The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) called for adequate reproductive health care in the Philippines as the country marks Mother’s Day today, citing how around six to seven Filipino women die during pregnancy and childbirth due to the unavailability, inaccessibility, unaffordability, or poor quality of sexual and reproductive health services.
In a press statement, UNFPA Country Representative Dr. Leila Saiji Joudane said maternal deaths globally had increased during the past two years.
“Around six to seven Filipino women die daily due to childbirth.
During emergencies, when access to maternal health services is disrupted, more women die during pregnancy and childbirth. Women die because sexual and reproductive health services are unavailable, inaccessible, unaffordable, or of poor quality,” Joudane said.
Citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the UN body noted that 1,458 women died of maternal causes in 2019, which went up to 2,478 in 2021.
Joudane noted that 14 percent of Filipino pregnant women do not get regular check-ups and other necessary medical care needed during pregnancy.
“For every 1,300 women and girls of reproductive age, there is only one public health midwife… One in ten women do not give birth in health facilities or receive assistance from skilled healthcare personnel during childbirth,” the UNFPA official said.
“This Mother’s Day, let us uphold the right of all people — especially mothers — to reach the highest possible standard of health. Timely health care for pregnant women can make the difference between life and death. No woman should die giving life,” Joudane added.