DOH allocates P5-M for ' Ligtas Buntis ' campaign

By Leny G. Gabo

The Department of Health (DOH) has allocated P5 million for the “ Ligtas Buntis ” campaign starting today (February 1) until March 31, 2005 .

Dr. Lydia Depra -Ramos, DOH Regional Director said the campaign targets 270,000 of unmet needs for family planning in Region VI. She explained that the activity aims to reduce the unmet need for family planning. This is in order to help couples or parents achieve their desired family size within the context of responsible parenthood.  

Dr. Ma. Josielyn Olvido , program implementer explained that based on the National Health Survey almost 19.5% in the region has unmet need for family planning. About 80.3% couples are not open to discuss about family planning.   Covered in the unmet needs for family planning are the spacing of childbirth and the limit to bear children.

“ Ligtas Buntis ” aims to promote the birth spacing of 3-5 years to improve the health of mothers and children and to contribute in the reduction of the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), under-five mortality and Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR). It is also in order to provide information to couples and individuals on family planning within the context of fertility awareness and the full range of medically safe and legally acceptable family planning services.

The program would be done through house-to-house campaign targeting those women married or co-inhabitant especially those belonging to poor families. It also targets men and women 15 to 49 years old, couples or individuals who are sexually active and those pregnant and postpartum. The target areas are unmet clients in urban and rural slums.

As part of the preparation, technical and steering groups are now mobilized . The group conducts consultation, orientation to people, then act as educator and at the same time counselor.

The amount allocated, according to Ramos, is for the implanting team and logistics. It also covers the medicines and other family planning materials for the people in the region. Ramos hopes that the DOH could meet the target of unmet individuals within the two-month period.