Sarangani town pushes for ordinance on maternal and child health program
HEALTH • 22:39 PM Wed Dec 5, 2018
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By:
Cheeko Garcia/Save the Children
Alabel Councilor Irish B. Arnado presents to the participants the draft ordinance on Maternal, Newborn, Child Health and Nutrition Program (MNCHN).
GEN. SANTOS CITY – At least 52 local officials from the thirteen barangays of the
municipality of Alabel in Sarangani province participated in the Municipal-wide Forum on First 1,000 days of
Life Ordinance organized by the Alabel municipal local government unit in
partnership with Save the Children.The forum ias part of the town's bid to hasten the finalization of an
ordinance that will strengthen their Maternal, Newborn, Child Health and
Nutrition (MNCHN) program.
The proposedordinance focuses on improving health services in Alabel, particularly
those that concern the first 1,000 days of a child’s life, from pregnancy up to
two years of age. Upon the passing of this ordinance, local officials expect to
reduce the cases of malnutrition, child birth complications, and maternal
deaths in the municipality.
In
the entire province, Alabel has the second highest prevalence of malnutrition
[among children]. We are also low on prenatal care coverage and facility-based
deliveries. That is why it is important for Alabel to pass and approve the
First 1,000 Days (F1KD) ordinance for us to have a guide and a legal mandate
aside from the bill. This local ordinance is unique because it will address the
specific issues found in the municipality, said town Councilor Irish B. Arnado, Sangguniang Bayan health committee chair.
During
the forum, the participants presented the most common issues related to child
and maternal health in their respective barangays and reviewed the draft
ordinance in order to ensure that the items included therein are responsive to
the context of the municipality.
If
successfully passed by the town council of Alabel, the ordinance will be
the first of its kind in the entire province of Sarangani.
The
participants of the forum, composed of 6 municipal officers, 11 barangay
captains, 9 barangay councilors, 16 nurses and midwives, and 10 barangay health
workers and barangay nutrition scholars all came from the barangays in Alabel,
including, Baluntay, Ladol, Tokawal, Spring, Datal Anggas, Paraiso, Poblacion,
Pag-asa, Bagacay, Maribulan, Kawas, Domolok, and Alegria.