Modern contraceptives and reproductive health services can help reduce maternal deaths, infant mortality, and cancer risks. They allow individuals to safely space pregnancies and plan family size, helping families invest more in health and education over fewer dependents. Widespread access benefits public health and promotes equity, with evidence that reproductive health programs save lives and money for social spending.

1. Good
10
health centers, for safe birthing, more difficult tions that cause cervical cancers. Self breast
RH services like IUD insertions, and manage- exams and Pap smears can detect early signs of
Reasons to
ment of sexually transmitted infections; and cancers which can be cured if treated early. All
hospitals, for emergency obstetric and newborn these are part of RH education and care. Contra-
care and surgical contraception. Strong RH facili- ceptives do not heighten cancer risks; combined
Pass the
ties will be the backbone of a strong and fairly pills actually reduce the risk of endometrial and
distributed public health facility system. ovarian cancers.
8 10 RH Bill Now
GIVE ACCURATE & POSITIVE SEXUALITY SAVE MONEY THAT CAN BE USED FOR EVEN
EDUCATION TO YOUNG PEOPLE MORE SOCIAL SPENDING
Ensur-
ing modern FP for
all who need it
would increase
I n 1998, RH was a bland program that 2
DOH secretaries wished to mainstream
into the health system. Now, RH or reproductive
spending from health is a byword that has gripped the public
P1.9 B to P4.0 B, but consciousness. Majority have supported RH in
the medical costs for un- endless surveys while congressional and presi-
intended pregnancies would fall from P3.5 B to dential debates have erupted on the issue. Why
P0.6 B, resulting in a net savings of P0.8 B. There is there majority support for RH? Many strategic
is evidence that families and practical reasons. Here are 10 easy ones:
Currently, most young people enter with fewer children
relationships and even married life without the do spend more RH DOES …
benefit of systematic inputs by any of our social
1
for health and PROTECT THE HEALTH & LIVES
institutions. As a result of just one faulty sexual
education. OF MOTHERS
decision, many young women and men can lose
their future, their health and sometimes their The WHO (World Health
lives. We insist on young voters’ education for Organization) estimates that
an activity that occurs once every 3 years, but complications arise in 15% of
leave our young people with pregnancies, serious enough
little preparation to cope with to hospitalize or kill women.
major life events like puberty From the 2 million plus live
and sexual maturation. births alone, some 300,000
9
REDUCE CANCER maternal complications
DEATHS occur yearly. This is 7 times
Delaying sex, the DOH’s annual count for TB,
avoiding multiple partners 19 times for heart diseases, and
or using condoms prevent 20 times for malaria in women.
genital warts or HPV infec- See www.rhbill.org and www.likhaan.org/rhan As a result, more than 11 women die needlessly
for data sources and additional information each day.

2. 4
Adequate number of skilled birth attendants PROMOTE EQUITY FOR POOR FAMILIES If all those who want to space or stop child-
and prompt referral to hospitals with emergen- RH indicators show severe inequities bearing would use modern FP, abortions would
cy obstetric care are proven life-saving solutions between the rich and poor. For example, fall by some 500,000—close to 90% of the es-
to maternal complications. For women who 94% of women in the richest quintile have a timated total. In our country where abortion is
wish to stop childbearing, family planning (FP) is skilled attendant at birth compared to only 26% strictly criminalized, and where 90,000 women
the best preventive measure. All 3 interventions in the poorest. The richest have 3 times higher are hospitalized yearly for complications, it
are part of RH. tubal ligation rates compared to the poorest. would be reckless and heartless not to ensure
2
prevention through FP.
SAVE BABIES
6
Proper birth spacing reduces SUPPORT & DEPLOY MORE PUBLIC
infant deaths. MIDWIVES, NURSES & DOCTORS
The WHO says at RH health
least 2 years should services are
pass between a birth needed wher-
and the next pregnancy. In ever people are
our country, the infant mortality rate of those establishing their
with less than 2 years birth interval is twice families. For
This equity gap in tubal ligation partly explains example, a report
those with 3. The more effective and user-
why the wealthy hardly exceed their planned by a UN MDG Task
friendly the FP method used, the greater the
number of children, while the poorest get an Force points out the need for 1 fulltime midwife
chances of the next child to survive.
extra 2. Infant deaths among the poorest are to attend to every 100 to 200 annual live births.
3
RESPOND TO THE MAJORITY WHO WANT almost 3 times compared to the richest, which Other health staff are needed for the millions
SMALLER FAMILIES partly explains why the poor plan for more chil- who need prenatal and postpartum care, infant
Couples and women dren. An RH law will promote equity in health care and family planning. Investing in these core
nowadays want smaller through stronger public health services acces- public health staff will serve the basic needs of
families. When surveyed sible to poor families. many communities.
5
about their ideal number
PREVENT INDUCED ABORTIONS
7
of children, women in GUARANTEE FUNDING FOR & EQUAL ACCESS
their 40s want slightly Unintended pregnancies precede TO HEALTH FACILITIES
more than 3, but those almost all induced RH will
in their teens and early abortions. Of all unin- need and there-
20s want just slightly more than 2. tended pregnancies, fore support the
68% occur in women improvement
Moreover, couples end up with families larg- without any FP of many
er than what they desire. On average, Filipino method, and 24% levels of
women want close to 2 children but end up with happen to those using health
3. This gap between desired and actual family traditional FP like with- facilities. These range from barangay health
size is present in all social classes and regions, drawal or calendar- stations, for basic prenatal, infant and FP care;
but is biggest among those who are poor. abstinence.