Women’s and human rights’ groups remind government anew to ensure that women’s health is not deprioritized during pandemic

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
11 May 2020

Women’s and human rights’ groups remind government anew to ensure that women’s health is not deprioritized during pandemic

Following another case of hospitals refusing to accept a pregnant woman, women’s and human rights’ groups reiterated their call urging the government to ensure the availability and equitable access to essential sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services in its Covid-19 response.

Nancy, a resident in Laguna was refused by three hospitals before being admitted and successfully delivered her baby in the fourth facility they went to. Nancy’s experience is the third reported case of pregnant women refused treatment by medical facilities since the government put in place stringent containment measures to mitigate the impact of the pandemic.

In April, Katherine Bulatao, who suffered from complications after giving birth at home for fear of contracting the virus, was refused treatment by six facilities for reasons ranging from the lack of adequate medical facilities and health providers to the inability of Katherine to make advance payment to the hospital. By the time they found a facility willing to take her in, Katherine had already bled to death. Also, in April, Mary Jane Alpide died during labor in the hospital after she was turned down earlier by four facilities.

“The refusal to administer emergency reproductive health care to women like Nancy, Katherine and Mary Jane violates their fundamental rights guaranteed under our Constitution and a myriad of our laws including the Anti-Hospital Deposit Law, Magna Carta of Women, and the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act. It also violates the government’s international human rights obligations to guarantee women’s rights to life, health, and equality and nondiscrimination, The current pandemic and resource constraints do not justify these refusals.” said Atty. Jihan Jacob, Asia Legal Adviser of the Center for Reproductive Rights.

As of May 11, there are 46 individuals and organizations that signed on a statement expressing concern over the preventable maternal deaths that reflects how the government’s Covid-19 response has overlooked the availability and accessibility of quality life-saving reproductive health services. The statement calls on for clear mechanisms to ensure availability, accessibility, acceptability and quality of sexual and reproductive health information and services. (See statement)

“We have already lost hundreds of lives due to the virus. Let’s not add more deaths by refusing life-saving treatment to women. While relevant agencies have come up with guidelines, memorandums, and statements supporting the supply and provision of sexual and reproductive health commodities and services, governments should ensure that local governments, public and private facilities, and community health frontlines have the capacities to implement them safely and adequately,” stated Marevic Parcon, Executive Director of Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights.

According to the group, they will continue to call for SRH services in the pandemic and ensure that in times of crisis the government should recognize that women’s health still matters. They plan to conduct various campaign actions online leading up May 28, the International Day of Action for Women’s Health and urge everyone, including the media, to highlight the gaps and challenges that women face in the current situation. #

Available for media interviews:

Marevic Parcon
Executive Director, WGNRR
09289584709
marevic@wgnrr.org

Atty. Jihan Jacob
Center for Reproductive Rights
09177143788
JJacob@reprorights.org