Bolster reproductive health services during quarantine period, govt urged

MANILA, Philippines — Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman urged the government on Monday to extend free reproductive health supplies and services to couples from the marginalized sectors as the entire Luzon remains under quarantine due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

In a statement, Lagman said spouses and partners need to avail themselves of contraceptives and other effective methods of family planning to prevent unplanned, unwanted and high-risk pregnancies amid the Luzon-wide lockdown.

“As intimacies between couples who are locked down together break the barriers of social distancing, the Reproductive Health Law or R.A. No. 10354 gains more relevance today,” he said.

“Drug stores and pharmacies must have adequate stocks of contraceptives and other RH supplies for those who could afford to buy reproductive health products,” he added.

Lagman said that under the the Reproductive Health Law, contraceptives are certified by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are essential medicines under the Philippine National Drug Formulary System.

“I urge the government to continue discharging its mandate of extending free reproductive health supplies and services to acceptors from the marginalized sectors,”  Lagman said.

The Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine to contain the spread of COVID-19 enters its fourth week on Monday.

To date, Philippine health authorities have confirmed 3,246 COVID-19 cases in the country.

Of the number, 152 have died while 64 patients have recovered from the disease.

GSG