Answer the following and post your answers here. Cite references of your answers as much as possible.

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 factors affecting the positive outcomes of pregnancy is micronutrient deficiency. From the several lessons we had in this course, the importance of maintaining micronutrients from pre-conception to conception was stressed out. The Philippine Department of Health, in response to this fact, has an existing Micronutrient Supplementation program. This program does not focus on the malnutrition problem of the country, but also the critical role of micronutrient in the safety and proper growth and development of the baby during pregnancy. Its goal is to reduce the prevalence of micronutrient deficiency below public health significance. It has a specific service Maternity Care Benefit Package (MCP) for mother beneficiary of this program.

2. What can you suggest in order to decrease our maternal mortality and morbidity in the country? Give at least 3 suggestions.

   • After reading all the programs of DOH related to maternity such as micronutrient supplementation program, safe motherhood program, and Rural Health Midwives Placement Program (RHMPP) / Midwifery Scholarship Program of the Philippines (MSPP). I think the policy makers sees the problems our healthcare system is facing in maternal and child care. Despite these programs, there are many mothers not receiving benefits especially on rural places. During pandemic, midwives, nurses, and even heath units’ doctors were asked to run the national immunization program against COVID-19. I first-hand saw the extra effort they are making to juggle all the programs of the DOH as a volunteer for the immunization program last November, 2021.

   With all of these, I am suggesting that proper allocation of national budget should be done. There should be adequate amount of budget to hire more midwives and nurses serving the mothers. Mostly mothers here were just directed to the district hospital which is very small and only one physician checking them. Next, there should also be an adequate amount of supply for the national supplementation program since only few mothers receive them. Lastly, services on 1st routine prenatal care visit could be pricey for mothers given the tests that should be done like CBC, antibody screening, PAP Smear, Urinalysis, and HIV and STD work-up. These services could cost a lot for mothers even when they are done in public hospital. Assistance to poor mothers should be given to encourage them in seeking prenatal care. Without assistance for the required tests, many mothers would avoid seeking care due to poverty.

REFERENCES: Philippine Department of Health (n.d.). Micronutrient Supplementation Program. Retrieved on March 18, 2022, from https://doh.gov.ph/health-programs/micronutrient-supplementation-program/types-of-service.

Philippine Department of Health (n.d.). Department of Health List of Programs. Retrieved on March 18, 2022, from https://doh.gov.ph/list-of-health-programs-a-z/