21 July 2016 — In line with its advocacy of empowering women by raising awareness, the Philippine Consulate General in Milan conducted the second of a series of Health Concerns on Early Sexual Relationship and Teenage Pregnancy seminars at Centro Parrocchiare San Carlo, Via Guarneri 22, Zona Arcella, Padova, Italy on July 17. The seminar was organized in collaboration with The Philippine Nurses Association in Milan (TPNAM) and Instituto per L’Associazione Donne Filippine-Padova.

Consul Conrado Demdem Jr., in his opening remarks, emphasized the importance of knowledge about the risks of teenage pregnancy in order for the parents to guide their children. 

The resource speaker, Ms. Angelie Balaleng-Bernal, RN, president of TPNAM, discussed in details the different types of sexually transmitted diseases, the health risks associated with early sexual activities and the disadvantages of teenage pregnancy.  In the data that she presented, the Philippines has the highest incidence of teenage pregnancy in Southeast Asia.

This seminar series is under the Consulate’s Gender and Development (GAD) program. END