Friday, May 16, 2008 City to give would-be moms pre-pregnancy kits By Grace L. Plata
TO FURTHER protect childbearing women and prevent maternal deaths, the City Health Office (CHO) is distributing pre-pregnancy kits to would-be mothers during pre-marriage counseling sessions (PMC) that is a requisite for the application of a marriage license.
A pilot program in the Philippines, the distribution of pre-pregnancy kits is aimed at giving childbearing women access to supplements for healthy pregnancy.
A kit contains iron fortificant, iodized salt, multiple micronutrient supplement tables (MMNs), deworming tablet, soap, towel, women's health card and a treated mosquito net for endemic areas, such as Paquibato and Marilog Districts.
"Those who attend PMC will automatically get one after the lectures on family health. This is really needed especially with the increasing number of maternal deaths," said Precy Senoc, Health Promotion Officer of CHO, in Thursday's edition of I-speak forum.
CHO data shows that 37 of 100,000 mothers die in the city each day due to various reasons. Primary of these are the lack of pre-natal care and necessary vitamin supplements during pregnancy. Majority of maternal deaths, they say, occur in rural areas as they have lesser access to health services and rely solely on unskilled "hilot".
"There are only 75 midwives in the city health system. The ratio is 1 midwife to 40,000 mothers when it should be 1 midwife to 5,000 mothers. That's why the program is needed to reach as much women as we can," Senoc said.
Senoc, however, added that those who are single mothers or in a live-in relationship can still avail of these services.
"They can get the same services in the health centers kasi nga the entry of the program is done during PMCs, which are only for those who are intending to marry," Senoc said.
The kits are for free, thus all women of childbearing age are urged to come and visit health centers.
"The content of the kit lasts up to 3 months. Kung mahurot na, pwede pa magdungag. Libre gihapon ni siya," Senoc said.
