Sexual Health – The Morning after pill is a need among other long neglected sexual health matters.
Alternattiva Demokratika is in favour of the introduction of the Emergency Contraceptive Pill (ECP), informally known as the Morning After Pill.
Dr Claire Azzopardi Lane, AD spokesperson on Civil Rights, Disability and Social issues, said: “The introduction of the Emergency Contraceptive Pill should be planned in a measured way. The ECP on its own will prevent, in an emergency a prospective pregnancy, but will not change any underlying psychosocial problems which tend to lead to unplanned pregnancy.”
ECP cannot be used on a long term basis since it has a 30% failure rate, but it can prove an effective last minute contraception in emergency cases of contraceptive failure or sexual accidents. In cases of rape, it is ideal since it potentially protects the victim from suffering any long term consequences.
Ann Marie Azzopardi General Secretary Alternattiva Demokratika Żgħażagħ (ADŻ) said “The administration of the ECP should be accompanied by a desperately needed reform in sexual health and education policy. ECP should be available for free through the national health service, in particular to persons from vulnerable backgrounds.ECP should be available to anyone over 16 years of age. It should also however be made available to under 16 year olds subject to medcal supervision. Women dispensed with ECP should be offered sexual health counselling. There is a need for a positive, shameless sexual health campaign accompanying this measure.”
AD is adamantly against the negative portrayal of contraceptive issues and female sexual health. The negative images attributed to sexually active women might hinder young women from seeking support.
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Il-Morning After Pill hija bzonn fost ħafna miżuri oħra fis-saħħa sesswali li ilhom jiġu traskurati.
Alternattiva Demokratika hija favorevoli għall-introduzzjoni tal-pillola kontraċettiva ta’ emerġenza.
Dr Claire Azzopardi Lane, il-kelliema għad-drittijiet ċivili, diżabilità u affarijiet soċjali qalet: “L-introduzzjoni tal-Pillola Kontraċettiva t’Emerġenza (PKE) għandha ssir b’għaqal. Il-PKE weħidha tista’ twaqqaf mara milli tinqabad tqila f’mumenti ta’ emergenza, però ma ssolvix problemi oħra moħbija ta’ natura psikosoċjali li jistgħu jkunu il-kawża ta’ tqala mhux ippjanata.”
“Il-PKE ma tistax tintuża fit-tul, għaliex għandha rata ta’ falliment ta 30%. Il-PKE però, tista’ sservi bħala l-aħħar ċans f’każ li kontraċettivi oħra jfallu jew ikun hemm inċidenti sesswalli. F’każijiet ta’ stupru, il-PKE hija ideali għaliex potenzjalment tipproteġi l-vittma milli tbati l-konsegwenzi għal għomorha.”
Anna Azzopardi, Segretarja Ġenerali tal-Alternattiva Demokratika Żgħażagħ (ADŻ) żiedet: “Apparti l-introduzzjoni tal-PKE, hemm bżonn urġenti ta’ riforma fil-politika tas-saħħa u l-edukazzjoni sesswali. Dawn il-miżuri għandhom imorru flimkien. Il-PKE għandha tkun disponibbli b’xejn permezz tas-Servizzi tas-Saħħa Pubbliċi, speċjalment għal nies soċjalment vulnerabbli. Il-PKE għandha tkun disponibbli lil kull min għandu iktar minn 16-il sena u tingħata f’emergenza taħt superviżjoni medika lil min għandu inqas minn 16-il sena. Nisa li jieħdu il-PKE mis-saħħa pubblika għandhom jiġu offruti servizzi ta’ Counselling Sesswali. Din il-miżura jenħtieġ li tiġi akkumpanjata b’kampanja sesswali pożittiva u mingħajr elementi ta’ mistħija.”
AD turi tħassib li ħafna drabi kwistjonijiet ta’ kontraċezzjoni u saħħa sesswali femminili jiġu mpenġija f’dawl negattiv. Stampa negattiva ta’ dawn l-aspetti importanti fis-saħħa jistgħu iwaqqfu lin-nisa milli jfittxu għajnuna fuq il-materja.
