THE Zamboanga City Health Office (CHO) is encouraging expectant mothers to use health facilities for child delivery to avoid pregnancy-related death.

This, as the City Health Office has recorded seven pregnancy-related deaths in the first quarter of this year in this city.

Dr. Annie Rose Amar of the City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit said six of the seven cases were directly related to post-pregnancy complications, some of which occurred during home deliveries with untrained “hilots.”

Amar said they have further strengthened the maternal health program as number of pregnancy-related deaths were deemed alarming.

Particularly, Amar said they strengthened the pre and post natal programs, health education, and encouraging mothers to give birth in health centers and lying-in facilities.

“We really need to strengthen the emphasis on the importance on the pre and post natal care as some of the cases are post-natal”, Amar said.

She said almost all health centers in this city have lying-in facilities that are well-equipped.

In line with the Safety Motherhood Week this month, Amar said they met with residents of the Zamboanga City Medical Center, and barangay health midwives and nurses to review maternal mortalities in this city and to come up with appropriate interventions. (Bong Garcia/SunStar Philippines)