Cordillera-wide Strengthening of the Local Health System for Effective and Efficient Delivery of Maternal and Child Health Services

Japanese Embassy Minister for Economic Affairs Akio Isomata will lead the Equipment Handover Ceremony of the technical cooperation project, "Cordillera-wide Strengthening of the Local Health System for Effective and Efficient Delivery of Maternal and Child Health Services," in Luna municipality, Apayao province on Jan. 24.

This is Japan's steadfast support towards strengthening the health system as well as maternal and child health in Apayao.

Minister Isomata will be joined by Representative Eleanor Bulut-Begtang, Department of Health Undersecretary Gerardo Bayugo, Apayao Governor Elias C. Bulut, Jr., Luna Mayor Betty C. Verzola and CHD-CAR Regional Director Valeriano Lopez.

The project aims to improve the health status of the people in the Cordillera Administrative Region, particularly of women and children. Another important component of the project is the conduct of Basic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (BEmONC) training for doctors and midwives in the Cordillera Administrative Region. These BEmONC trainings are expected to promote cooperation between the health institutions in Apayao.

Minister Isomata will officially hand over the equipment for birthing services such as delivery tables, Fetal Doppler and weighing scales for infants, disinfecting kit for medical tools, among others to the rural health units (RHUs) and hospitals in Apayao province. Japan's contribution to these equipments amounts to P4,037,050.

Together with local officials, Minister Isomata will also visit the beneficiaries of the equipment including the Sta. Marcela RHU, barangay health stations of Consuelo and Marcela as well as the Sta. Marcela Medicare and Community Hospital. These equipment aims to equip the BEmONC-trained health workers with the essential skills to deliver extensive and efficient maternal and newborn health services effectively.

In the Cordillera Administrative Region, Japan has provided since 2006 a five-year technical assistance to strengthen the local health system in Benguet Province as well as a four-year project on maternal and child health (MCH) in Ifugao.