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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's National Safe Motherhood Program (2018) is primarily concerned with the health and well-being of women during their pregnancy. It also covers adolescent pregnancy and addressing women's unmet needs for family planning contraceptives in its priority agenda till 2030. This initiative seeks to give Filipino women access to quality healthcare for a safer pregnancy and delivery. It aims to promote the health and well-being of mothers in Filipino families by committing to providing rational and responsive policy direction to its local government partners in the delivery of quality maternal and newborn health services with integrity and accountability using proven and innovative approaches.
Aside from this, there is the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), which is a national government human development program that distributes conditional cash grants to the poorest of the poor in order to enhance health, nutrition, and education of children aged 0-18. (CBRD, 2018). The 4Ps has dual objectives in terms of social assistance and social development. It specifically intends to provide health check-ups for pregnant women and children aged 0 to 5 under the latter objective.
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What can you suggest in order to decrease our maternal mortality and morbidity in the country? Give at least 3 suggestions.
After completely comprehending the situation in our country, the first thing that came to me was that I believe the majority of our issues, including the high maternal mortality and morbidity rate, are due to our government's incompetence. I propose that the government allocate more funds to our health care sectors, especially for Filipinos who have difficulty accessing health care services. I believe that when we have enough additional funds for our health care sector, there will be more services available to the public, particularly those required by pregnant women; poor pregnant women will have equal access to health care services; and health care professionals will no longer work abroad, resulting in a sufficient number of health-care providers; and in this situation, the delivery of care to pregnant women is ensured.
In addition, I recommend that the government prioritize the country's education system and make education as accessible to all as possible. According to Nelson Mandela (S. Genuis & R. Genuis, 2016), "education is the most powerful weapon that you can use to change the world." Indeed, I believe that if a person, particularly a woman of reproductive age, has adequate knowledge about maternal care, it may reduce maternal mortality and morbidity in the country in the long run. This is because educated individuals may learn what they should and shouldn't do; in this situation, they understand what they should comply with and avoid in order to have a healthy pregnancy.
I cannot, however, rule out the possibility that women of reproductive age should also participate. That is, they must allow themselves to be taught about maternal health and be willing to comply with all of the things they must and must not do before, during, and after conception, especially if they intend to get pregnant.
If the first two suggestions are not feasible, I believe we have no choice but to vote for a better leader who is willing to serve us Filipinos honestly and with pure intentions :>.
References:
CPBRD. (2018). FF2018-45: THE PANTAWID PAMILYANG PILIPINO PROGRAM (4PS). Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department House of Representatives. https://cpbrd.congress.gov.ph/2012-06-30-13-06-51/2012-06-30-13-36-50/962-ff2018-45-the-pantawid-pamilyang-pilipino-program-4ps
Department Of Health. (2018). SAFE MOTHERHOOD PROGRAM. Department of Health. https://doh.gov.ph/health-programs/safe-motherhood-program/objectives
Genuis, S. J., & Genuis, R. A. (2016). Preconception Care: A New Standard of Care within Maternal Health Services. BioMed Research International, 2016, 1–30. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/6150976