By Hannah Cueto (Polyplex)
On August 29, 2020, Volunteer Youth Leader for Health–Philippines (VYLH-Philippines) held a webinar series entitled “Ha-L.I.N.C.-ka na!” as part of its celebration for the International Youth and Family Planning Month, and the Preconception Health Awareness Week 2020.
Dr. Mary Ann Abacan, the NCR and South Luzon Cluster Adviser of VYLH-Philippines, formally opened the webinar. Shortly after, Dr. Beverly Lorraine Ho, Director IV–Health Promotion and Communication Services of the Department of Health shared a message emphasizing the importance of youth’s awareness on preconception health.
The first speaker of the webinar, Comm. Dexter Galban, the Commissioner of the Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM), presented his topic, “PANALO ANG PLANADO: The Current Teenage Pregnancy and Family Planning Status in the Philippines.” Within his topic, he reported that due to the current pandemic, there is an estimate of 751,000 cases of unplanned pregnancies in 2021. Therefore, POPCOM requests the Office of the President to declare a social emergency on teenage pregnancy.
Following Comm. Galban’s presentation is Dr. Salimah Walani, Vice President of Global Programs, March of Dime International and International Adviser of VYLH-Philippines. She presented her topic, “Introduction to Preconception Health and its Global Promotion.” In her presentation, she defined preconception health as promoting the overall health of an individual, regardless of the intention of bearing a child. She stated the positive effect of preconception care, which is lowering child and maternal mortality, and possibilities of birth defects and preterm births. Lastly, she also said that all individuals in reproductive age should receive preconception healthcare and education from health professionals in classrooms, community centers, health centers, and through the media.
The third and last speaker, Dr. Carmencita Padilla, UP Manila Chancellor, Founding Adviser of VYLH-Philippines, and Honorary Member of The UPLB Genetics Society, shared her presentation entitled, “Preconception Health in the Philippines: A Multi-Sectoral Challenge.” She introduced the L.I.N.C. framework–Healthy Lifestyle, Infection Prevention, Proper Nutrition and Weight Management, and Contraception and Planning of the Family. She also introduced four strategies in addressing preconception health. These strategies include involvement of the academe, mobilization of the youth through VYLH-Philippines, implementing community research, and formation and support of youth-led campaigns addressing the community. To end her presentation, Dr. Padilla called for the champions in youth, community, and multiple sectors for policy and awareness promotion. She also heeded for the need to gather data to support policymaking for sustainable and comprehensive programs involving preconception health.
An open forum led by Ms. Jeanne Ruth Basas, Vice President of VYLH-Philippines, wrapped up the webinar.
This is just the first of many campaigns of VYLH-Philippines to promote preconception health, which was just recently announced as the fourth advocacy of VYLH-Philippines. The other three advocacies are folic acid awareness, newborn screening, and rare disorders, which are all promoted by VYLH-Philippines for a healthier Philippines.
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Such initiatives done by various organizations should be appreciated more since they help in shedding some light on relevant issues, like teenage pregnancy, occurring in our country. Raising awareness through these activities could lead to the development of resolutions that could mitigate an intensifying problem as a greater number of people are being educated, and more sectors of the society are being influenced to act upon it. That said, these kinds of advocacies should be given a huge amount of attention and be continuously supported. They are doing a very commendable act not for their own benefits, but for the betterment of the whole country.
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