Health is a sight of every human being. Healthy people is a prerequisite to national development.

The DOH uses the lifespan to design programs and assist in the delivery of health services to specific age groups. The Family Health Office is tasked to operationalize health programs geared towards the health of the family. It is concerned with the health of the mother and the unborn, the newborn, infant, child, the adolescent, and youth, the adult men and women and older persons. Specifically, it aims to: 1. Improve the survival, health and well being of mothers and the unborn through a package of services for the pre-pregnancy, prenatal, natal and postnatal stages. 2. Reduce morbidity and mortality rates for children 0-9 years. 3. Reduce mortality from preventable causes among adolescents and young people.

4. Reduce morbidity and mortality among Filipino adults and improve their quality of life. 5. Reduce morbidity and mortality of older persons and improve their quality of life.

THE MATERNAL HEALTH PROGRAM

The Philippines is tasked to reduce the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) by three quarters by 2015 to achieve its millenium development goal. This means a MMR of 112/100,000 live births in 2010 and 80/100,000 live births by 2015. The maternal mortality ratio (MMR) has declined from an estimated 209 per 100,000 live births in 1987-93 (NDHS, 1993) to 172 in 1998 (NDHS, 1998). The Philippines found it hard to reduce maternal mortality. Similarly, perinatal mortality reduction has been minimal. It went down by 11% in 10 years from 27.1 per thousand live births (1992 and 2003, NDHS).

THE STRATEGIC THRUSTS FOR 2005-2010:

Launch and implement the Basic Emergency Obstetric Care or BEMOC strategy in coordination with the DOH. The BEMOC strategy entails the establishment of facilities that provide emergency obstetric care for every 125,000 population and which are located strategically. Improve the quality of prenatal and postnatal care. Pregnant women should have at least four prenatal visits with time for adequate evaluation and management of diseases and conditions that may put the pregnancy at risk. Post-partum care should extend to more women after childbirth, after a miscarriage or after an unsafe abortion. Reduce womens exposure to health risks through the institutionalization of responsible parenthood and provision of appropriate health care package to all women of reproductive age especially those who are less than 18 years old and over 35 years of age, women with low educational and financial resources, women with unmanaged chronic illness and women who had just given birth in the last 18 months.

LGUs, NGOs and other stakeholders must advocate for health through resource generation and allocation for health services to be provided for the mother and the unborn.

ESSENTIAL HEALTH SERVICE PACKAGES AVAILABLE IN THE HEALTH CARE FACILITIES These are the packages of services that every woman has to receive before and after pregnancy and or delivery of a baby.
A.

Antenatal Registration

Pregnancy poses a risk to the life of every woman. Pregnant women may suffer complications and die. Every women has to visit the nearest health facility for antenatal registration and to avail prenatal care services. This is the only way to guide her in pregnancy care to make her prepare for childbirth. The standard prenatal visits that a woman has to receive during pregnancy are as follows: Prenatal Visits

Period of Pregnancy
1st trimester before 4 months During the 2nd trimester During the 3rd trimester After 8th month of pregnancy till delivery

1st visit 2nd visit 3rd visit Every 2 weeks

B. Tetanus Toxoid Immunization

Neonatal Tetanus is one of the public health concerns that we need to address among newborns. To protect them from deadly disease tetanus toxoid immunization is important for pregnant women and child bearing age women. Both mother and child are protected against tetanus and neonatal tetanus. A series of 2 doses of Tetanus Toxoid vaccination must be received by a woman one month before delivery to protect baby from nonatal tetanus. And the 3 booster dose shots to complete the five doses following the recommended schedule provides full protection for both mother and child. The mother then is called as a fully immunizes mother (FIM).
C. Micronutrient Supplementation Micronutrient Supplementation is vital for pregnant women. These are necessary to prevent anemia. Vitamin A deficiency and other nutritional disorders. D. Treatment of Diseases and Other Conditions E. Clean and Safe Delivery

The necessary steps to follow during labor, childbirth and immediate post partum include the following:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Do a quick check upon admission for emergency signs. Make the woman comfortable. Assess the woman in labor. Determine the stage of labor. Decide if the woman can safely deliver.

6.
7. 8.

Give supportive care throughout labor.

Monitor and manage labor. Monitor closely within one hour after delivery and give supportive care. Continue care after one hour post partum. Keep watch closely for at least 2 hours.

9.

10.

Educate and counsel on FP and provide FP method if available and decision was made by a woman.
Inform, teach, and counsel the woman on important MCH messages.

11.

1ST Visit 2nd Visit

1st week post partum preferably 3-5 days 6 weeks post partum

THE FAMILY PLANNING PROGRAM

These are different types of family planning methods used to prevent pregnancy. These includes:
1.

Female Sterilization- Safe and simple surgical procedure which provides contraception for women who do not want more children. Also known as bilateral tubal ligation that involves cutting or blocking the two fallopian tubes.

2.

Male Sterilization- Permanent method wherein the vas deferens (passage of sperm) is tied and cut or blocked through a small opening on the scrotal skin. It is also known as vasectomy.
Pill- contains hormones (estrogen and progesterone) taken daily to prevent contraceptions.

3.

4. Male Condom- Thin sheath of latex rubber made to fit on a mans erect penis to prevent the passage of sperm cells and sexually transmitted disease organisms into the vagina. It provides dual protection from STIs including HIV preventing transmission of disease microorganisms during intercourse. 5. Injectables- contain synthetic hormone, progestin which suppresses ovulation, thickens cervical mucus, making it difficult fo sperm to pass through and changes uterine lining. 6. Lactating Amenorrhea Method or LAM- Temporary introductory method of postponing pregnancy based on physiological infertility experienced by Breast Feeding women. 7. Mucus /Billings/Ovulation- Abstaining from sexual intercourse during fertile (wet) days prevents pregnancy. 8. Basal Body Temperature- BBT method is identifying the fertile and infertile period of a womans cycle by daily taking on the rise in body temperature during and after ovulation.

9. Sympto-thermal method- STH method is identifying the fertile and infertile days of the menstrual cycle as determined through a combination of observations made on the cervical mucus, basal body temp recording and other signs of ovulation.

10. Two Day Method is a simple fertility awareness based method of FP that involves cervical secretions as an indicator of fertility, women checking the presence of secretions everyday. 11. Standard Days Method a new method of natural family planning in which all users with menstrual cycles between 26 and 32 days are counseled to abstain from sexual intercourse on days 8-19 to avoid pregnancy.

MISCONCEPTION ABOUT FAMILY PLANNING METHODS

Some family Planning Methods causes abortion Using contraceptives will render couples sterile Using contraceptives methods will result to loss of sexual desire

THE ROLES OF PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE ON FAMILY PLANNING PROGRAM

Provide counseling among the clients will help increase FP acceptors and avoid defaulters Provide packages of health services among reproductive age group in all health facilities

Ensure the availability of FP supplies and logistics for the client.

THE CHILD HEALTH PROGRAMS (NEWBORNS, INFANTS AND CHILDREN

Infant and Young Child Feeding Newborn Screening Expanded Program on Immunization Management of Childhood Illnesses Micronutrient Supplementation Dental Health Early Child Development Child Health Injuries

INFANT AND YOUNG CHILD FEEDING

The National Plan of Action for 2005-2010 Infant and Young Child Feeding:

Goal : Reduce Child Mortality Rate by 2/3 by 2015 Objective: To improve health and nutrition status of infants and young children