by: Claro A. Lanipa
Pagadian City, May 15 (PIA) – The month of May is being celebrated as
Natural Family Planning Month pursuant to Department Circular No. 50-A, series
of 1995 of the Department of Health (DOH).
The Natural Family Planning program of
the government is a health intervention program and an important tool for the
improvement of the health and welfare of mothers, children and other members of
the family.
It also provides information and
services for the couples of reproductive age to plan their family according to
their beliefs and circumstances through legally and medically acceptable
natural family planning methods.
The program is anchored on the following
principles: Responsible Parenthood which means that each family has the right
and duty to determine the desired number of children they might have and when
they might have them. And beyond responsible parenthood is Responsible Parenting
which is the proper upbringing and education of children so that they grow up
to be upright, productive and civic-minded citizens.
Respect for
Life. The 1987 Constitution states that the government protects the sanctity of
life. Abortion is NOT a Family Planning method.
Birth
Spacing which refers to interval between pregnancies (ideally 3 years). So that
it will enable women to recover their health, improves women’s potential to be
more productive and to realize their personal aspirations and allows more time
to care for children and spouse/ husband, and;
Informed
Choice that is upholding and ensuring the rights of couples to determine the
number and spacing of their children according to their life’s aspirations and
reminding couples that planning size of their families have a direct bearing on
the quality of their children’s and their own lives.
