BSU Joins Celebration of Women's Month
 LPMadino/ISRD - 04.24.06

     In solidarity with the rest of the nation in celebrating March as Women′s Month, the Benguet State University (BSU), through the BSU-Gender and Development (GAD) Committee headed by Dr. Marie Klondy T. Dagupen, has lined up several activities in keeping with the national theme "CEDAW ng Bayan: Karapatan ng Kababaihan."

     A kick-off program was held during the flag raising ceremony at the BSU administration building last March 6, which was attended by some faculty members, staff, and students. On March 8, BSU-GAD Committee members participated in the International Women's Day Parade held along the main thoroughfares of Baguio City , which was followed by a short program at the Baguio City Athletic Bowl.

     Two forums were also conducted for BSU personnel and students. The first forum was on Reproductive Health Care with Prof. Evelyn B. Macasieb, a registered nurse and a faculty member of the BSU College of Nursing, as the resource person. This was held at the BSU Strawberry Hall last March 10.

     Prof. Macasieb discussed topics related to reproductive health care and some common forms of cancer among women such as uterine, ovarian, colon, and rectum cancer and their preventive measures. She then focused her discussion on breast cancer, which, she said, is among the leading causes of death among women. She demonstrated the proper breast self-examination (BSE). She stressed that early detection of any form of cancer can lead to better chances of survival. A lively interaction followed afterwards.

     The second forum, this time on Computer Use-Related Illnesses, was held last March 22 at the BSU Strawberry Hall with Dr. Leopoldo A. Calimlim, as the resource person. As an Occupational Health and Industrial Medicine Practitioner at the Saint Louis University Hospital of the Sacred Heart (SLUHSH) and the Corporate Medical Director of the Stars and Stripes Health Care Alliance – Asia Pacific Inc., located at the Notre Dame de Chartres Hospital in Baguio City, Dr. Calimlim talked about the different kinds of disabilities and hazards encountered daily by employees in their work places. He also discussed the process by which employees can claim their benefits for disability.

     He stressed the importance of caring for one's health while in the workplace by sharing his personal philosophy which goes: "If the company protects its business interest and the SSS protects its funds, then nobody is left to protect the workers---the backbone of our economy. If we physicians in private practice do not protect our patients' rights to health benefits, then nobody will and nobody can.&

     Being the chairperson of the Regional Organization of GAD Focal Persons (ROGFP) in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Dr. Dagupen was invited along with the other GAD focal persons of other regional line agency members of ROGFP by DZWT and Channel 12 to share with the listeners and viewers some significant laws on the protection of rights and promotion of the welfare of women and children. In a separate occasion, she also discussed some salient points of RA 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act after the Monday Flag Raising Ceremony of the Civil Service Commission- Cordillera Administrative Region (CSC-CAR) last March 27.

     Meanwhile, the Reproductive Health Care Clinic (RHCC) operated by the BSU College of Nursing continues to provide free Pap smear services and Breast Self- Examination instructions to all BSU faculty members, staff, students, and the community. Everyone is invited to visit the RHCC.

     This year′s theme for the Women's Month Celebration was coined in commemoration of the 25 th Anniversary of the Philippines′ signing in the Convention for the Elimination of all kinds of Discriminations against Women (CEDAW) on July 15, 1980 during the UN Decade for Women.

     The Convention was adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly and is often described as the International Bill of Rights for Women. The Convention defined discrimination as "any distinction, exclusion, or restriction made on the basis of sex, which has the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment, or exercise by women, irrespective of their marital status, on a basis of equality of men and women, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil, or any other field."

     The objective of this year′s Women′s Month Celebration was to provide a channel for the nationwide campaign in the promotion of CEDAW through awareness- raising activities, and eventually strengthen the implementation of the provisions of the CEDAW among key policy makers, program implementers, non-government organizations, and major stakeholders.