Commission on Population and Development (Popcom) USec. Juan Antonio Perez said the Department of Health (DOH) will move to replenish contraceptive supplies in provinces in Luzon that is currently under the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) to prevent a possible spike in unplanned pregnancy cases.
Perez told Palawan News the current lockdown is expected to contribute to unwanted pregnancies.
“Nakikita natin na ito ang posibleng mangyari katulad ng sa Yolanda, nawalan ng access sa basic services kaya medyo dumami ang populasyon base sa datus namin. Kaya gusto natin unahan ito na pigilang mangyari gawa nga nitong ECQ dahil sa COVID-19. Kapag hindi na-address ito ay nakikita natin ang highest fertility in the next coming months,” he said.
Perez said the DOH has agreed to immediately replenish contraceptives supply and make them accessible to residents in ECQ-affected provinces.
The barangay health workers (BHWs), he said, will be the ones to distribute condoms and pills house-to-house.
“Kaya tayo ay may supply ng pills at condom doon sa mga nangangailangan batay doon sa listahan ng health center. Sila ay pupuntahan ng mga BHW at population volunteer para mabigyan ng serbisyo habang may quarantine. Sa ngayon ay sapat pa naman ang ating supply at kami na bahala sa transportation non. Kung sakaling kulangin na sa mga barangay ay ire-replinish agad natin ‘yan,” Perez said.
“Additional burden sa ating maternal and child health, internally din dahil sa mga pamilya mismo ay may epekto kung unplan ang pagbuntis ng babae. Economically, there will be a hardship dahil maaaring may additional cost,” he added.
However, Perez also said that the “possible positive result” of the ECQ is the decline in teenage pregnancy cases as they are only inside their houses with the supervision of their parents.
“Kung may magandang bagay o positive na mangyayari siguro dito sa ECQ ay ang pagbaba ng teenage pregnancy [lalo na dyan sa Palawan na mataas ang kaso ng teenage pregnancy] kasi theya re being guarded by their parents,” he said.
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