BAYER Philippines, in partnership with the Commission on Population Development (CPD) and The FORUM, has signed an agreement to support World Contraception Day 2023. This initiative is aimed at addressing the persistent issue of adolescent pregnancies in the Philippines.
Despite a decline in the proportion of women aged 15 to 19 who have begun childbearing from 8.6 percent in 2017 to 5.4 percent in 2022, there has been an increase in live births among girls aged 10 to 14 years in 2020 and 2021. Additionally, about 17 percent of the total births among 10- to 19-year-olds in 2020 and 2021 were cases of repeat pregnancies. Factors contributing to these adolescent pregnancies include a lack of access to reproductive health information and services.
The theme for World Contraception Day 2023, “Your Life Your Choice,” underscored the importance of empowering young people to make informed decisions about their reproductive health and contraception.
Angel-Michael Evangelista, managing director and country division head of pharmaceuticals at Bayer Philippines, emphasized the need to provide young people with access to accurate information on reproductive health and contraception.
The CPD recognizes and upholds the rights of every Filipino to make informed decisions about family planning and contraception. Collaboration with organizations like Bayer Philippines and The FORUM is seen as crucial in enabling these rights and promoting family planning.
Dr. Corazon Raymundo, president of The FORUM, highlighted the importance of addressing adolescent reproductive health and providing young people with the necessary knowledge and tools to lead healthy lives.
While family planning programs have made significant global progress, barriers such as lack of awareness, affordability, and stigma still prevent many women from choosing modern contraception. Reducing these barriers is essential for economic growth, socio-economic development, and public health.
To complement World Contraception Day, Bayer Philippines launched “Bayer For Her: Conversations of Care” on August 30, 2023. This initiative includes free pop-up consultation clinics at selected partner drug stores. These clinics aim to create safe spaces for women to discuss their reproductive health concerns, dispel misconceptions, and overcome barriers to seeking expert advice.
“Bayer For Her” is part of a regional movement spanning several Asian countries, encouraging women to openly discuss their health issues and seek support from healthcare professionals, friends, and family. The initiative aims to break the stigma surrounding women’s health and promote open conversations about topics such as contraception, endometriosis, menstrual pain, and heavy menstrual bleeding.
