ILOILO CITY (PIA) — The Family Planning Organization of the Philippines (FPOP) Iloilo Chapter, in partnership with the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) Region 6, launched the Family Planning and Wellness Clinic on Oct. 24, 2024 at the CPD Region 6 Training Center in Pavia, Iloilo.
In a message, CPD 6 Regional Director Harold Alfred Marshall underscored that the establishment of the Family Planning and Wellness Clinic, made possible through the collaboration between the two entities, is a manifestation of the agency’s commitment to promoting the Responsible Parenthood and Family Planning Program (RPFP) as ensconced in the Philippine Population and Development-Plan of Action (PPD-PoA) 2023-2028.
“We are here joining hands in trying to find solutions to the issues and challenges being faced by both of our offices and the local communities as far as sexual and reproductive health and rights are concerned, particularly on responsible parenthood, family planning, adolescent health, older population, and the marginalized sectors which we intend to serve through this clinic,” said Marshall.
The clinic will serve as a dedicated space to provide essential reproductive health and wellness services for the residents of Pavia town and surrounding local government units (LGUs) in the region, supporting the existing primary health care providers in Pavia and neighboring communities.
Aside from increasing awareness and access to reproductive health and wellness services under the Responsible Parenthood and Family Planning (RPFP), this clinic further promotes Adolescent Health and Development (AHD) information and services including Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) counseling and screening to address concerns on adolescent pregnancy and advancing LGBTQIA+ advocacies, among others.
Marshall is accompanied by FPOP National President and CPD Board Commissioner Nandy Senoc, FPOP Iloilo Chapter manager Mona Liza S. Diones, Department of Health (DOH) Western Visayas Local Health Support Division chief Dr. Mary Ann Soliva-Sta. Lucia, and the representatives of the local officials from Iloilo province and Pavia town.
Comm’r Senoc, in his message of support, emphasized the clinic marks the strong collaboration between FPOP and the CPD that dates back to the role of the former in the establishment of the latter to institutionalize the family planning programs of the government.
Meanwhile, present also were the delegations from the member associations of the (International Planned Parenthood Federation) East & South East Asia and Oceania Region (ESEAOR) that witnessed the activity as part of their Solidarity for Change, Regional Gathering & Youth Forum 2024 in Iloilo City.
Following the launching, FPOP Iloilo also catered to the first FP patients of the clinic and opened booths advocating FP commodities and other health and wellness IEC materials.
The clinic is open to the public Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. (AAL/FRG/PIA6)
