THE JAPANESE government and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) will work together to provide about $5 million or 724 million Japanese yen for women’s health services and support for victims of gender-based violence in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) over the course of three years.
The Babaeng Bangsamoro program will start within the year and will benefit women and girls in remote areas in the region, UNFPA country representative Leila S. Joudane told reporters on the sidelines of the International Conference on Women, Peace, and Security in Pasay City.
“We establish health mobile clinics so that these will go to very remote areas and serve women and girls mainly in terms of maternal health, family planning, sexual reproductive health in general,†she said.
“This is very important; it is not only providing services but about capacitating the planners to operate in women and children protection units.
The program aims to benefit at least 18,000 women and other victims or gender-based violence in these areas in 10 municipalities and 10 local government units.
Citing her meetings with Health Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa, she cited the need to help young adults deal with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), with the country averaging about 53 new cases daily from young Filipinos.
“A resilient health sector for BARMM will be a significant boost for the region’s women and the promotion of Women, Peace, and Security,†Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Kazuya Endo said in his speech at the forum.
“Japan will continue to be a staunch advocate of the Women, Peace, and Security agenda in the region and the wider international community.†— John Victor D. Ordoñez
