HEALTH

Health Trends, Issues, and

Concerns in the National Level
Pre-Assessment: Complete me!
How much do you know about the topics as represented by the following
pictures? Complete the chart by choosing your answer from the box
below.
 HEALTH RELATED LAWS
• National Environmental Awareness and Education Act of 2008
(RA 9512)
• Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 (RA 10175)
• Dangerous Drug Act of 2002 (RA 9165)
• Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009 (RA 9775)
• Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of
2012 (RA 10354)
• Consumer Act (RA 7394
Activity 1: Choose Me!
Identify the policy being described in each
number in column B. Choose the letter of the
correct answer from Health-Related Laws
listed below and write your answers on
Column A portion.
Answer key:
 I. CONSUMERS HEALTH
• Republic Act No. 7394 or the Consumer Act of the
Philippines has three objectives (Galvez Tan et al.,
2009):
1. Protect the interest of the consumer
2. Promote his/her general welfare
3. Establish standards of conduct for business and
industry
 I. CONSUMERS HEALTH
• The Act aims to protect people against hazards to
health and safety, and deceptive and unfair sales
acts and practices to achieve the objectives.
• In this light, the policy mandates information
dissemination and education to facilitate sound
choice and proper exercise of rights by the
consumer.
 I. CONSUMERS HEALTH
• The Consumer Act also covers the quality and
safety of different products like food, drugs,
cosmetics, and devices.
• The policy also promotes the protection of citizens
against hazardous substances that may be in the
sale.
• Hence, proper labeling and fair packaging shall be
required for all the products being sold.
 I. CONSUMERS HEALTH
• In connection with the Consumer Act, Republic
Act 8423 or the Traditional and Alternative
Medicine Act of 1997 (TAMA) provides for the
improvement of quality and delivery of healthcare
services in the country by developing traditional
and alternative healthcare and its integration into
the national healthcare system.
Here are the different forms of complementary
and alternative medicine approved by TAMA:
1. Acupuncture
-involves inserting
of needles at
certain points of
the body.
Here are the different forms of complementary
and alternative medicine approved by TAMA:
2. Ventosa Cupping/Cupping
-is a type of alternative
therapy that originated in
China. It involves placing
cups on the skin to create
suction. The suction may
facilitate healing with blood
flow.
Here are the different forms of complementary
and alternative medicine approved by TAMA:
3. Reflexology
-is the application of
pressure to areas on the
feet (or the hands).
Reflexology is generally
relaxing and may help
alleviate stress.
Here are the different forms of complementary
and alternative medicine approved by TAMA:
4. Acupressure
-is putting pressure on
specific places of the
body.
II. REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
Another pressing health issue that concerns you
as an adolescent is reproductive health.
“Reproductive health is defined as a state of
physical, mental, and social well-being in all
matters relating to the reproductive system, at all
stages of life” (Galvez Tan, et al., 2009).
• With the sudden physical and emotional changes
in your body, more and more questions are
starting to surface.
II. REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
Reproductive health is crucial for it paves the way
for your social and economic development.
Furthermore, it has also a great influence in the
health of the next generation.
 The health of newborn children will be
dependent on the health of the parents,
particularly the mother (Lualhati F. Callo et al.,
2015).
II. REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
To aid the reproductive health needs of the citizens, the
government mandated the RA 10354 or most commonly
known as the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive
Health Act. The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive
Health Act 2012 builds it foundation on four pillars. These
are:
1. Responsible Parenthood
2. Respect for Life
3. Birth Spacing/Control
4. Informed Choice
II. REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
Reproductive health also concerns problems such as
sexually-transmitted infections.
According to Dr. Natividad (2013), in the Young Adult
Fertility and Sexuality Study of 2013 (YAFS-4), a survey of
Filipino college and high school graduates, 36.2 percent
and 43.5 percent respectively admitted to having
engaged in premarital sex. In addition 66.7 percent and
79.6 percent did not use any protection at first premarital
sex. These scenarios are most often the causes of
infections (Lualhati F. Callo et al., 2015).
The main reasons why adolescents engage
on premarital sex would be the following:
1. Curiosity
Teenagers often engaging in premarital sex due
to curiosity. They want to experience something
for fun and love at the same time without
thinking of the possible outcome. Most teenagers
are curious about everything specially in the
adolescence stage.
The main reasons why adolescents engage
on premarital sex would be the following:
2. Lack of Parental Supervision
Teenagers who are less supervised by their
parents due to both parents are working full time
may always take advantage of premarital sex.
They would have more time to explore and
practice premarital sex.
The main reasons why adolescents engage
on premarital sex would be the following:
3. Peer Pressure
In our country, most teenagers are paying more
attention to their peers. Whatever their friends
have and experienced, they are pressured to do
the same thing or even more. If their friends can
do it so they can also. This is the common reason
why teenagers engage in premarital sex.
The main reasons why adolescents engage
on premarital sex would be the following:
4. Puppy Love
Most of the teenagers tend to imagine and
mature real fast. During adolescence, teenagers
would think that they have already matured and
found their true love, since it is the transition
from childhood to adulthood. The one that they
would want to be with until they grow old.
The main reasons why adolescents engage
on premarital sex would be the following:
5. Ignorance or Lack of knowledge
Many schools offer guidance on students about safe sex and
premarital sex, not all are aware or can be able to go to school
which is common to provincial areas of our country and less
fortunate children who cannot afford to go to school and with
less parental guidance.
They tend to follow what they see or hear from the adults
without proper knowledge and the risk for doing premarital
sex.
 The main reasons why adolescents engage
on premarital sex would be the following:
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome or AIDS is caused by human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV) which usually does not have
symptoms in its early stages. “Initially, people with HIV were
diagnosed as having AIDS only when they developed blood
infections, the cancer known as Kaposi’s sarcoma, or any of the 21
other indicator diseases” (Donatelle, 2006).
In addition, HIV is highly infectious through unprotected sexual
intercourse, , breastfeeding (of an infected mother to infant), and
blood transfusion/injecting drugs (needles used for infected
patients).
 The main reasons why adolescents engage
on premarital sex would be the following:
In this light, the government also puts its efforts to eradicate these
sex-related diseases, most especially AIDS.
The Republic Act No. 8504 or the Philippine AIDS Prevention and
Control Act of 1998 was passed by the Congress on July 28, 1997.
The Act promulgates “policies and prescribing measures for the
prevention and control of HIV/AIDS in the Philippines, instituting a
nationwide HIV/AIDS information and educational program,
establishing a comprehensive HIV/AIDS monitoring system,
strengthening the Philippine National AIDS Council, and for other
purposes” (PNAC).
Sex outside of marriage to be
immoral
Hebrews 13:4

