Citation

Jimenez David R. Integration 1994; (41): 36-39.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1994, Japanese Organization for International Cooperation in Family Planning)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

12288259

Abstract

March, 1994, was celebrated as Women's Month in the Philippines, with a focus on women's health. The theme chosen was Me, Too, a response to the ideal of feminine martyrdom. The intended message was that it is acceptable for women to look after themselves first, because only this way could they look after the other people in their lives. The Woman Who is Okey is defined as the woman who looks after her health and who practices self-care. The major health problems of women include cancer of the breast and cervix; reproductive tract infections; HIV/AIDS; poor nutrition, exacerbated by pregnancy and lactation; and increased incidence of cardiovascular disease linked to an increase in women smokers. The Woman Who is Okey is a woman who: carries out breast self examination each month, submits to a pap smear examination every year, does not smoke, spaces her pregnancies by 2-3 year intervals, knows how to protect herself from HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, visits a health center regularly for prenatal check-ups and other health services, and meets her hygienic and fitness needs. The campaign was broadened to include rape, violence, sexual harassment, and discrimination and exploitation of women. The activities of the Department of Health (DOH) during March 8, International Women's Day, were coordinated with those planned by women's groups spearheaded by the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW). The DOH set up a permanent Women's Center in government hospitals throughout the country and began to institutionalize assistance to women who are victims of violence, including rape. The national celebration held in Manila was a day-long program organized by the NCRFW, in which close to 18,000 women participated from all political organizations. President Fidel V. Ramos was the keynote speaker.

Language: en