A baby boom is expected this year, with an estimated 214,000 unplanned babies to be born according to projections by the University of the Philippines Population Institute and the United Nations Population Fund.
With many still wary of going to hospitals over fears of contracting Covid-19, the solution offered by Rizal 2nd District Rep. Fidel Nograles is to do away with the “no home birth” policy being implemented by local government units across the country.
“I think the no home birth policy infringes on women’s fundamental right of choice. Napakaraming kwento sa nakaraang taon ng mga buntis na sa kabila ng takot na magka-Covid at kawalan ng transportasyon ay napilitang magpunta sa mga accredited center dahil walang may gustong tumugon sa kanila dahil sa banta ng parusa. Dapat suporta, hindi parusa, ang binibigay natin sa mga nanay,” the Harvard-trained lawyer said.
Nograles said that home births could prove an effective alternative to women who have difficulty accessing hospitals and other health-care facilities, as well as a means to address the continued strain on health institutions due to the ongoing pandemic.
“No ordinance shall be passed by LGUs that violate the right to life of women by penalizing home birth assistance even in life-threatening and emergency cases.”
The neophyte lawmaker called on the House of Representatives to tackle a bill that he filed last year as a gift to women, especially with Women’s Month being commemorated this March.
House Bill No. 6477, or the Expanded Reproductive Rights of Women Act of 2020, seeks to guarantee women’s right to choose modes of birthing and neonatal care.
The bill also bans LGUs from imposing a no-home birth policy.
“No ordinance shall be passed by LGUs that violate the right to life of women by penalizing home birth assistance even in life-threatening and emergency cases,” the bill states.
It adds that no ordinance should be passed that “violate the right to culturally-sensitive health care and the right to religious freedom of Indigenous Peoples women in relation to the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act or Republic Act No. 8371 recognizing the right of indigenous persons.”
Nograles said that while he understood the noble intent of the no home birth policy, which has been implemented in efforts to reduce maternal death, rather than coercion, the government should instead focus on enabling safe, alternative methods to flourish.
“Rather than penalizing those who wish to undergo home births and other modes of birthing, the government should instead implement a clear and effective framework that would make these alternative methods safer.”
The Commission on Population and Development last year said that the Philippines records around 2,000 maternal deaths every year.
“Rather than penalizing those who wish to undergo home births and other modes of birthing, the government should instead implement a clear and effective framework that would make these alternative methods safer,” Nograles said.
He added that under his bill, the Department of Health would be mandated to develop safety guidelines addressing home birth issues.
The guidelines would include eligibility for home births; training, skills and competency building, and qualifications of health care professionals; sectoral strategic plan for the population at risk; and risk management strategies, including measures to ensure that all childbirths whether home or health facility-based meet safety standards.
The DOH and the LGU would also be required to promote programs for the improvement of home birth conditions by providing skilled birth assistance and maternity care services at home.
Nograles emphasized the need to engage a multidimensional approach to tackle the issue of maternal deaths.
“Besides addressing the barriers that prevent mothers from going to hospitals such as high costs and lack of transportation, we should also provide safer alternatives especially for those who are in geographically-isolated and disadvantaged areas,” Nograles said.