RP women get sick more often than men

Filipino women live longer than men but they tend to get sick more often, an expert said yesterday.

Dr. Junice Lirza Margal, executive director of Linangan ng Kababaihan Inc. (Likhaan), said the biological makeup of women gives them a longer life expectancy compared to men.

"Women, in general, have longer life expectancy. It’s natural, you can’t do anything about that," she told a press briefing held in observance of World Population Day.

Female infants born this year, according to the National Statistical Coordination Board, have a life expectancy of 73.1 years compared to male infants, who are expected to live an average 67.8 years.

However, despite being blessed with a longer life span, Margal said women are more prone to illnesses due to the delicate mechanism of their reproductive system and the stress of childbearing, which places their health and life at risk.

This year’s observance of World Population Day was focused on the empowerment of women. The world population is now pegged at 6.5 billion and is expected to soar to 8.9 billion in 45 years.

According to Mia Ventura, deputy executive director of the Commission on Population, women should be given greater economic and political participation.

"We call on governments to invest in the health and human development of women. We believe that women can reach their full potential as human beings when reproductive health services are made available and when given wider economic, political and social participation," she said.

Dr. Esperanza Cabral, commissioner for health and service of the National Commission on the Role of Filipina Women, said the installation of women in the highest post in the land — Corazon Aquino in 1986 and President Arroyo in 2001 — helped advance women’s rights and welfare.

Cabral claimed the condition of women has been improving "slowly but surely" under the two presidents, but statistics are not available to support her statement.

United Nations Population Fund country representative Dr. Zahidul Huque confirmed that the Philippines fares "quite well but there’s still a lot of room for improvement."

Huque added that it would be better if there were more women in high-level government positions so there would be a stronger push for the protection of women in all sectors of society.