7 more birthing centers opened in Leyte

By Provincial Media Relations Center
January 22, 2011

TACLOBAN CITY  –  Seven new birthing centers have just been opened in the province of Leyte over the week, thereby increasing again the number of birthing centers to more than 20 birthing centers.

This makes Leyte one of the province in the country with the most number of operational birthing centers, if not, the highest according to PhilHealth in the region.

The latest birthing centers opened which is led by the private entity – the Kakak Foundation – are found in Brgy. Balagtas in Matag-ob, Brgy. Hibulangan in Villaba, Brgy. Inangatan in Tabango, Brgy. Talisayan in Albuera, Brgy. Linao in Inopacan, Brgy. Palale I in Mac Arthur and Brgy. Union in Mayorga, all of Leyte province.

Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla, who led the inauguration of these latest batch of birthing centers, envisions Leyte to have the most number of birthing facilities in the country in line with the Millennium Development Goal to decrease child mortality rate and improving maternal health.

The establishment of the birthing centers is in support to the local government’s plan to provide various areas in the province with safe affordable birthing centers and thereby reduce maternal and infant mortality.

The governor meanwhile clarified reports the birthing centers opened are not accredited by PhilHealth and the health department.

“It is just sad to know that despite efforts to address problem on maternal and child deaths in our province, there are still groups who places wrong information on these projects together with the private sector,” Gov. Petilla said.

He otherwise urged residents in the barangays where the birthing centers were newly inaugurated to take no notice of the misinformation being circulated against the project.

Sis. Eloisa David, an official of Kakak Foundation, on the other hand, maintained that the birthing centers are equipped with all the necessary equipments as well as manned by professional and licensed midwives.

The governor likewise clarified that the establishment of birthing centers is privately led and the province’s role is just to provide health insurance to indigent pregnant women through the PhilHealth LGU sponsored health insurance coverage.

Apart from partnering with private groups, Gov. Petilla and the provincial government is also among those chosen province for the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) project that would strengthen maternal and child health services, together with the DOH.