Joy* wanted to meet up in a hidden alley, a few blocks away from her home. Strangers passing by might wonder what sneaky business she’s up to, as a needle pokes into her arm and she breathes a sigh of relief. But she isn’t doing anything illegal—she’s just getting a birth control shot.
Like Joy, many Filipina women and girls have to hide the fact that they use contraceptives. Their partners won’t allow it. A lot of men believe that birth control will make their wives and girlfriends “promiscuous.”
Also, many parents don’t know (or are in denial) that their young daughters are sexually active. And if they found out, it would be a “disgrace.”
COVID-19 has only made matters worse, as women and girls find it hard to leave their homes to access birth control. If they were vulnerable to health risks, gender-based violence, and discrimination before, they are even more vulnerable now.
Lack of access to birth control will lead to more unplanned pregnancies. This can derail the lives of many women and girls, who are already struggling to keep their physical and emotional well-being intact, while also struggling to make ends meet financially.
Despite the pandemic, and even more so because of it, reproductive health should remain a priority. Otherwise, more women and girls will suffer.
Now, anyone who needs birth control in Puerto Princesa City may contact Roots of Health. They can reach us through our mobile hotline or Facebook page, and our clinical staff can deliver reproductive health services straight to their homes and communities.
Roots of Health nurse Mai helps deliver birth control pills and injectables to different communities all over Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.
Our nurses and midwives also take the time to explain how to use contraceptives properly, so that they can work most efficiently. Our service providers can ensure utmost privacy and confidentiality—stigma and judgment not included.
Inside our clinics or on the road, each Roots of Health client gets proper counselling how to use birth control correctly.
Women and girls deserve to stay safe, not only from the virus, but also from the risks of unplanned pregnancies. They have the right to decide on matters that will affect their health and bodies. They should continue to access to reproductive health services while staying at home to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
*not her real name
