Malacañang and DOH must ignore CBCP and stop double speak on HIV/AIDS, says Reproductive Health advocate

By VIGIE BENOSA-LLORIN
February 15, 2010

MANILA  –  Calling condom and roses mix an amateurish act of gimmickry, a leading reproductive health advocacy group challenges the Department of Health (DOH) to take more seriously its HIV/AIDS awareness program, which must include ensuring access to condom especially for high-risk, vulnerable groups.

Ramon San Pascual, Executive Director of the Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development Foundation, Inc. (PLCPD), objects to DOH insistence that condom is freely distributed on valentines day solely to fight HIV/AIDS and not as family planning method.

“Such stance to please some Catholic leaders confuses our people,” laments San Pascual. He added, “HIV/AIDS and lack of family planning services are both urgent public health issues that must be attended by DOH in integral manner.  What rationale would explain DOH having a split personality on condom use?”

San Pascual argues that by denying the Filipino people with reproductive health information and services over the years, by not investing on condom and other forms of contraceptives, this government has left people on their own without reproductive health and education assistance.  Such neglect resulted to high cases of maternal mortality due to birth-related complications, while an unusually high case of HIV/AIDS was registered in recent months.

Another development that galled San Pascual is the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) coming into the picture in the height of media interest on the issue.

“Calling for a national summit of various stakeholders to discus HIV-AIDS is just CBCP’s way to pressure Government and divert its attention towards directly addressing the issue.  It was no less than the Catholic Pope who name condom use as immoral,” reminds San Pascual.

“Now they are coming in amid reports of condom distribution conducted by DOH.  Really, what hypocrisy,” laments San Pascual.

San Pascual also blames Congress and the Arroyo administration on the missed opportunity to strengthen the HIV/AIDS program through House Bill 5043 or the “Reproductive Health and Population Development Act”, yet Speaker Prospero Nograles and President Gloria Arroyo chose to give in to the pressures of some Catholic bishops and leaders.

“The challenge is for the government, DOH, Congress and our society as a whole, to confront the menace of HIV-AIDS in truthful, effective manner, not by cowering to the dictate of a single church,” he further said.