Catholic group strengthens advocacy against condoms
Condom is no solution to HIV-AIDS.
This, Human Life International (HLI) stressed following the Department of Health’s plan to procure condoms and other contraceptives.
Human Life International is an American based Roman Catholic activist pro-life organization. Founded in 1981 by Fr. Paul Marx, HLI is found in 160 countries. It describes itself as “the largest international, pro-life, pro-family, pro-woman organization in the world.”
HIL country director Dr. Rene Josef Bullecer, a practicing physician with specialty on HIV medicine and national director of AIDS-Free Philippines, said that condom is simply not the solution to curb incidence of HIV-AIDS in the country.
“Me, as a doctor, fighting against AIDS in the last 15 years, I know for a fact, that this product is not the solution,” he said adding, “And we could not allow that the government, through the DOH, will disseminate the wrong information, campaigning and propagating a gadget which is proven not to be 100% protection against HIV-AIDS.”
In a press conference yesterday with other pro-life advocates in Iloilo City, Bullecer presented “The Untold Story of the Contraceptive/Condom propaganda of the DOH and its counterpart NGOs.”
Bullecer and his group has been making rounds in the country. He had press conferences in Manila, Cebu, Tagbilaran, and Dumaguete.
“We really need to help inform the people on the real dangers of condom and its effectiveness in the fight against AIDS,” he added.
Based on records from May 1984 to February 2010, there are already 4,614 cases of HIV-AIDS.
“AIDS in the Philippines is in the infancy stage. So what would be the solution if we say no to condom? The solution there is very simple. Whether we like it or not, this disease called AIDS is a dual problem,” he added.
One, Bullecer said that it is a behavioral disease.
“Sakit ‘yan sa ugali ng tao. Who can help? We could not just cover the person with condoms. And who can help in this disease? We don’t have much psychiatrists and psychologists but who can help in the problem is the person himself,” he added.
The HIL country director added that it is also a moral problem.
“Based on records, in every country like the Philippines, more than 90% of those who acquired HIV, they got the infection because they engaged in sex prior or outside of marriage. So, makita mo, my role talaga ang moralidad. Pag moralidad na ang pag-usapan, it’s not within the scope of the DOH or any government agency. So, we must allow the Church – whether you are Muslin or Christian–to come in,” he claimed.
Further, HIL stressed that the church and state must not engage in all-out war against each other but they have to sit down.
“If one camp would like to listen, one camp would like to accept the fact that this is a morality and behavioural problem. We have to tell the people, in fairness to the manufacturers, that condoms could not guarantee that you will be 100% safe from HIV-AIDS,” he added.
Bullecer stated that the condoms will only protect what it covers.
“It only protects the erect portion of the male genitalia. How about the surrounding skin? The scrotal area? These are still exposed,” he said.
Bullecer further noted that countries which openly promotes condom, instead of decreasing of HV cases, have an increasing incidence of HIV cases.
As such, “we must strengthen the moral values and change the lifestyles and behaviour of the people. The Church and the government should go hand in hand to achieve a very successful campaign against AIDS,” he added.
Bullecer also acknowledged the fact that there are a lot of people who will not subscribe to what they are saying.
“But at least, they should be forewarned of the side effects. The government should not be one-sided in presenting solution to the problem,” he claimed.
Earlier, DOH Secretary Esperanza Cabral announced that the DOH will be utilizing the Global fund grant for HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria amounting to $85 million.
Out of the said amount, she claimed that $19 million is allocated for the prevention of HIV/AIDS not only for the procurement of condom but mostly for information and education campaign, counseling, testing, treatment with Anti-retroviral agents.
