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RENEWAL
of mind, body and soul, an opportunity to focus on one’s
total well-being, discoveries on how easy it is to have
fun and feel better about one’s self, and to support and
help educate women on health and wellness concerns—these
are the advocacies of the global health-care company
Bayer Schering Pharma (BSP). BSP recently held a media
camp, entitled “In Women, In Sight” at Sonya’s Garden in
Tagaytay for a group of women lifestyle writers.
At the
camp, BSP explained the benefits of pursuing a regimen
that addresses total well-being, with a special focus on
reproductive health, which is defined as a state of
physical, mental and social well-being in all matters
relating to the reproductive system at all stages of
life.
Good
reproductive health implies that people are able to have
a satisfying and safe sex life, as well as the
capability to reproduce and the freedom to decide if,
when and how often to do so. It also presupposes that
men and women should be informed on safe methods of
family planning of their choice, and the right to
appropriate health-care services that enable women to
safely go through pregnancy and childbirth.
Rina
Jimenez-David, national chairwoman of Pilipina, a
trustee of several NGOs and health associations, gave
the keynote address. She said, “It’s about time that we
focus our efforts in promoting reproductive health care
for women. It is something that everyone in the
community should be involved in.”
At the
media camp, the attendees went through activities meant
for the development of their body and spirit, as well as
lectures on BSP Women’s Health Care reproductive-health
programs, which highlights the company’s efforts in
empowering women through its innovative range of
products and women’s health-care advocacies.
Dr.
Antee Bass-Hernandez, head of the Speech and Drama
Department at the University of the
Philippines,
facilitated the workshop meant to enhance creativity.
She emphasized the importance of taking some time off
once every month to have a brief retreat, saying, “We
sometimes just need to recharge ourselves to reconnect
with nature and be reminded that we are all connected.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Anthony Ancheta, head of the Reproductive
Endocrinology and Infertility Unit and Gynecologic
Endoscopy Unit at the Department of Obstetrics and
Gynecology at The Medical City, discussed questions
women are afraid to ask about reproductive health. His
topics ranged from the different methods of
contraception along with their safety and effectiveness
to the health benefits of family planning. He also
dispelled common myths and misconceptions about
oral-contraceptive pills, identifying facts versus
rumors. He said, “The effect of pills vary from
woman-to-woman. That is why a woman needs to be under
the care and supervision of a physician before she
starts any regimen.”
Continuous research into oral contraception has now led
to much improved oral contraceptives such as Yasmin (ethinyl
estradiol/drospirenone) and Diane 35 (ethinyl/estradiol/cyproterone
acetate), which can provide benefits beyond birth
control.
Dr.
Ancheta is a part of BSP’s ongoing information and
education campaign for women’s health care, billed as
“Coffee in the City,” a lecture series on reproductive
health led by obstetrics-gynecologists for those who are
working in the call-center industry.
Another
important discussion was with Dr. Lyra Chua, head of the
Women’s Health Care Clinic at The New Medical City, who
gave updates on oral contraception, from trends to
benefits. According to Dr. Chua, “aside from the
traditionally known benefits of oral-contraceptive
pills, there are other emerging benefits that women need
to know.”
For
example, established benefits include increased
menstrual cycle regularity, reduced dysmenorrhea and
reduced blood loss and iron-deficiency anemia; while
some emerging benefits include increased bone mass,
reduced rheumatoid arthritis, reduced acne and treatment
of bleeding disorders. |
