Popcom-10 urges men to uphold women's right via KATROPA
Highlighting the National Women's Month celebration in the Talakayan sa PIA, March 31, Philippine Commission on Population (Popcom)-10 Regional Director Neil Aldrin Omega said they intensify their strategy to foster women's rights by involving men in reproductive health and family planning with their 'Kalalakihang Tapat sa Obligasyon para sa Pamilya' (KATROPA) program.
"Number one gyud nga responsibilidad sa mga bana, sa mga kalalakihan is ang panglawas sa matag miyembro sa pamilya (The number one responsibility of husbands, men, is the health of the members of the family)," Omega added.
KATROPA program, launched in 1999, targets an increase in family planning use especially in nonscalpel vasectomy (NSV), improved health-seeking behavior among men, and decreased incidence of gender-based violence (GBV).
The program also aims for the improved equality in fertility decisions between husband and wife, and participation of husband in household management and rearing of children, as well as for the decreased incidence of STI and HIV/AIDS infections among men.
To further encourage participation of men in reproductive health and family planning, Popcom-10 has scheduled a family planning service provision on vasectomy at JR Borja General Hospital (JRBGH), April 19.
The team of doctors, nurses and midwives will also conduct the same in Bukidnon, April 19-20, and in Lanao del Norte, April 21-22.
"Ang pamilyang planado, protektado. Ang pagplano sa pamilya timailhan sa tinuod nga gugma labi na sa kalalakihan (A planned family is protected. Family planning is a manifestation of real love, especially from the men)," Omega said.
To date, 444,543 women are using family planning methods. Omega said among the available family planning methods that they have are the artificial and natural family planning methods.
He added that pills is the most popular method and this is followed by the intrauterine device (IUD) and the progestin sub-dermal implant (PSI)-- the new method.
"We cannot deny that our available nga mga family planning methods have what we call side effects and that's why during the provision of these methods, before we give this method to a woman, naa gyud ta'y counseling nga pagahimuon (we conduct a counseling first," Omega said. (RTP/PIA-10)
