1. In response to Making Pregnancy Safer, what are the current programs in the country to address maternal mortality and morbidity? Cite at least 1.
NATIONAL SAFE MOTHERHOOD PROGRAM by the Department of Health
-
The National Safe Motherhood Program is committed to providing logical and responsive policy direction to its local government partners in delivering quality maternity and newborn health care with integrity and accountability. To improve women's health and well-being, the program aims to: (1) Collaborate with Local Government Units in establishing the sustainable, cost-effective approach of delivering health services that ensure access of disadvantaged women to acceptable and high quality maternal and newborn health services and enable them to safely give birth in health facilities near their homes and (2) Establish core knowledge base and support systems that facilitate the delivery of quality maternal and newborn health services in the country. The National Safe Motherhood Program of the Department of Health is dedicated to revamping its strategies to address critical reproductive health concerns, including the control of sexually transmitted infections and mother-to-child transmission of HIV, while addressing both demand and supply-side obstacles to access for disadvantaged women, including indigenous women of reproductive age.
MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH INTEGRATED PROGRAM (MCHIP)
-
The Maternal and Child Health Integrated Program (MCHIP) of the United States Agency for International Development in the Philippines is a 21-month program that collaborates with the Philippine government to meet the country's underserved need for postpartum family planning. The program advocates for Postpartum Family Planning (PPFP/PPIUD) by creating an enabling policy environment for PPFP/PPIUD, establishing resources and capacity for service delivery, and facilitating training for PPFP/PPIUD.
MNCHN Strategy
-
This policy outlines a plan to reduce maternal and neonate fatalities by providing a comprehensive set of MNCHN services. By providing and using integrated MNCHN care across the country, the approach can reduce maternal and newborn mortality quickly. Goals for the plan include achieving these intermediate outcomes: (1) Every pregnancy is wanted, planned, and supported; (2) Every pregnancy is adequately managed throughout its course; (3) Every delivery is facility-based and managed by skilled birth attendants/skilled health professionals; and (4) Every mother and newborn pair secures proper postpartum and newborn care with smooth transitions to the women's health care package for the mother and child survival package for the newborn.
2. What can you suggest in order to decrease our maternal mortality and morbidity in the country? Give at least 3 suggestions.
-
Ensure access to quality healthcare services. Maternal mortality and morbidity in our country is exacerbated by a lack of access to quality health care. Due to the expensive medical bills and facilities being out of reach (especially in rural communities), many Filipino women may decide to obtain medical attention altogether. There is, therefore, a need for the government to offer its citizens affordable, easily accessible, and high-quality healthcare services.
-
Empower more academic institutions to produce experts and professionals in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Professionals who know how to build a long-term, sustainable healthcare system are in short supply in our country today. UN Sustainable Development Goals require universities to play an essential role in developing a cadre of teachers and practitioners to fill the shortages. Every time we learn something new, it reinforces the fact that the future of global health is dependent on universities forming relationships with other institutions of higher learning to better prepare faculty, researchers, and health care providers for the challenges of modern obstetrics.
-
Make contraception and safe abortions easily accessible. As maternal mortality and morbidity rates in the country are often higher due to unsafe abortions, we must ensure that all women have access to various contraceptive options to prevent unwanted pregnancies and have access to safe abortion services. In this regard, the Philippines must prioritize women's access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services.
-
Promotion of Family Planning. When maternity care is a woman's primary point of contact with the health care system, integrating family planning services within maternal health services may effectively reduce unmet demand. In antenatal care, postpartum family planning information can be learned, allowing women to implement good birth spacing practices. This approach boosts household income and enables women to spend more on themselves, their families, and their communities.
References
Department of Health MNCHN Strategy - Secretary of health. (n.d.). Retrieved February 16, 2022, from https://doh.gov.ph/sites/default/files/publications/MNCHNMOPMay4withECJ.pdf
Maternal and child health integrated program (MCHIP) - Philippines. U.S. Agency for International Development. (2015, September 14). Retrieved February 16, 2022, from https://www.usaid.gov/philippines/health/mchip
National Safe Motherhood Program: Department of Health Website. National Safe Motherhood Program | Department of Health website. (2018, October 17). Retrieved February 16, 2022, from https://doh.gov.ph/national-safe-motherhood-program