In a phone interview, Philippine Legislators Committee on Population and Development Foundation Inc. (PLCPD) executive director Ramon San Pascual said the 50 maternal deaths recorded in the National Capital Region (NCR) in just one month only means that there is an utmost need for the RH bill.

“RH bill being ignored for years has only resulted in increasing deaths among pregnant women… It’s time for Congress to help save women’s lives by finishing the RH debate and pass the bill now,” said San Pascual.

He said the results of the recent Department of Health (DOH) surveillance only prove what they have been saying all along.

“What are being reported now are only the cases in Metro Manila. What more in provinces or smaller local government units (LGUs)?” said San Pascual.

“There is much more maternal deaths unreported taking place in rural areas and in remote places, where poor mothers suffer and die,” he added.

Last week, the DOH office in NCR reported that there were a total of 50 maternal deaths recorded from the month of January in Metro Manila in just eight of its 16 cities.

Maternal mortality is defined as deaths caused by complications due to pregnancy or childbirth and occurs within 42 days of giving birth due to complications arising from hemorrhage or bleeding, infection, unsafe abortion, hypertensive disorders, and obstructed labor as well as unskilled or the Traditional Birth Attendant (TBA).

The DOH said there is a need for productive interventions like easy access to emergency obstetric care, increasing the number of birthing facilities with basic emergency management skills and access to reproductive health services in order to combat maternal deaths.

San Pascual said the RH bill will definitely be the apt response for the problems since it will improve the emergency obstetric case facilities while also enhancing capacity of health providers.

Source: Sun Star Philippines, 19 February 2012