Mobile health clinics rolled out to curb adolescent pregnancy

KOICA Country Director Kim Eunsub, UNICEF Representative to the Philippines Oyunsaikhan Dendevnorov, UNFPA Philippines Country Representative Dr. Leila Joudane, Maasin City Mayor Nacional Mercado, Southern Leyte Governor Damian Mercado, Southern Leyte Vice Governor Rosa Emilia Mercado, and KOICA Assistant Country Director Lee Hyung-won pose with the TrucKABATAAN. (UNFPA)

MANILA, Philippines — In the heart of Eastern Visayas, where adolescent pregnancy rates are among the highest in the country, an innovative solution is hitting the road.

The United Nations (UN) and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) have introduced TrucKABATAAN, mobile health facilities designed to deliver comprehensive, adolescent-friendly medical services directly to young people in Samar and Southern Leyte.

These state-of-the-art clinics on wheels aim to curb teenage pregnancies and enhance adolescent health by bringing essential healthcare to the doorsteps of those in need.

“Reducing teenage pregnancies is a key goal for the Philippine government—a goal that the United Nations and our partners are committed to help achieve by mobilizing knowledge, resources, and opportunities to better enable youth in the Philippines to reach their full potential,” said Gustavo Gonzalez, United Nations Philippines Resident Coordinator.

“These mobile health facilities provide accessible health services that are key to empowering young people,” said Gonzalez.

This initiative addresses the pressing issue of adolescent pregnancy in the Philippines, a national priority. The Philippine Statistics Authority reported a slight decline in teenage fertility rates nationally, from 8.6% in 2017 to 5.4% in 2022, but the number of adolescent mothers aged 10-19 continues to rise, particularly in the 10-14 age bracket.

Eastern Visayas, including Samar and Southern Leyte, is one of the Philippines’ poorest and most typhoon-battered regions. The 2021 Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Study revealed that this region has one of the highest rates of 15 to 19-year-old females who had begun childbearing. The region also had the highest percentage of female teenagers who were pregnant at the time of the survey.

Dr. Exuperia B. Sabalberino, regional director of the Eastern Visayas Center for Health Development, noted the region’s efforts to reduce adolescent pregnancy.

“We have implemented various programs and strategies aimed at reducing adolescent pregnancy. Today, we are one step closer to ensuring equitable access to quality and affordable healthcare services for every Filipino,” Sabalberino.

“TrucKABATAAN will bring essential health services directly to the doorsteps of our young people, providing comprehensive support tailored to their unique needs,” she said.

KOICA Country Director Kim Eunsub highlighted the historical significance of the event, saying, “This year, we are celebrating the 75 years of Philippines-Korea diplomatic relations and the 30th anniversary of KOICA in the Philippines.”

“These occasions give us the momentum to intensify our assistance. We assure you that KOICA will continue to strongly support the comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights of Filipino adolescents and reduce adolescent pregnancies,” Kim said.

UNFPA Philippines Country Representative Dr. Leila Saiji Joudane emphasized the importance of protecting adolescent health.

“Adolescence is a crucial time for personal growth, education, and development. We must ensure access to quality healthcare and education to protect their health, prevent complications, and empower them to reach their full potential,” Joudane said.

Adolescent pregnancy can lead to health risks such as anemia, sexually transmitted infections, unsafe abortions, postpartum hemorrhage, mental health disorders, and maternal undernutrition, which can result in low-birth-weight infants and childhood stunting.

The turnover ceremony for the TrucKABATAAN units, part of the Joint Programme on Accelerating the Reduction of Adolescent Pregnancy (JPARAP), took place this week. Attendees included representatives from UN Philippines, UNFPA, UNICEF, WHO, KOICA, and local government officials such as KOICA Country Director KIM Eunsub, UNFPA Philippines Country Representative Dr. Leila Joudane, UNICEF Representative to the Philippines Oyunsaikhan Dendevnorov, Western Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan, Southern Leyte Governor Damian Mercado, Southern Leyte Vice Governor Rosa Emilia Mercado, local youth, and medical teams.

The TrucKABATAAN mobile clinics will travel with medical teams to at least 20 local government units in Southern Leyte and Samar, offering compassionate, confidential care and addressing the physical, mental, sexual/reproductive, and nutritional needs of adolescents. The clinics are equipped with air-conditioned rooms, medical beds, audio-visual systems for information sessions, laboratory equipment, solar panels for power, and satellite Internet connectivity. Local governments will provide drivers, administrative staff, and medical teams.

The design of the TrucKABATAAN units was co-created with young people from Eastern Visayas to ensure they are appealing and accessible to their peers.