Philippines - health groups want more protection from the dangers of tobacco..

May 18, 2010 - The Philippine League of Government and Private Midwives Inc. (PLGPMI) raised the alarm on the effects of smoking and secondhand smoke on maternal and child health and urged the Department of Health to implement stricter tobacco control policies.

Cecille Banca-Santos, PLGPMI president, said that the little gains the Philippines have in reducing maternal mortality ratio (MMR) may be jeopardized by the current rate of tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure of women of reproductive age. Smoking and exposure to other people’s cigarette smoke pose a variety of reproductive health risks on women even before she conceives, during her pregnancy and delivery as well as on her baby’s health and well-being. These are issues that affect maternal and child deaths. Medical studies have shown that female smokers take longer to conceive and may even actually result in a depletion of ova and cause infertility.

Back on May 13th LEGAL EXPERTS CALLed ON NEW LEADERS in the Philippines TO ACTIVELY PROMOTE PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO HEALTH. Health Justice, a non-government agency composed of lawyers working for tobacco control, urged the incoming administration of presidential frontrunner Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III to enact specific measures relating to tobacco product packages and labelling, consistent with the Philippines’ obligations under the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). More: Health Justice Lawyers asks new gov’t to tighten rules on tobacco packaging by Jerry E. Esplanada, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 5/21/2010.

References: MIDWIVES’ LEAGUE URGES DOH TO IMPLEMENT STRICTER TOBACCO CONTROL POLICIES, Department of Health (DOH), Press Release, 5/17/2010; LEGAL EXPERTS CALL ON NEW LEADERS TO ACTIVELY PROMOTE PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO HEALTH, Department of Health (DOH), Press Statement , 5/13/2010.
(Flipino)

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