CHR celebrates Safe Motherhood Week; urges mothers' access to health services

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) joins the celebration every second week of May of the “Safe Motherhood Week” and urges equal access to health services so that every mother can enjoy safe pregnancy and childbirth.
It said that based on World Health Organization’s (WHO) data, there are three main barriers that keep mothers from receiving maternal and reproductive health services in the country: lack of money, difficulty in riding public transport, and lack of companionship.
"Ang pag-aalaga at pagpapahalaga sa mga nagdadalang-tao ay mahalagang hakbang tungo sa pagkakaroon ng isang malusog na populasyon, (Caring for and valuing pregnant women is an important step towards having a healthy population)," the CHR posted on social media.
"Kung kaya’t nararapat na magtaguyod ng mga programa na makakaabot lalo na sa mga kapus-palad, (Therefore, it is important to promote programs that can reach especially the less fortunate)," it said.
The government, through the Department of Health (DOH), has programs to give “Filipino women full access to health services towards making their pregnancy and delivery safer.”
Under its National Safe Motherhood Program, the DOJ is mandated “to provide rational and responsive policy direction to its local government partners in the delivery of quality maternal and newborn health services with integrity and accountability using proven and innovative approaches.”