UN: Phl not likely to achieve goal on reducing maternal deaths

MANILA, Philippines - Despite progress in programs on maternal health over the past three years, the Philippines will likely not achieve Millennium Development Goal-5 (MDG) on the reduction of maternal mortality rates (MMR) by 2015, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) said yesterday.

 In a press conference, executive director Babatunde Osotimehin noted the agency had seen “continuous progress in the MDG-5 situation in the country” in the past years.

This, however, is not enough to meet the goal considering that the country’s MMR remains high at 162 per 100,000 live births.

Ugochi Florence Daniels, UNFPA country representative, said the MDG-5 in the Philippines is the “MDG that is least likely to be achieved.”

“There are progress but there is so much more that needs to be done ….. It can be improved by 2015 if the right actions are taken,” she said.

Daniels had recommended a four-point “intervention” strategy that the Philippines must implement to meet the goal.

“You have to make sure that there are skilled birth attendants during delivery. And those women that require emergency obstetric care, we have to make sure that obstetric care is available for them,” she said.

Daniels underscored the need to make family planning services and information accessible for couples.

“And also focus on the poor because (on) the issue of maternal death, the number of children… is different if you are depending on economy,” she said.

“If you are in the poor category, we found out that they have more children, whereas those who are better (in life) have fewer children. Focus on the poor so that they are able to exercise their rights and plan their family similar to those who are better off economically.”

Osotimehin is visiting the Philippines from May 17 to 19 to mobilize support for the country to achieve the MDG targets.

He had met with President Aquino and is set to visit the victims of typhoon “Sendong” in Cagayan de Oro today.

Daniels said since Aquino assumed office in 2010, UNFPA’s investments in the Philippines’ public health system had reached P602 million, thus resulting in some P3.4 billion in health care savings for the government.

“For every $1 spent by UNFPA, the Philippine government saves $5.70 in health care costs,” she said.

UNFPA’s assistance had primarily benefited some 1.2 million women under the conditional cash transfer program of the government.

Records showed that such assistance had helped avert some 930 maternal deaths through life-saving skills training for doctors, midwives and nurses.

Some 628,098 unintended pregnancies and 213,553 abortions have also been averted “through contraceptives donated to local government units.”

Records also showed that some 54,000 births “have been made safer for poor women in 10 provinces under the UNFPA’s 6th Country Program through life-saving skills training for over 1,000 health personnel and provision of medical equipment to health facilities.