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The entire world is keenly watching the progress of the RH bill

Press Statements

 

  • Rep. Edcel C. Lagman
  • Independent – Albay
  • 24 November 2012
  • 0916-6406737 / 0918-9120137

 

 

          The entire world is keenly watching the progress of the RH bill in the Philippines as women worldwide are eagerly anticipating to celebrate its enactment.

 

            This declaration by Dr. Gita Sen, renowned feminist and advocate for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), was recounted by Rep. Edcel C. Lagman, principal author of the RH bill, at the international conference on the post-2015 action plan on the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) held early last week in Quezon City.

 

            Dr. Sen made the remarks at the international forum on SRHR sponsored jointly by the Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era (DAWN) and the Forum on Family Planning and Development (FFPD) recently in Makati City.

 

           Sen is a pioneer in the field of gender and development. Her academic and policy activism in this field has been an inspiration to a whole generation of researchers, policymakers of South and North, and non-governmental activists.

 

          Her recent work includes research and policy advocacy on the gender implications of globalization and economic liberalization, the gender dimensions of population policies, and the links between population and the environment.

 

            Of the eight MDGs, data from participating countries show that the reduction of the maternal mortality rate (MMR) due to complications from pregnancy and childbirth is the least achievable by 2015.

 

           The MMR in the Philippines has even worsened to 14-15 maternal deaths daily (221 deaths per 100,000 live births) from 10-11 daily (172 deaths per 1000,000 live births) in 2006. The MDG target by 2015 is 52/100,000.

 

             Annually, 500,000 mothers die worldwide due to causes related to pregnancy and childbirth.

 

            Although pregnancy is not a disease, it nevertheless kills because women are not empowered to freely and responsibly determine the number and spacing of their children resulting in high-risk pregnancies, compounded by lack of skilled birth attendants, maternal health facilities and prenatal and postnatal care, all of which are addressed by the RH bill.

 

           The enactment of the RH law will enable the country to attain or approximate the attainment of all the MDGs because the unifying common denominator of the MDGs is the advancement of reproductive health.