Sunday, April 27, 2008 Rotary, KDF aim 'birthing clinics' for rural areas
CLARK FREEPORT -- Alarmed by the high mortality rates in childbirths and child-related births, the Rotary International (RI District 3790) and the Kapampangan Development Foundation (KDF) are now poised on propagating "birthing clinics" in the province.
According Sylvia Ordonez, one of the officers of KDF, infant mortality in the Philippines is still a prevalent problem that should be addressed.
Infant mortality is defined as the number of deaths of infants (one year of age or younger) per 1000 live births. The most common cause of infant mortality worldwide has traditionally been dehydration from diarrhea.
Because of the success of spreading information about Oral Rehydration Solution (a mixture of salts, sugar, and water) to mothers around the world, the rate of children dying from dehydration has been decreasing and has become the second most common cause in the late 1990s.
However, in the Philippines this seems to be still a recurring problem, especially in the rural areas. Currently, the most common cause is pneumonia. Major causes of infant mortality in more developed countries include congenital malformation, infection and Sids.
Ordonez said there was a project then by health organizations to teach "Kumadronas" in the scientific procedures of childbirth.
However, she said the mortality rates haven't been reduced to tangible proportions because of the problem hygienic birthplaces in the rural areas.
"We plan to set up clinics in the rural areas; the clinics are sort of franchise establishments to midwives. The money would be loaned and the midwife would be given all the equipment and the design of the clinic," Ordonez said, adding that the clinics would follow the standard franchise design of the Well Family Midwife Clinic (WFMC) the organization that KDF would soon have tie ups with.
"The problem that we see now is that these clinics fail because some midwives lack the training to manage the clinic in the business aspect. This is where the Rotary comes in, they can train them in managing this livelihood program that would also help the local community," Ordonez added.
Under the said clinics childbirth expenses is pegged at a measly amount of P2,000. KDF believes that with the program in place, instances of child mortality in the Province would be reduced dramatically and at the same time provide good livelihood to midwives in the barangays in a more sanitized environment. (IOF)
