Unicef turns over baby care modules to DOH

Unicef Philippines has turned over to the Department of Health the harmonized modules on Basic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care to equip all Filipino midwives in standardizing the quality of care.

Dr. Willibald Zeck, Unicef Philippines chief of health and nutrition, presented the training modules to Health Undersecretaries Nemesio Gako and Vicente Belizario Jr., Assistant Secretaries Paulynn Rosell-Ubial and Gerardo Bayugo, and other DOH senior officials. Health Secretary Janette Garin is on an official mission overseas.

Speaking on Tuesday at the formal turnover ceremonies, Zeck said: “Unicef presents these modules to Secretary Garin and the DOH, since maternal and newborn care are key elements of our Hi-5 priorities. This is a very timely initiative, particularly in the context of the Philippines where one woman dies every two hours in giving birth. The MNCHN (Maternal, Newborn and Child Health and Nutrition) strategy seeks to mitigate the risks on the lives of Filipino women of reproductive age and their newborn children.”

In support of the DOH’s Family Health Office, Unicef helped develop the modules as part of the Joint Program on Maternal and Newborn Health with the Australian Embassy. The modules were created in close consultation with DOH program managers, midwives’ groups and the academe.

Latest statistics show that 3,800 Filipino women die in childbirth every year, and that over 300,000 women under the age of 19 are in need of proper care during childbirth, especially in rural areas. Statistics also show that most maternal deaths occur during the intrapartum and immediate postpartum periods. Close to half of child deaths occur in the first 28 days, or the neonatal period.