4. ⚫The Responsible Parenthood and
Reproductive Health Act of 2012
(Republic Act No. 10354), informally
known as the Reproductive Health Law
or RH Law, is a law in the Philippines,
which guarantees universal access to
methods on contraception, fertility
control, sexual education, and
maternal care.
5. The four pillars of
reproductive healthactare:
⚫responsibleparenthood.
⚫respect for life.
⚫birth control
⚫informed choice.
6.
7. A. INFORMED CHOICE
⚫As stated in the Act, effective and quality
reproductive healthcare services, which are
ethically and medically safe, legal,
accessible, and affordable, shall be given
primacy toensure the health of the mother
and child. Also, the government shall
promote and provide unbiased information
and access to these services. This pillar also
covers the provision for the integration of
reproductive health and sexuality education
in schools, and othereducational settings
8. A LETTER FROM AN ABORTED CHILD
Dear Mum,
I have decided to talk to you to let you know my feelings. I want to know why you did it. My story is short. I stayed inside
you for only a couple of weeks. I was very comfortable and warm. I felt really protected. I knew you were a special person
because you never stopped me from eating the food you ate. I longed for the day I would see your face. Nine months was
a long time to wait, but I was determined to wait. I had to be patient.
A man then offered you some amount of money to get rid of me. I was happy and prayed that this meant that I would at
least see you, the only person that I knew in the world. I was wrong. I had almost forgotten the issues until I felt something
sharp pierce my tiny ear. I jerked silently and in pain, and asked you to protect me. Seconds later the object came, fiercer
than before. My tiny body was cut up, starting from the ears then arms and legs. It was an agonizing experience. My head
was then cut off and I died.
It took me a whole hour to die. A whole hour for an innocent few weeks human being to be murdered in cold blood by
you! I remember the whole incident vividly and I keep asking myself what I did to deserve that cruel death.
Why me? Why did you do that to me?
And why was I not given a chance to live just like the children you hear playing around? How do you feel when you send
some of them on errands when I could have done that with pride if you had given me the chance to live? Don't you see the
beauty in playing with a child that calls you mom with a sweet soft voice?
I know you are having a lot of nightmares. You remain guilty for the beastly act. Please explain to God why you committed
the heinous cruel act. He sent me to you as a very special gift. My purpose was to make you proud by being the great
person God meant me to be.
I have forgiven you though I never lived to see your face.
My journey back to my creator was safe, and I arrived safely. I was given a red-carpet welcome by an angel. I am in fact
without bitterness. I still love you, mum.
Yours,
Never-seen child.
9. B. RESPECT FOR LIFE
⚫The Act recognizes that abortion is illegal and
punishable by law. However, motherswill be identified
to have aborted an unborn child will be served with
post-abortive treatmentand counseling in a humane,
nonjudgmental, and compassionate manner.
10. C. BIRTH CONTROL
⚫Reproductive healthcare, information, and
supplies shall be made available most especially
to poor beneficiaries. However, the Act
provisions also that the government must
respect the citizen’s individual preferencesand
choices of family planning method.
11. ⚫D. RESPONSIBLE PARENTHOOD
⚫Couples determine their ideal family size. In
addition, the government shall equip each
parent with needed information in all aspects
of family life, reproductive health, and this
pillar.
12. ⚫Reproductive health alsoconcerns problems
such as sexually-transmitted infections.
According to Dr. Natividad (2013), in the
Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Study of
2013 (YAFS-4), a survey of Filipino college
and high school graduates, 36.2 percentand
43.5 percent respectively admitted to having
engaged in premarital sex. In addition 66.7
percent and 79.6 percent did not use any
protection at first premarital sex. These
scenarios are most often the causes of
infections.
13. ⚫Acquired Immunodeficiency SyndromeorAIDS is
caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
which usuallydoes not have symptoms in its early
stages. “Initially, people with HIV were diagnosed as
having AIDS onlywhen theydeveloped blood
infections, the cancer known as Kaposi’s sarcoma, or
any of the 21 other indicator diseases” (Donatelle,
2006). In addition, HIV is highly infectious through
unprotected sexual intercourse, breastfeeding (of an
infected mother to infant), and blood
transfusion/injecting drugs (needles used for infected
patients). Currently, there are several treatment
options for HIV and AIDS, but no known cureyet.
14. ⚫The Republic Act No. 8504 or the Philippine AIDS
Prevention and Control Act of 1998 was passed by
the Congress on July 28, 1997. The Act promulgates
“policies and prescribing measures for the
prevention and control of HIV/AIDS in the
Philippines, instituting a nationwide HIV/AIDS
information and educational program,
establishing a comprehensive HIV/AIDS
monitoring system, strengthening the Philippine
National AIDS Council, and for other purposes”
(PNAC).
15. ⚫ The Actalso provides foreducation and
information dissemination in various
institutionsand agencies, safe practice and
procedures (testing, screening, and
counseling) in health organizations and
associations, monitoring of cases with
confidentiality, and programs foranti-
discriminatory acts (in the workplace,
hospitals, and otherpublic institutions).
16. ⚫Among the many benefitsof reproductive
health are improving family and
community well being, boosting economic
gains, saving women's and children's lives,
and greatlycurbing thespread of HIV/AIDS
– benefits thatgoa long way in helping to
achieve the Millennium Development
Goals.
