’s words. Congressman Lagman has been re-elected and will be serving his last term as Congressman of the first district of Albay. “I will not allow myself to graduate from Congress without the passage of the RH Bill.”, said Congressman Lagman about his impending swan song, stomping his fist on the podium as everyone cheered.
Congressman Edcel Lagman (1st District, Albay) vows to pass the RH Bill in the 15th Congress.
Laughingly, he also said that if the RH bill were passed in previous Congresses, he would have been happy to go back to his private law practice and defend Secretary Cabral, “as I am sure, there will be many law suits against her.”
The turn out of sexual reproductive health advocates at "Changing Course to Achieve MDG5"
Congressman Lagman ended by saying, “It’s time we lower maternal deaths and give every woman an opportunity to finish her education, find productive work and elevate her self-esteem so that she may achieve her full potential.”
The conference ended with the Country Representative of the UNFPA, Suneeta Mukherjee quoting women’s rights advocate, Dr. Fathalia Mahmoud. “Women are not dying because of diseases that cannot be treated. They are dying because societies have yet to make the decision that their lives are worth saving.”
Let us continue the fight for every woman’s right to life. Let’s support the RH Bill. Go to: www.petitiononline.com/rhan2008/petition.html and sign the online for the immediate passage of the Reproductive Health Bill into law.
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