MATUGUINAO,
Samar, July 22-- The local government unit here is strictly implementing the
facility-based delivery ordinance to arrest maternal and child mortality.
Mayor
Melissa Dela Cruz said that they have put up two catchment stations
strategically located to cater to women residing in far-flung villages.
The
catchment stations have “maternal half-way home” that serve as shelter for
pregnant women while waiting for their scheduled delivery.
“These
are put to ensure that no mother will die when giving birth to their child,”
Dela Cruz said.
The local
government also provides incentives to midwives and pregnant women to ensure
that they will seek regular check-ups and deliver in a health facility.
Dela Cruz
added that her medical staff have been regularly visiting villages, but this
activity stops whenever the military advises them due to issues on safety and
security, especially when there are encounters between the military and rebel
groups.
But even
with this health program, they are still facing some challenges due to problem
on accessibility.
“If only roads
are better going to interior villages we may have achieve better results, but
since I was elected as mayor, from color red on health indicators most of it
are now in green,” Dela Cruz said.
The mayor
is also planning to enter an agreement with a private health facility operator
with ultrasound equipment to better provide services to their pregnant women.
Dela Cruz
added that even they are lacking with ultrasound machine, the regional health
unit is equipped with solar panels that generate electricity even during power
outages.(Roel T. Amazona/PNA)
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