Reduce maternal deaths, UNICEF urges RP

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) representatives in the Philippines is urging the Department of Health (DoH) to intensify its efforts in improving reproductive and maternal health services in order to reduce the number of mothers dying during pregnancy and childbirth as well as improve the survival rate of newborns in the country.

“Reducing maternal deaths is one of the global goals that are least likely to be achieved by the Philippines by 2015,” said Vanessa Tobin, UNICEF representative.

“This situation presents a major challenge. A huge effort is needed to improve public reproductive and maternal health services and educate mothers. That is why UNICEF seeks involvement through partnering with government and non-government actors, as well as other UN agencies in building capacities and upgrading facilities to serve pregnant women and newborn babies,” Tobin said.

The Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), has pledged over US$ 4 million to fund a joint program of the UNICEF, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and World Health Organization (WHO) on Maternal and Newborn Survival.

This joint program will support a new government strategy to achieve this goal by 2015.

Department of Health (DoH) Secretary Francisco Duque III recently signed a memorandum ordering all related government agencies to support the implementation of the Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health Care and Nutrition” (MNCHN) program, which is intended to strengthen facility-based services for pregnancy and childbirth. It also provides local governments a guide to plan and implement services and governance interventions, and to strengthen public and private partnerships. –JENNY F. MANONGDO, Manila Bulletin