DAVAO CITY – A Department of Health regional official here said the number of maternal deaths among the indigenous people is “alarming”.
In a Philippine Information Agency dispatch, DOH regional director, Dr. Abdullah Dumama cited the case in Davao del Sur which registered 25 cases of maternal deaths during the first half of the year.
He said that in Malita, Davao del Sur 13 of 14 maternal deaths involved IP mothers while in Jose Abad Santos of the same province, two IP women died while giving birth.
“Yes, this is alarming because these are lives,” he said while explaining that necessary interventions to save pregnant women have already been institutionalized by the national government through DOH.
The DOH is set to meet with IP leaders this month to address the issue on maternal mortality among IP women.
Dumama said there are available pre-natal care services in rural health units; medicine supplies, equipment and manpower for maternal interventions at higher level hospitals.
“And if they need transportation, the barangays (local government units) can transport them,” he said.
Dumama said they hope to bring down the number of maternal deaths among IP women “even to just half the number and to spread the awareness among IP community members about the relevance of safe delivery.” (davaotoday.com)
