Sharing Successes of HOPE’s Maternal Child Health Program

Roger Ilagan, M.D., M.P.H., Project HOPE’s Program Director, Philippines, shared information about the Maternal and Child Health Program in the Philippines at the 1st National Family Planning Conference in Manila.

Dr. Ilagan’s presentation focused on access to maternal and reproductive health services in eight post-typhoon local government units.

Results of the program include:

• • More than 60 percent increase in pregnant women, infants, children under 5 years old and their mothers who accessed health services
  • 80 percent of pregnant and post-partum clients were provided counseling on safe motherhood and delivery
  • 45 percent of men and women 15 to 49 years old consulted a health facility for family planning counseling after USAPAN sessions
  • 82 percent increase of pregnant and postpartum women were provided counseling by health workers

• 65 percent increase in contraceptive prevalence rate
• 33 percent increase in pregnant women participating in four or more prenatal visits
• 20 percent increase in pregnant women given complete iron with folic acid supplementation
• Two-fold increase in infants exclusively breastfed until 6 months

Recommendations for future actions include regular and sustained monitoring and more collaboration among agencies. Approximately 300 people attended the conference, including national and local government officials, legislators, development partners and academics.