Since the public furor erupted about the requirement for prescriptions on contraceptives, several civil society groups have opposed the enforcement of the regulations.
The NTUCB is one of them. They released a press statement yesterday saying, "This archaic legislation needs to be immediately revised. This proposal represents a significant step backward in advancing women's rights and autonomy. It directly undermines a woman's liberty to make decisions about her own body and reproductive health…."
In a Zoom interview today, NTUCB President Ella Waight spoke about how this will affect the schedules of working women, finding the time to make an appointment whenever they need to purchase contraceptives.
Ella Waight, President NTUCB
"We do find it very concerning we feel that it is an archaic legislation and I agree, if it is the case that it was already part of the law of Belize it was not being applied. So women were going to the pharmacies to get their contraceptive, whichever method they chose and now to say that, okay, firstly, if it is a new. You are just going to begin to use this form of medication whether it be the pills or whatever for contraceptives, it is your first time, you would have to consult a doctor that I think to an extent we could understand that point. But what will happen now because I am sure many people have lost their prescriptions that they have had for maybe 6 months or even a year. So they will in turn even though they had been using whatever lets say for example birth control, for the past 6 months to a year they will still have to go back to the doctor so even that explanation will not simply apply the way they want It to. It will have to apply to those persons who are already on those medications and for us the concern is who will allow these women to take the time off from work to do this? That is our issue."
