Women’s Health Fair successful in Davao City

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / May 27, 2011) – More than 1,000 mostly mothers have benefited from a health fair that provided free various services in Davao City in the southern Philippines.

More than 20 organizations put up booths that offered services for women and among them were the Alliance against AIDS in Mindanao, Talikala, Inc., LUNA Legal Resource Center for Women, Gabriela-Youth, Lawig Bubai, Catholics for RH, Integrated Gender and Development Division, Department of Health, Family Planning Organization of the Philippines.

And also the National Statistical Coordination Board, the Office of Councilor Leah Librado, City Health Office, Women Studies and Resource Center, No to Coal Network, Tambayan, Inc., City Social Services Development Office, Development of People’s Foundation, Health Management and Research Group, Kaugmaon, Inc., IWAG-Davao, and the Brokenshire Women Center.

Among the services during the Women’s Health Fair were HIV-AIDS (Human Immunodeficiency Virus – Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) counseling, free legal consultation, basic information on sexually transmitted infections, information on the Women Development Code and various laws protecting women, referral services for legal cases, Botika ng Barangay, family planning counseling, counseling on mother and child health, book sale on various women studies, selling of herbal medicines and ornamental plants, free massage and acupuncture, free haircuts and blood pressure monitoring.

The fair, whose theme ‘Women’s Health Rights: From Womb to Tomb’ was held in commemoration of the International Day of Action on Women’s Health, according to the Reproductive Health Network in Davao City.

“We saw how the women responded to the fair and they were so happy with the free services we offered and all information they learned about their rights and their health,” said Lyda Canson, convenor of the RH Network-Davao.

Canson, also the chairperson Emeritus of Gabriela, said: “We thank all the women who visited the fair and for our partners who have shown full support for the Women’s Health Fair.”

“The success of the Women’s Health Fair only shows that our women are hungry for services,” Canson said. “We hope that the government sees this as an urgent call for the passage of a comprehensive law that will address the women’s reproductive health needs, including information, services and programs and projects in all stages of their lives.”

The No to Coal Network also grabbed the activity for the petition signing versus the proposed coal-fired power plant in Davao City. (Mindanao Examiner)