UN, local health agency aid pregnant, new mothers

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines  -  Haridja Idris, 32, a lactating mother, gave close to 1,000 lactating and pregnant mothers more reasons to avail themselves of the assistance provided by the City Health office and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Thursday  for the evacuees of the recent bloody siege in this city.

Idris, who is from the Muslim Kabinaan tribe,   gave birth to her baby girl Analiza while fleeing on board a banca from Rio Hondo when the gunbattle raged last September 11.

“I was already laboring when we fled from our home on board our banca because the fighting was coming closer to our area when I gave birth,” Idris said.

Fortunately, Idris was with a traditional midwife who helped her in the delivery and brought her to a nearby health center.

Idris was among the 408 lactating mothers and 502 pregnant women evacuees of the war-torn district who were provided of free services such as prenatal, reproductive health, and breastfeeding and nutrition, by the UNFPA and City Health Office.

Ailene Calaguian, UNFPA communication officer, said they have recorded at least 4,000 pregnant women in almost all the 30 plus evacuation centers.

She said while various non-government organizations have targeted their services in general to the evacuees, the UNFPA have specific targets which are the pregnant and lactating mothers.

Calaguian said aside from the prenatal and breastfeeding and reproduction health programs, they have provided the mothers and pregnant women with  dignity bags which contained hygiene kits.

Calaguian said the story of Idris must inspire  other mothers who go through crisis and still ensure that their children are given proper health services.

At least four cases of infant mortalities have been reported inside the grandstand sport complex where tens of thousands of evacuees toom shelter,  according to Dr. Rodelyn Agbulos, City Health Officer.

Agbulos said they have also registered at least five evacuees who gave birth inside evacuation centers and were transferred to nearby health centers. -  Roel Pareño