Maternal deaths in Brgy 23 drop
MATERNAL deaths of a highly populated village in the city reduced to 40 cases in 2016 from more than 120 cases in 2015.
Integrated Gender and Development Division (IGDD) Action Officer Lorna Mandin during the I-Speak Media forum yesterday said maternal deaths victimized mothers in Barangay 23 though it reduced in numbers.
Mandin said a women’s health situationer during a Safe Motherhood seminar held in Barangay 22 revealed that Barangays 21 and 22 noted zero maternal death in the year 2016 while Barangay 23 still had cases of maternal deaths.
According to Mandin, these three barangays are among the highly populated areas within the city.
“It was reported in Barangay 23, there are more than 100 women who died upon pregnancy, and a year later it was reduced to 40,” she said.
“This reduction is big and they are hoping that in the year 2017, it will be down to zero,” Mandin said.
Mandin also said though reasons of the decrease was not revealed, she assumed that this is due to the fact that mothers are now going to birthing centers.
She said one of the main causes of maternal deaths is lack of awareness on government services, especially since many dwellers reside in the area are coming from different parts of Mindanao.
However, Mandin added that other mothers also violate the memorandum circular of Department of Health (DOH) not to give birth in their houses.
“This is for the number of reasons like hemorrhage for example,” Mandin said.
She said Barangay 23 is not the only barangay that has maternal deaths, but it is among those with highest recorded cases.
Mandin said most of the houses in the area are very close to each other and others do not have Philhealth coverage.
“Doctors from Poblacion district encourage mothers to go to health centers and avail free food supplements, check-up, pre-natal and laboratory tests, and they should see a doctor or health worker once in every three months,” she said.