RMC

Kalusugan: Reflection

Health disparities among the region is an evidence that the health care system in our
country is still lacking in different aspects. Until now people do not have enough access in
healthcare. Health centers and hospitals are hours away from their vicinity and are also
insufficient in providing services. The problem is mainly rooted within the culture and the
perspective of the people and the government. Because health is among the least priority, no
matter how people clamor for change, health remains the same— inadequate and full of inequity.

The numbers of maternal and neonatal mortality are still high especially in areas belonging
to the low socio-economic status. According to the documentary, about 152 maternal deaths
occur out of 1000 pregnant women. The problem lies in the failure of the mothers to comply to
the recommended number of prenatal check-ups. According to the World Health Organization, a
pregnant woman should have at least four prenatal check-ups before delivery to ensure the safety
of both the mother and the child. However, because of the lack of knowledge and accessibility, a
lot of pregnant women fail to comply leading to undetected high-risk pregnancies and
complications.

Moreover, failure to undergo prenatal check-ups also stems to giving births at home with
only a traditional birth attendant to facilitate the delivery. This practice has caused deaths in
women since at home, they do not have necessary equipment during life and death situations.

Another problem related to maternal and child health depicted in the video is the failure to
do family planning. Aside from financial problems of having too much children, having
pregnancies of more than four also puts the woman at risk. Furthermore, having several children
entails more mouths to feed. But with the socio-economic status of these people, both the mother
and the children’s nutrition and health are at stake. Children coming from these family are usually
malnourished; some are even severely malnourished to a point where their growth and
development is being affected. Sad as it may seem, but some of these children even die without
having to see a physician throughout their lives.

Among all determinants of health, I think the problem has to do with the culture, education
and literacy, financial and social status, and health services. People’s culture on health is always
on the curative aspect rather than preventive. They assume health services only when they are
already ill making their treatment longer and more costly. The education and literacy of people
also share a big part of the burden. When people are not educated enough, they cannot assume
responsibility over their health. They are not quipped with knowledge to care for their own health
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and are not aware that they should call for the government’s attention for their right to quality
healthcare. Another factor which impacts healthcare is the financial and social status, the
expensive medications and consultations lead people to shy away from getting their treatment.
Ideally, expenses for healthcare should not come out of the pocket of the people. However, it is
a sad reality that the poor cannot obtain treatment because of monetary incapacities. Lastly, our
health services are lacking in so many aspects. Our budget for health is much lower that what is
ought. This leads to lower numbers of healthcare professionals working in the country and to
lower number of supplies. As a result, the health of the people suffers.

In lieu of this, the Department of Health had launched the National Safe Motherhood
Program which aims to contribute to the national goal of improving women’s health and well-
being. Included in this program is the local delivery of the maternal-newborn service package
which supports the local government unit in establishing an integrated care for the maternal and
child health.

In each province and city, it was said that there should be enough barangay health workers
and Basic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (BeMONC) teams composed of doctors,
nurses, and midwives to attend to the needs of the women. Prenatal check-ups are also
conducted in every barangay health centers to monitor the welfare of pregnant women. They are
given Diphtheria-tetanus vaccine and supplementations such as Vitamin A, iron and folic acid,
and iodine for the proper fetal growth. Referral systems are also done, if the pregnancy is deemed
to be high risk. Pregnancy that are high risk and with complications are usually referred to a
Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (CeMONC) facility.

With the rates of maternal and child mortality, it is imperative that we put healthcare within
the reach of the people. Primary Health Care approach will serve as an answer to address the
maternal and child health problems because of its accessibility and affordability to the people.
Also, the primary health care promotes preventive care which is much more needed by the people
to achieve better health. Moreover, it is the primary health care that provide people with health
teachings and educates them on the importance of having health within their hands. Through the
efforts of health professionals under primary health care, people are slowly being empowered to
assume responsibility of their own health.
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References:

National Safe Motherhood Program. (2018, October). Retrieved from

New Guidelines on Antenatal Care for a Positive Pregnancy Experience. (2016, November).
Retrieved from https://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/news/antenatal-care/en/