Saving lives one baby at a time
MANILA, Philippines - Pfizer Philippines Foundation Inc. (PPFI) is happy to announce the continuing success of its pioneer NayBahay birthing facility in Minalabac, Camarines Sur.
The Ligtas Paanakan Center, which now serves as the birthing facility at the rural health unit (RHU) of the municipality, is a partnership among the Department of Health (DOH), the local government unit, and other stakeholders as a unified effort to improve healthcare access and conditions in underserved communities. At the same time, NayBahay, in particular, is one of Pfizer Philippines’ corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects in line with its own corporate goals and values — strengthening healthcare delivery in places where health services and information are scarce.
In these rural areas, where the prevalent option is traditional home birthing, facility-based deliveries are preferable enough — if residents are indeed able to access such. NayBahay’s goal is to provide a ready and more accessible alternative for women to carry pregnancy and give birth in a safe environment supervised by skilled birth attendants, thus reducing mother and child mortality rates.
NayBahay — a rhyming portmanteau of the Filipino words meaning “mother” and “home” — provides a two-bed delivery room and a two-bed ward. It is well-equipped, has ample medical supplies for patients, and is professionally run by municipal midwives with assistance from public health nurses. The local government of Minalabac, meanwhile, funds the day-to-day operation of NayBahay.
These facilities, equipment, and services are available and accessible to all mothers and their families in the community. Pregnant women are accommodated at NayBahay as long as they have a prognosis for normal delivery. More complicated childbirth cases are best referred to the nearby hospitals for more appropriate care.
Checkups are also available at NayBahay, enabling better pre-natal care and follow-ups. Moreover, those who are enrolled in the government insurance system or Philhealth enjoy professional consultation and medicines under the coverage.
Minalabac officials, such as Mayor Nestor Villegas, recognize NayBahay for helping change the culture of giving birth at home in their community. Again, the goal of successfully encouraging mothers to avail of facility-based birthing is good enough, and projects such as NayBahay — being a collaboration between the local government and private sector representatives such as PPFI — all the more enable the RHU to provide quality health service to their female constituents.
In recognition of its impact on the community and public health, NayBahay received an award of merit at the 5th Global CSR Summit in April 2013 for being one of the most successful CSR projects in the Philippines.
