MSD recently named Jhpiego, an international non-profit health organization based in the Philippines, a recipient of the MSD for Mothers Global Grants program that is working to reduce maternal mortality in locations where there is the greatest need.
MSD for Mothers is a $500-million global initiative to help women around the world in overcoming maternal death. The company said this is their contribution to help women achieve safe delivery during their pregnancy. Moreover, MSD for Mothers collaborates across sectors to improve the health and well-being of women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period.
In their pre-pandemic study, the United Nations Population Fund and the University of the Philippines Population Institute found out that 2,600 Filipino mothers were dying every year from complications from pregnancy and childbirth, which are preventable conditions. As the Covid-19 continues to batter the country, MSD said it will be more challenging for disadvantaged women as they have to reckon with the delay of the results, decline in checkups, disruption of medical services, and problems accessing modern contraception.
In this scenario, MSD also warned of the possibility of the rise in the incidence of maternal mortality by 26 percent or up to 670 additional deaths from 2019, and of unintended pregnancies to 2.56 million by the end of 2020.
“We at MSD take a holistic approach to address the many factors that impact maternal health and strive to leverage the private sector for the public good, thus we are very proud of the Philippines’ inclusion once again in our MSD for Mothers program as it also comes at a critical juncture when Filipino mothers’ challenges are compounded by the limitations and threats presented by the pandemic,” said Beaver Tamesis, president and managing director of MSD in the Philippines said in a recent webinar.
Jhpiego, an international non-profit health group dedicated to improving the health of women and families since the 1980s, will focus on maternal health-care improvement results in Sorsogon, the fourth most populous province in Bicol in a three-year span. “We are optimistic the MSD for Mothers Global Grants program will further help the Philippines accelerate its progress toward the SDGs by improving population health outcomes and increasing access to improved maternal health care. Moreover, we hope that through this partnership, we reinforce our commitment and support to the country’s move towards Universal Health Care,” Dr. Tamesis emphasized.
Dr. Ingrid Magnata, Jhpiego’s country lead in the Philippines, said maternal mortality is one of the major challenges of developing countries like the Philippines. Furthermore, Magnata pointed out the lack of coordination between levels contact providers puts women at great risk since patients already in serious condition will then arrive at higher-level facilities where the hospital staff and facilities have not been adequately prepared to receive them.
She hopes the project with serve as a model for other districts in Sorsogon.
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