Last month, Buntis Congress was held in Barangay Demoloc together with 3 other barangays namely Kilalag, Pinalpalan and Datu Danwata. This was the first time that UNFPA or the United Nations Population Fund gave assitance to Malita. This was also in partnership with IP-MNCHN and DOH. This program aimed to celebrate pregnancy and the importance of ensuring the safety of mother and child by visiting their health providers, which in the local community, is their midwives.

A preview of exercises that pregnant women can do.

This is Dra. Sabay of UNFPA who brought with her some kits which included towels, baby clothes, toiletries among other stuff. Here she's showing a poster specifically made and translated to the local dialect for Malita. Will do another post on these posters.

Staff from IP-MNCHN, NCIP and UNFPA showing the audience what's inside the kit.

Miss Elenette Calinawan, a PHN from RHU-Malita and Miss Leah Labis, a midwife showing pregnant women how to do breastfeeding. Some women has the impression that it is easy to do. But in reality, it's harder than you think. For someone who has breastfed and pumped milk for 3 children, it is a skill. It doesn't come naturally. And with the growing pressure of using formula milk, more stress has to be made to ensure breastfeeding.

A few BHWs from 4 barangays doing dramatizations of different situations of pregnant women.

Here with Dra. Lala Wachurna who is a Doctor-to-the-Barrio, a very very hardworking woman (trust me when I say hardworking).

Just to show you the pregnant mothers who joined us that day.

Posters

Here are the posters made by IPHC. This concentrated on MNCHN or the Maternal, Neonatal, Child Health and Nutrition Program. This was translated to Tagacaolo tongue.

Stories from the Field

We have come a long way since the World Health Organization chose Malita to be their pilot area, and we have gained so many small wins and the people have gained so many knowledge.  Now that the project has expanded to 9 other municipalities, this was the time to share those small gains to be able to inspire other municipalities, and learn from each other.

There is no easy way in motivating others. There is no easy way in making a change. But that doesn't mean that we just have to give up altogether. It is in small steps that we start to change things. It is in small things that we can make a change. Put together, we make make a world of difference.

This was the mantra of RD Dumama and has been adopted as the mantra of the whole Region XI.

Mam Saripa, shared her experience as a BHW of  Brgy. Fishing Village in Malita

Ma'am Lucille Nievera has been promoted and will be assigned in Papua New Guinea. We will surely miss you ma'am Lucille

Me with the hubby

Basic Dengue Training and Prevention

Dengue is now endemic in the Philippines. All year round, everywhere, dengue is there. We have been trying to eradicate this disease but it is still here and a lot of people are still affected. Is the authorities not doing enough? DOH-CHD Regional Director Dr. Abdullah Dumama came and spoke of his experience with the disease during his time as MHO of Cotabato City. "We have been trying to eradicate the disease for the longest time, lahat na ginawa na pero andyan pa rin.", said the director.

Part of the training was to introduce a new classification of dengue infection. With the Revised Dengue Classification, hopefully more patients can easily be treated, minimizing the risk for hemorrhage and fluid overload. Apart from this, advocacy, vector surveillance and program implementation and monitoring and evaluation were taught.

We also went to Catalunan Grande to experience first hand and see the ABKD ( Aksyon Barangay Kontra Dengue). It was a humble experience. Most of the people living their have at least 1 family member who had suffered dengue, making them more conscious of dengue.

At the end of the training, we gained knowledge, experience and new friends.

the whole group wearing the pink dengue shirt

Group 2 doing their cheer

Group 1 doing our cheer

at Catalunan Grande Health Center

Group 1

Outfit post din pag may time

doing the house-to-house interview

Mass Blood Donation at Barangay Lagumit

Me and Dra. Mosqueda

Inception Workshop

A visit to the different Barangay Health Centers and their Paanakan. The purpose of the visit was to enlighten us and give us a better idea on how we could go about with our own paanakan.  With us were a few MHO staff of Sta. Maria and Padada.

Their birthing clinics have been functioning for more than 5 years for some of them. Nevertheless, they were able to get it going. On how to deal with our own system in our barangay and municipality was our main problem, and the lakbay aral has helped a lot.


Sulop...

Barangay Sulit...

Barangay Bagumbayan...

Barangay Sto. Nino...

Mayor Antonio Damandaman in blue checkered polo shirt