TACLOBAN CITY — Health officials in Eastern Visayas are strengthening maternal and newborn healthcare services through an expanded prenatal care program that encourages pregnant women to complete at least eight antenatal care (ANC) visits during pregnancy.
The initiative forms part of the Department of Health’s continuing efforts to reduce maternal and neonatal deaths by improving early detection and management of pregnancy-related complications.
Discussed during the recent Regional Implementation Team (RIT) Conference on the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law, the program shifts from the traditional four-visit prenatal care model to the World Health Organization-recommended eight-contact ANC schedule.
Health authorities are targeting at least 60 percent completion among pregnant women in the region by the end of 2026.
Regional Adolescent Health and Development focal person and midwife Leo Erner said the expanded prenatal care program will allow healthcare workers to closely monitor pregnancy conditions such as gestational hypertension, severe anemia, infections, and fetal distress.
To strengthen the implementation of the program, the DOH is introducing digital innovations including automated SMS reminders, mobile health applications, and upgraded electronic medical record systems to improve patient monitoring and continuity of care.
Community-based interventions and incentive programs are also being prepared to encourage pregnant women, especially those living in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas, to complete their prenatal consultations.
The initiative supports the healthcare agenda of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., which prioritizes accessible and quality healthcare services for women and children through strengthened primary healthcare systems.
As part of the rollout, an orientation and training for frontline healthcare workers will be conducted in Tacloban City in June 2026 to equip medical personnel with updated patient tracking systems and follow-up care protocols.
“Our vision is to ensure every pregnant woman receives comprehensive care that fundamentally transforms maternal and neonatal outcomes in our communities,” Erner said.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
