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.
One of the most well known current programs of the Department of Health to address maternal mortality and morbidity is the National Safe Motherhood Program which has two components: Local Delivery of the Maternal–Newborn Service Package and National Capacity to Sustain Maternal-Newborn Services. This program is catered towards Filipino women to have full access to various health services making their pregnancy and delivery safe. It also provides a rational and responsive policy direction in conjunction with different local government partners in utilization and provision of delivery of quality maternal and newborn health services.
According to DOH, one of the major accomplishment that this program will brought is that the implementation of the policy about prevention of illegal and unsafe abortions and management of post – abortion complication will reduced the maternal mortality by 21%. Recently it was reported that around 95% of birthing centers have teams trained on basic emergency obstetric and newborn care.
2.What can you suggest in order to decrease our maternal mortality and morbidity in the country? Give at least 3 suggestions.
Strengthen and increase different reproductive health care services especially to those who are living in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas. The government should continue to make this services available and accessible not only in urban areas but also those in rural or far flung areas where the bare minimum health care is out of reach. Mobilized and provide enough compensation to professionals that will help women in reproductive age in GIDAs.
Routinely provide reproductive health education. Educating the people is one of the most important programs that we should implement especially in adolescents and couples. This includes different contraceptive measures, family planning, and the realities of risk and complications because enough provision of this health education will prevent teenage pregnancy and unwanted pregnancy since they have substantial knowledge about this.
Ensure proper implementation of different existing programs. Strictly monitoring and evaluating if the program launched are effective or not. This also includes the monitoring if the allocation of budget is properly done especially to different projects implemented in LGUs.
Reference:
Department of Health. (2018, October 17). National Safe Motherhood Program. Gov.Ph. https://doh.gov.ph/national-safe-motherhood-program