Marriage should be honored by all, and the

marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge
the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.
1 Thessalonians 4:3-5

For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that

you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one
of you know how to control his own body in
holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like
the Gentiles who do not know God.
Galatians 5:19-21

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual

immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery,
enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries,
dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies,
and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you
before, that those who do such things will not
inherit the kingdom of God.
 III. SUBSTANCE USE AND ABUSE
• Gateway drugs may be considered as windows to
unprotected sex. These are drugs “that people use
initially that may eventually lead to the abuse of illegal
drugs” (Galvez Tan, et al., 2009).
• Alcohol and tobacco are gateway drugs. When alcohol
is consumed, the central nervous system is affected.
Thus, a person is more vulnerable to doing dangerous
acts because of depressed decision-making skills.
 III. SUBSTANCE USE AND ABUSE
• There are several types of alcohol. These are fermented
beverages, distilled beverages, beer.wine. and liquor. Where,
the types of tobacco are cigarettes, cigars, dissolvables,
electronic cigarettes (Vape Pen, e-Hookah, Hookah Pen),
traditional smokeless tobacco (chewing tobacco and moist
snuff), and waterpipes (hookah, shisha, narghile, argileh).
• On the other hand, the government also provides protection
from these gateway drugs through the Comprehensive
Dangerous Drugs Act and the Tobacco Regulation Act.
 III. SUBSTANCE USE AND ABUSE
• Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive
Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 protects citizens from
the harmful effects of dangerous drugs to their
physical and mental well-being.
• According to the policy, here are some which are
considered as unlawful acts and are subject to
penalties and fines.
 Unlawful acts and are subject to
penalties and fines.
a. Importing of dangerous drugs and/or controlled
precursors and essential chemicals (narcotic drugs and
psychotropic substances).
b. Selling, trading, administering, dispensing, delivering,
distributing, and transporting dangerous drugs and/or
controlled precursors and essential chemicals.
c. Maintaining a drug den, drive, or resort .
d. Manufacturing of dangerous drugs and/or controlled
precursors and essential chemicals .
 Unlawful acts and are subject to
penalties and fines.
e. Manufacturing or delivery of equipment, instrument,
apparatus, or other paraphernalia for dangerous drugs
and/or controlled precursors and essential chemicals .
f. Possessing dangerous drugs, equipment, instrument,
apparatus, or other paraphernalia
g. Possessing dangerous drugs during parties, social
gatherings or meetings h. Cultivating or culturing plants
classified as dangerous drugs or sources of such i.
Unnecessary prescribing dangerous drugs
On the other hand, Republic Act No. 9211 or the Tobacco
Regulation Act of 2003 protects people from the sale,
use, and advertisements of hazardous tobacco products.
In order to promote a healthful environment, the Act
absolutely bans smoking in public places, most especially
in centers of youth activities, elevators and stairwells,
fire-hazardous places, within public and private hospitals
and medical clinics, airport and other terminals, and food
preparation areas.
In this light, a designated smoking and non-smoking area
should be utilized (Lualhati F. Callo et al., 2015).
The Act also restricts access to sale of tobacco products to
minors. Tobacco may not be put in a vending machine,
unless it verifies age, and may not be sold within 100 meters
of a school. Should tobacco be sold, there should be proper
signage that indicates target consumers.
When it comes to advertising and promotions, the Act
provisions the printing of warnings on cigarette packs in
either Filipino or English, on a rotating basis o separately
and simultaneously, the following health warnings:
"GOVERNMENT WARNING: Cigarettes are Addictive";
"GOVERNMENT WARNING: Tobacco Can Harm your
Children"; or "GOVERNMENT WARNING: Smoking Kills."