The Pathways of the Reproductive Health Bill: To Be Passed or Not ?

Title: The Pathways of the Reproductive Health Bill: to be passed or not?

It has been 10 years since this bill was created and until now decision whether to legalize it or not remains clueless. Endless debates were done between two contradicting institution, the Church and the Government, the later have strong desire to push through the bill, while the former strongly disagree for they perceived the bill to be anti- life. What seems to be the problem? They are looking at the issue at different vantage points, thus contributes to a greater problem.

According to the law, Church and state are separate entities; two must not interfere with each other in terms of decision making unless needed so or for the general will. But what is happening is a church intervention, I am not against the Church, but I cannot understand why they become political in a sense that they somehow force the people to think against the bill without even presenting what it is all about. I remember when the bill started to be a hot issue; most homilies are dedicated to make the people aware the disadvantages of the bill, clearly political.

I strongly reiterate that I am not against the church, I uphold to my Christian values but I also take into consideration that I am also a woman, and I find this bill very beneficial to women and children's welfare. (1) The WHO (World Health Organization) estimates that complications arise in 15% of pregnancies, serious enough to hospitalize or kill women, passing the bill will educate mothers of family planning methods, an effective life-saving solution and preventive measure for other related diseases and will help reduce death rate of mothers. After all, lives of mother's are at risk during pregnancy, there are big chances of dying. (2) RH Bill promotes proper birth spacing which is beneficial to reduce infant deaths and health of mothers. Once death occurs, it may lead to complication and will also contribute to emotional distress of mothers. (3) Passing the RH Law will promote equity in health through stronger public health services accessible to poor families, which will be favorable to women. Tubal ligation is expensive, and only rich women have access to this procedure. Implementation of this law, will aid women to have access to services usually deprived due to constraints.

Basically, Reproductive Health Law aims to educate, empower and protect women's health. Even though proposed good effects, (1) I perceived this as a medium for the government to misuse funds allotted for self- interest. Moreover, (2) implementation may promote teenagers to engage into sexual acts because contraceptives are readily available, will contribute to a bigger problem. (3) Usage of contraceptives can lead to diseases which can be lethal to women's health, anything foreign attached or inserted in the body may contribute to negative effects. (4) Upon implementation,