Under One Roof

Last night, news programs reported the birth of a baby with two heads. It’s actually a case of conjoined twins wherein one of the babies didn’t develop on its own inside the womb of the mother.

You know, this could have been avoided had there been an early detection of abnormalities with the pregnant mother. There is a particular test to be administered to pregnant moms so that any abnormalities or defects in the unborn baby can be detected early on. But since the parents of the baby with two heads didn’t have the money for the medical test, the mother didn’t know that she would be giving birth to such baby.

This is one of the things that the government should look into, particularly the Department of Health. So many babies with defects are born every minute of every day, in the city and in provinces. Maybe, the government can look into providing a budget for free consultations/medical tests or checkups for pregnant mothers who cannot afford it. Could be costly but they can set certain guidelines like it’s free for the first two babies. Or ask for sponsorship from big pharmaceutical companies. There are so many ways to do this and help poor pregnant mothers in the country.

In relation to that, the government could probably tighten their watch on birth control issues. Please! Roll out lectures on family planning. Or even better, on maximum 2-child policy! The mother who gave birth to a baby with two heads? That’s her fifth already! If the twins were properly formed, it would be child numbers 5 and 6. And they can’t afford to have even three kids!!!

These cases of babies with defects should have been a wake-up call to parents out there. If you know for a fact that you cannot afford it, stop at baby number 1! Use condoms or any other method of birth control! There are free clinics in every barangay where you can get help regarding this. Do not listen to the Catholic saying “go forth and multiply”! Stop multiplying if you do not have the capacity to feed the multiple!

Got it?