USE OF TECHNOLOGY TO IMPROVE MATERNAL HEALTH

How do we keep our mothers from dying?

Reducing maternal mortality was one of the millennium development goals (MDG) which the Philippines was not able to meet, despite all the government funds allotted for programs and intervention.  In our own local professional society, more than 90% of maternal deaths occur in the overcrowded congested government hospital.  Many of the patients present too late to prevent death. Hypertensive complications and hemorrhage is the most common causes of death. 

In response to the MDGs, the Department of Health (DOH) issued Administrative Order 2008-0029 “Implementing Health Reforms for Rapid Reduction of Maternal and Neonatal Mortality” which provides for several interventions in the Maternal, Newborn, Child Health and Nutrition (MNCHN) program including the Essential Intrapartum and Newborn Care (EINC, also known as Unang Yakap or First Embrace), Lactation Management trainings (LMET), Basic Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care (BEmONC) among other programs.  We wonder if any of these efforts are making a dent in improving maternal care.  Health policy groups have studied ten years of Philippine health service delivery and have shown very minimal change in health statistics across all programs.

During a regional conference on research and innovation, we came across the RxBox which contains a blood pressure apparatus, a fetal monitor, maternal tocometer and other functions all rolled into one.  This is expected to empower healthcare workers in hard to reach place with the diagnostic abilities of higher levels of care.  How has this been employed in our communities?

In this era of research, innovation, information communication technology and social media, what other technologies are available which we have not yet maximized to reduce maternal deaths and improve maternal health in your area?

What are the challenges to maternal health in your area?

What technologies are available to improve maternal health?

What is the role of social media in improving maternal health?

Voluntary Blood Donation Drive to Save our Mothers At VSMMC

Voluntary Blood Donation Drive to Save our Mothers at VSMMC 
on September 25, 2016 (Sunday) Regional Blood Center

At Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology is allotted one (1) operating room and one (1) dedicated anesthesiologist. Only one. But compared to other hospitals, we operate 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, and as public servants, we accept ALL patients who come seek our help for delivery. We do emergency cesarean section because these patients are mothers and their babies who can die if we do not intervene.

We do not turn away patients even if they do not have prenatal care. We do not turn away patients even if they don't have money. We do not turn away patients even if they do not have blood or blood donors. We do not turn away patients even if we don't have physical space or manpower. Because, if we start turning away patients, where will they go?

We need your help. We cannot do it alone. Mothers still die because of hemorrhage. They bleed to death when there is no available blood at the blood bank, when people do not care enough to donate their life-giving blood, when people start thinking about what they can get in return, when people keep thinking they don't have time to help.

You can help save our mothers and our babies. For a few minutes of your time, you can give your health to these patients. We need communities who care enough to take action to save our mothers and our babies. The Regional Blood Center along Jones Ave near Fuente Osmena is open to accomodate heroes who are willing to donate blood.  On September 25, 2016 (Sunday), the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology is organizing a voluntary blood donation drive for the benefit of our patients.  We hope to see you there!