RURAL HEALTH CENTERS TO CURB INFANT MORTALITY RATES--ANGARA

Senator Edgardo J. Angara reiterated his call for the creation of more health centers in the countryside, which he believes would dramatically decrease the high infant mortality rate in the country.

According to Lancet, a global medical journal, more than 2 million babies are stillborn each year throughout the globe--and about half could have been prevented with proper health care during the pregnancy. The study further explained that most of these stillbirths were caused by delivery complications, infections, and congenital abnormalities.

"Unfortunately, this is commonplace in developing countries like the Philippines. Due to the dearth of health care facilities and qualified medical professionals in the province, expectant mothers skip regular checkups which might detect curable and preventable illnesses in the unborn baby," said Angara.

Angara authored Senate Bill No. 2629, the Community Health Delivery and Health Team Placement Act, which seeks to establish Rural Health Centers in every town and barangay. This Local Health Unit shall be manned by at least four medical professionals.

"With this improved access to basic health facilities, infant and mother mortality rates in the countryside may be reduced," explained Angara.

The bill, entitled "An Act Establishing a Responsive Local Health Unit an Each City and Municipality to Ensure Delivery of Primary Health Services and to Provide a Mechanism to Ensure the Placement of Required Health Personnel in These Local Health Units and Other Government Operated Health Facilities" has been referred to the Health and Demography after the First Reading.