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Updated Monday, March 8, 2010 5:16 pm TWN, By TERESA CEROJANO, AP



	Protesters display condoms and shout slogans during a rally at the influential Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines Monday March 8, 2010 in Manila to ask the bishops to "bless the condoms as a conciliatory gesture to unite for reproductive health and women's rights." (AP) Enlarge Photo

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Philippine health chief, church fight over condoms

But the Harvard-trained cardiologist, who was reshuffled to the Health Department from the Social Welfare Department in January, shrugged off the flak as something that comes with the territory.

"I feel it is just a job that I have to do because as the secretary of health I know that it is going to be very difficult for our country if we let ... (AIDS) become an epidemic," she told The Associated Press.

The number of diagnosed HIV/AIDS cases rose to four a day in November and December, up from one or two during the first 10 months of 2009, according to the Health Department. In January, 143 new cases were diagnosed, the largest number recorded in a month.

Without intervention, the nearly 4,600 cases recorded in the Philippines as of January could soar to 30,000 in three years, Cabral said.

The figures may be the tip of the iceberg. Cabral said health officials estimate that for every new case recorded, 10 are missed. About 95 percent results from sexual transmission.

The Health Department's program follows the ABC formula: abstinence, be faithful and use a condom.

The church rejects contraception, which it says causes abortion. The bishops claim that condoms contribute to the spread of HIV/AIDS, saying they have a high failure rate and create a false sense of security.

According to the World Health Organization, scientific evidence shows that latex condoms provide 80 percent or greater protection against HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.

Under President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the national government does not distribute contraceptives and leaves it to local governments to decide how to deal with HIV/AIDS and reproductive health.

Condoms are sold at grocery and drug stores, but for those who cannot afford them — a third of the country's 90 million people live in poverty — free distribution often depends on where they live.

For now, Cabral has Arroyo's backing, although deputy presidential spokeswoman Charito Planas said the health secretary was reminded to consult the president and the Cabinet on any future condom distributions.

With national elections coming in May, the church is campaigning against politicians who promote birth control. Family planning advocates are calling on voters to ditch candidates opposed to allocating government funds for contraceptives.

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