CEBU CITY, Cebu (PIA) — The Department of Health Central Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH-CVCHD) has emphasized the vital role of family planning in promoting responsible parenthood as part of the National Family Planning Month celebration this August.
During a Kapihan sa PIA on Aug. 7, Brooke Shield Saquilon, midwife VI of the Family Health Section of DOH-CVCHD, said that family planning not only benefits families but also plays a crucial role in giving mothers the necessary time to recover after childbirth.
“Ang family planning nagaplano kini sa pamilya sa pagtumong sa pagpraktis sa pagkontrolar sa gidaghanon sa atong pamilya. Gikinahanglan kini aron mapahimsog ang atong kababayen-an kay dili lalim ang pagpanganak. Para sad maatiman ug tarong ang mga anak ug ang pamilya mao kinahanglan nga planado ang atong pamilya,” said Saquilon.
(Family planning involves a family making plans to practice controlling the size of their family. This is necessary to ensure the health of women because giving birth is not easy. This is also so that the children and the family can be properly cared for, which is why our family should be well-planned).
She emphasized that mothers should ideally have a 3 to 5-year interval between pregnancies to ensure they have sufficient time to regain their health.
DOH has been proactive in disseminating information on family planning methods and providing training and seminars to Barangay Health Workers (BHWs), particularly in remote areas.
“We invite local government units, two per local government unit, to attend the trainings and seminars, especially sa areas nga remote na kaayo then dili kaayo maadtuan sa doctors. We provide them with Family Planning Competency-Based Training Level 1 and Level 2 para in the absence of a doctor, makahatag ra sad sila ug counseling,” she added.
(We invite two representatives from each local government unit to attend trainings and seminars, especially in remote areas that are hard to reach by doctors. We provide them with Family Planning Competency-Based Training Levels 1 and 2 so that, in the absence of a doctor, they can still offer counseling).
As part of their awareness initiatives, BHWs conduct house visits to members of their communities to encourage the use of family planning methods and educate families on the available options.
“Ang mga BHW mobisita sa ilang mga balay para i-encouraged ang family planning kay anaa man libreng family planning method and at the same time educate their families,” said Saquilon.
(BHWs visit households to promote family planning because there are free methods available, and at the same time, they educate families).
However, Saquilon stressed that the choice of family planning method ultimately depends on the woman or the couple.
“Naa jud freedom to choose. Dili kita nga health care provider ang magbuot although makahatag ta ug information regarding sa mga methods and commodities. We can only provide advice and counseling,” Saquilon said.
(There is freedom to choose. As healthcare providers, we do not dictate but rather provide information about the methods and commodities available. We can only offer advice and counseling).
Family planning methods are available to individuals aged 15 to 49 years, but minors require parental consent. (MYP/PIA7 Cebu)
