Infant mortality rate lower in Cebu - DOH

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Health reported a lower infant mortality rate in Cebu compared to the other provinces in Central Visayas.

DOH-7 says that the ratio is only six to seven cases against 1,000 live births.

Regional director Susana Madarieta said the decline in the infant mortality rate is attributed to the government’s health programs such as the ‘Garantisadong Pambata’ which she said is one of the major factors that improved the health status of infants.

The GP Program reduces the mortality of children aged five years old and below through the provision of comprehensive health services such as immunization on Oral Polio Vaccination (OPV), Diphtheria Pertussis and Tetanus (DPT), Baccilli, Calmett and Guerin (BCG) and Vitamin A supplementation.

Madarieta said the common diseases that mostly caused child mortality are diarrhea, influenza, pneumonia and some other diseases that are the effects of climate change.

“In general infant health status in Cebu is improving. But we should not take this for granted because of climate change which also affects our immune system,” Madarieta said.

Even if child mortality rate has declined in Cebu, Madarieta said mothers and caregivers must continue to be vigilant in checking the health status of their children, and to always avail of the health services offered by the government.

Health interventions are also given emphasis under the GP Program including skilled attendance during pregnancy, delivery, and immediate post partum; care of newborn breastfeeding and complementary feeding; micronutrient supplementation and deworming.

As such, Madarieta also reminded and advised mothers to continue breastfeeding their babies exclusively for six months old.

“Mothers can even continue breastfeeding their babies until two years old for them to build a healthy immune system,” she said.

The most common maternal deaths in the Philippines in a recent survey also of the United Nations stated that an estimated 66 to 75 percent of maternal deaths is due to severe bleeding in which the patient could die in less than two hours. — (FREEMAN)