Ona asks doctors to back RH bill

MANILA, Philippines - Health Secretary Enrique Ona has asked the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) to back the Responsible Parenthood bill.

Speaking during the 105th PMA annual convention last Wednesday, Ona said the Responsible Parenthood Bill will particularly empower local governments in pursing responsible parenthood programs in their localities.

“Another bill that I would like all of us to support is HB 4244 or the Responsible Parenthood Bill, which I know some are not in favor of,” he said.

“I believe that families, especially the very poor, should be empowered to decide on their family size.”

Ona said support for the bill is not about curbing the population.

“It is just giving mothers the power to decide the size of their family,” he said.

In December 2010, the PMA had backed the opinion of the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of the Philippines that life begins at the moment of fertilization or when the “sperm and mature ovum unite to form the embryo.”

Quoting the Ethical Guidelines in Obstetrical and Gynecological Practice and the Ethics of Reproductive and Assisted Reproductive Technology, the PMA said “the zygote, pre-embryo, or embryo, are already considered unique human beings and are therefore entitled to full moral support as that of an adult.”

However, Ona said some 2.2 million Filipino mothers “have an unmet need for family planning.”

“This is a problem of access to information and family planning services,” he said.

“I have issued a directive to the DOH to reduce unmet need by half by the end of the 2012.

“Reducing unmet need will also help us reach our MDG (Millennium Development Goal) of reducing maternal mortality and improving maternal health.”

Ona said studies have consistently shown that mothers with unplanned and mistimed pregnancies become more at risk for maternal deaths.

“HB 4244 will certainly aid our efforts as it will particularly empower local governments in pursing responsible parenthood programs in their localities,” he said.