THE Commission on Population and Development (Popcom) worries over a possible spike in unwanted pregnancies after the coronavirus 2019 (Covid-19) crisis in the Philippines.
Popcom Executive Director Juan Antonio Perez III told BusinessMirror on Thursday this is one of the unintended consequences after natural disasters.
Perez noted this happened after Supertyphoon Yolanda when the Popcom noted a spike in teenage pregnancies after the November 2014 super typhoon. “In a worst-case scenario where services are not available, I would presume about 50,000 [unwanted pregnancies] if 50 percent of the population is under ECQ [enhanced community quarantine],” Perez told BusinessMirror via SMS on Thursday.
Given these considerations, Popcom reminded Filipino couples to always practice responsible parenthood and family planning even during the Covid-19 ECQ. The Popcom said the ECQ poses challenges to couples to prevent unplanned pregnancies, primarily because of interrupted access to family planning supplies and services.
Perez said Popcom will continue to advocate for the provision of basic family planning services in local communities as part of the essential services needed by couples and individuals to prevent the longer impact of unintended pregnancies.
“We are uncertain as to when the health emergency caused by Covid-19 will abate. As such, we do not want to add on to the current situation with another possible crisis caused by unplanned pregnancies, as they could bear added weight to our already strained medical institutions,” he said.
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