Every second week of May, the country observes Safe Motherhood Week in order to promote maternal health and nutrition. Ideally, women should give birth in a health facility in order to make sure both mother and the baby are properly cared for by trained health workers. However, there are still many women who do not give birth in a health facility, especially those who are living far from health centers, and those who have personal reasons to give birth at home.

The pillars of safe motherhood are safe pregnancy, safe delivery and safe birth. Thus, the World Health Organization (WHO) is working with the Department of Health (DOH) to ensure that mothers and babies have the best possible care before, during, and after birth. Because of this, the Department of Health also promotes its National Safe Motherhood Program. The program’s main objective is to ensure that Filipino women will have full access to quality maternal health care services so they will have a safer pregnancy and delivery of their child.

As we are excited at anticipating a new member of the family, the Safe Motherhood Week is a reminder not only for families to look after their babies but also for expectant mothers to look after themselves. No woman should die giving life. As WHO and DOH ensure that all pregnant mothers have easy access to the health services they and their baby need, the National Nutrition Council Region IX also takes part in spreading awareness on this matter by joining the observance of this celebration to promote appropriate care and nutrition to pregnant women and to ensure that their new offspring is well-taken cared of in the first 1000 days of life.

NO I Cielo Katrina M. Mabalot

References:

1. “Safe Motherhood Week” from https://www.who.int/philippines/news/feature-stories/detail/safe-motherhood-week

2. “National Safe Motherhood Program” from https://doh.gov.ph/national-safe-motherhood-program

3. “DOH promotes safe motherhood program” from https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1026425