In defense of RH Law, women advocates dance

Three hundred women advocates from the Akbayan party-list performed a simple aerobics routine on Mendiola bridge Thursday morning to defend the recently approved Reproductive Health (RH) Law and to campaign for universal healthcare policy from future legislators.

 

"The Filipino women must build on their success with the passage of the RH Law," Akbayan women leader Guy Claudio was quoted as saying in a press release.

 

"They must exert their political influence this election to push candidates to ensure healthcare programs are expanded by carrying out a universal healthcare platform to provide comprehensive ‘social health protection’ to Filipinos," she added.

 

The group pointed out four important aspects of a universal healthcare policy: a doctor in every barangay, access to free hospitalization and medicine for all, training and skill-building for barangay health workers, and health education in barangays.

 

According to Claudio, universal healthcare is the logical continuation of the RH Law and other health reforms.

 

"If 2012 was the year of the RH and Sin tax laws then 2013 should be the year of universal healthcare," she said.

 

She also said that health reform is one way to ensure that the campaign against corruption continues.

 

"The most visible proof of government mismanagement and corruption are underfunded hospitals, outdated medical facilities, and lack of public investment in healthcare in general," she said.

 

Claudio urged women to use their vote in the coming elections wisely, to put in position leaders who will ensure that the RH Law is properly carried out.

 

“Women must use the ballot to elect legislators who will defend the RH law by ensuring that appropriate funding is provided to the measure,” she said.

 

“We must foil the attempts by those who wants to reduce the law into an unfunded mandate and bring us back to a time when we enjoyed little or no recognition of our reproductive health rights,” she added. —KG, GMA News