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Advocates Philippines
House Advances Bills To Enhance Maternal And Child Healthcare
HRep Committee on Health chaired Batanes Rep. Ciriaco Gato, Jr. Photo courtesy of Congress PH
The House of Representatives (HRep) Committee on Health, led by Batanes Rep. Ciriaco Gato, Jr., greenlit the consolidation of eleven bills aimed at elevating maternal and childbirth services nationwide. Concurrently, the committee also approved four bills focusing on fortifying the Human Organ Donation and Transplantation Program, with penalties for violations.
The consolidated bills on maternal and childbirth services, authored by various representatives including Marlyn Primicias-Agabas and Rufus Rodriguez, target the establishment of a Maternal and Infant Health Home Visitation Program, the enhancement of services through birthing centers and traditional birth attendant training, and comprehensive maternal healthcare provisions.
Deputy Speaker Camille Villar's HB 5684 focuses on safeguarding the health of Filipino mothers during childbirth, while Rep. Gato's HB 9354 proposes a comprehensive maternal healthcare approach, including immunization for pregnant women.
Rep. Gato emphasized the urgency of improving the country's maternal and child healthcare program, citing rising maternal and infant mortality rates. He advocated for the inclusion of additional vaccines in the immunization program beyond the currently provided tetanus vaccine.
Dr. Manuel Noel Ballesteros from the Department of Health expressed support for the bills, noting their alignment with the DOH strategy to reduce maternal deaths through the establishment of health programs and training birth attendants.
Additionally, the committee endorsed bills for the improvement and upgrading of provincial and district hospitals across the country.
On the organ donation front, the committee consolidated bills authored by Ron Salo, Dan Fernandez, Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr., and Keith Micah Tan. Salo's HB 723 seeks to strengthen the Human Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation Program, emphasizing the need for a national system to protect patients and donors alike.
The consolidated bills on maternal and childbirth services, authored by various representatives including Marlyn Primicias-Agabas and Rufus Rodriguez, target the establishment of a Maternal and Infant Health Home Visitation Program, the enhancement of services through birthing centers and traditional birth attendant training, and comprehensive maternal healthcare provisions.
Deputy Speaker Camille Villar's HB 5684 focuses on safeguarding the health of Filipino mothers during childbirth, while Rep. Gato's HB 9354 proposes a comprehensive maternal healthcare approach, including immunization for pregnant women.
Rep. Gato emphasized the urgency of improving the country's maternal and child healthcare program, citing rising maternal and infant mortality rates. He advocated for the inclusion of additional vaccines in the immunization program beyond the currently provided tetanus vaccine.
Dr. Manuel Noel Ballesteros from the Department of Health expressed support for the bills, noting their alignment with the DOH strategy to reduce maternal deaths through the establishment of health programs and training birth attendants.
Additionally, the committee endorsed bills for the improvement and upgrading of provincial and district hospitals across the country.
On the organ donation front, the committee consolidated bills authored by Ron Salo, Dan Fernandez, Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr., and Keith Micah Tan. Salo's HB 723 seeks to strengthen the Human Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation Program, emphasizing the need for a national system to protect patients and donors alike.
Nov 14, 2023
