In response to Making Pregnancy Safer, what are the current programs in the country to address maternal mortality and morbidity? Cite at least 1.
The Department of Health and various other health institutions continue to exert effort in ensuring safer and more positive pregnancy outcomes through the formulation and implementation of programs and policies catered to addressing maternal needs and safety. Some of these programs and/or policies include:
1. Administrative Order 2008-0029 “Implementing Health Reforms for Rapid Reduction of Maternal and Neonatal Mortality” - This policy underlines the provision of a package of maternal, newborn, and child health and nutrition (MNCHN) services as a strategy for the reduction of maternal mortality and morbidity and neonatal deaths (Department of Health, n.d.)
2. National Safe Motherhood Program - it aims to provide quality maternal and newborn care services by empowering local governments through rational policy directions and the use of research-based approaches. Specifically, its objectives include: (1) Collaborating with Local Government Units in establishing a 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) Establishing core knowledge base and support systems that facilitate the delivery of quality maternal and newborn health services in the country.
3. Community-Managed Maternal and Newborn Care - this program invests in community-based care to prevent delays in seeking medical care, reaching appropriate care, and receiving health care at facilities that are common causes of maternal and neonatal mortality. It seeks to empower midwives in rural communities to make prenatal and postnatal care more accessible to more women.
What can you suggest in order to decrease our maternal mortality and morbidity in the country? Give at least 3 suggestions.
There are several ways to ensure the steady reduction of maternal mortality and morbidity in the country, but these will only be possible if all involved people are empowered and educated about the process and strategies in preventing maternal deaths and morbidity. Some of the suggested actions to combat this issue are:
1. Ensure access to quality maternal care through the empowerment of institutions and health professionals at the community level. When local institutions such as the rural health units and health professionals such as midwives are empowered and given adequate support by the national government, positive outcomes are to be expected. Since community-level services are the foundational units of care, it is essential that they are given adequate support in order to make maternal health services more accessible which will prevent any delays of care.
2. Integrate a multidisciplinary approach in care for women during preconception, pregnancy, and postpartum. Maternal health does not simply encompass pregnancy. It also includes care and services provided preconception and even postpartum. It is important to recognize the needs of a woman in every stage of maternity and apply a multidisciplinary approach in addressing the issues that may arise. Through this, holistic maternal care is ensured (Collier & Molina, 2019).
3. Educate and empower women. An empowered mother is an empowered community. While maternal care and health services may be available at the community level, it is equally necessary to provide attention to educating women about the know-hows of maternity. This will allow for the provision of better care at the individual level.
References:
Collier, A. & Molina, R. (2019). Maternal Mortality in the United States: Updates on Trends, Causes, and Solutions. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7377107/#:~:text=Key%20interventions%20to%20improve%20maternal,implementing%20hospital%2Dwide%20safety%20bundles
Department of Health. (n.d.). MNCHN Strategy Manual of Operations. https://doh.gov.ph/sites/default/files/publications/MNCHNMOPMay4withECJ.pdf
Department of Health. (2018). https://doh.gov.ph/national-safe-motherhood-program
Papp, L. & Kleimann, M. (2013). Maternal, Neonatal, and Child Health in the Philippines: Prenatal. http://philippineshealthdata.blogs.wm.edu/neonatal-health-2/prenatal/