NABUNTURAN, Compostela Valley -- The provincial government of Compostela has launched a family health book under a special program aimed at helping mothers and families learn and understand proper health care.

The book was launched on Wednesday as an innovation in the campaign to empower mothers and as a response to the high number of mothers and babies in the province dying due to preventable causes, Governor Arturo Uy said.

He said the provincial government came out with the book, with the help of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Center for Health Development of the Department of Health in Southern Mindanao, to teach and remind families about the importance of good health.

"Written in English and Cebuano, the book provides essential information to families, especially on maternal and child care," Uy said.

Dr. Daphne Panganiban, the health program's provincial coordinator, said the book contains tips on such topics as family planning, pregnancy, immunization, sick child care and others.

Panganiban said local health authorities plan to distribute 6,000 copies of the book to selected mothers in the towns of Maco, Mabini, Compostela and Montevista, which were chosen because of their high mother and infant mortality rates.

"There's also a possibility of rolling out the program to the other seven municipalities if re-assessment proved to be favorable for the experiment," Panganiban said.

The program also seeks to help families become healthy and able partners for development according to Health Assistant Secretary Paulyn Jean Ubial.

"After this program, we're hoping to see happy families and a healthy province," she said.