P15-M worth of Maternity Health Care Kits sought

Lingayen- - -The province’s maternal thrust will further be enhanced through more maternity health care kits expected to be distributed by the provincial government following the approval of Provincial Resolution No. 1219-2015 during the provincial board’s regular session last March 9.


The resolution sought to request the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to provide additional maternity health care kits to the province through the transfer of the P15 M previously allocated to Region1 Medical Center (R1MC) to the province as purchasing fund.


The provision of maternity health care kits is aimed to ensure the safety of Pangasinense mothers and their children and help reduce maternal and neonatal mortality rate in the province.


Earlier, the province has purchased and distributed only 100 maternity health care kits due to budgetary constraints.


As noted in the resolution, there is a need to continue with the distribution program thus ‘there is a need and urgency to realign and download the allotment from the R1MC to the province.’


The R1MC, on the other hand, has agreed to the transfer of the P15M.


It can be recalled that the present administration spearheaded by Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. has focused its maternal thrust to realize “zero mortality” rate in the coming years through the promotion of special projects to include “Anak Ko, Buhay Ko, Mahal Ko” campaign which will soon be cascaded to all barangays in all 47 municipalities and cities in Pangasinan.


The campaign encourages pregnant mothers to develop good health-seeking behavior and make them become fully aware of the importance of availing at least four pre-natal check-ups in the course of their nine-month pregnancy.


Gov. Espino also endeavored to enhance government hospitals in Pangasinan which includes provision of birthing facilities attended by skilled birth attendants to cater to the needs of all expectant mothers.


The provincial government most recent addition in its health care system is the implementation of PhilHealth Point-of-Care program where P60 million has been allocated so that poor pregnant women and other indigent sick Pangasinenses can be enrolled in PhilHealth as soon as they are admitted in any of the 14 government hospitals.