To protect women’s health during the pandemic, government agencies and private companies have used digital avenues to bring more women access to reproductive health products and services.
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According to the Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM), family planning services in the country declined by over 50 percent in March last year due to limited staff in state-run reproductive clinics.
To address this, POPCOM Executive Director Juan Antonio A. Perez said the agency has set up hotlines for long distance medical calls and door-to-door delivery of birth control supplies.
“We have since built systems for women to access health services through a variety of channels,” said Perez.
“We need innovative solutions from both the private and public sectors that advocate women’s reproductive health choices and empower women to make informed choices,” he added.
For the pharmaceutical company Bayer Philippines, he expanded the functions of his “Ask Mara” chatbot to include access to teleconsultation services.
Ask Mara from Bayer is a chatbot that can be accessed via Facebook Messenger and offers advice on contraception and reproductive health. It can now also help find nearby drug stores or get more information soon on topics like androgen excess and endometriosis.
During the recent virtual launch of Ask Mara’s new features, leading women’s health advocates and influencers looked back on the history of the birth control pill and reiterated the importance of providing Filipinas with safe and easy access to the right information and support to make informed decisions in the field of to meet reproductive health.
“With our currently limited access to professional advice, Mara gives us real power through reliable information. It gives us options, provides reliable information and makes it easy for us to make an informed decision, ”said Inka Magnaye, spokesperson and host of the Sleeping Pill with Inka podcast series.
Dr. For her part, Marie Michelle Dado, a member of the Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society, stressed that patients need to be informed for better health outcomes.
“In this pandemic where it can be difficult to get in touch with doctors and find options for contraception and reproductive health, these new features are helping women take some of the worries away and take care of ourselves Focus on work and our family. ”Dado added.
This was confirmed by Jillian Gatcheco, reproductive rights attorney and former editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan Philippines, adding that it is important to have options to ensure women’s health.
“It’s great that Ask Mara is a friendly one-stop shop for Filipinas who want on-demand advice on contraception and reproductive health. It’s accessible, expert-led, and most importantly, non-judgmental, ”she said.
In addition to the new features, Ask Mara also provides information on different methods of contraception, both natural and modern, answers frequently asked questions, and includes a pill reminder feature to help beginners.
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source https://www.bisayanews.com/2021/09/26/online-reproductive-health-services-expanded-to-protect-more-women-amid-pandemic-manila-bulletin/
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