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“The Philippine Children’s Medical Center is a government hospital. The land it has been occupying is government land and the government is now asking us to pay for the land. Is that just?”
“Whether De la Cruz joined the NPA after his release or not is his personal choice. That does not in any way change the facts of the case. The military illegally arrested, detained and tortured the 43 health workers, period.” -- Cristina Palabay, Karapatan secretary general
Farmers, scientists and advocates believe that golden rice is but a “simplistic, techno-fix solution” to the prevalence of Vitamin A deficiency and there are other sustainable measures that have no negative impact on human health and the environment.
Toxicologist Dr. Romeo Quijano said no safety testing, which includes laboratory feeding studies, has been conducted before the field testing commenced. "Problems have yet to be resolved such as sub-chronic and chronic health effects or allergenicity and toxicity.
See also: Golden rice, not the solution to Vitamin A deficiency
The rate of prevalence of underweight children, with ages zero to five years old, remained unchanged at 20.2 percent in 2005 and 2011. The rate of prevalence of stunted growth increased from 33.1 percent in 2005 to 33.6 percent in 2011. The number of wasting children, also with ages zero to five, increased from 5.8 percent in 2005 to 7.3 percent in 2011.
“When I finally saw a doctor, I was told that I only have four to five years to live. Some PLHIVs who I knew back then have died because of the disease. But I am still alive because of the support and love of my children and my family.”
Read Also: Church people call for understanding, love, support for people living with HIV
How is HIV transmitted?
“People living with HIV should be loved as God has loved us. Being infected with the virus doesn’t make one a bad person.” – Rev. Phumizille Mabizela of South Africa
While HIV prevalence in the country is low at 0.04 percent, there is a notable increase in new cases since 2007.
“The growing dependence of the DOH on the role of PhilHealth for healthcare delivery manifests a very myopic approach to decades-old problems besetting the Philippine healthcare system.” – Network Opposed to Privatization
As the awarding of the modernization project of the Philippine Orthopedic Center to a private firm is fast approaching, health workers, patients, the urban poor, and church people are exploring different options to stop its implementation.
“Healthcare is non-negotiable. The POC has been servicing the poor during its 68 years in existence. The POC should remain for the poor.”
“Eventually, no matter how the DOH strongly denies it, the POC will turn into a private corporation and thus, can no longer provide free nor affordable health services for the people, especially the majority poor.”
For public health workers, serving the Filipino people should always be the government’s priority.
“Medical services here at the Philippine Orthopedic Hospital are really affordable. If this will be privatized then where else will the poor go?”
"This coalition is not against the modernization of the hospital. This coalition is against the privatization of the POC because it will deprive poor Filipinos of free and accessible health care.”
In Nueva Ecija, a woman who was about to give birth walked and crossed a river to get to the nearest birthing facility. The mother and the child died before reaching the nearest birthing station. Because giving birth at home in Quezon City is prohibited, the mother who was about to give birth was not brought immediately to the hospital because the family has no money. Her twins died.
“Like Kristel Tejada, the UP freshman who took her own life because of her family’s inability to pay her tuition, the Filipino people, especially those who cannot afford expensive health services, are left with no other choice but to wait for their death. This system is the one that pushes us to desperation.”
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