The Davao City Health Office (CHO) is urging expecting mothers anew to complete their antenatal care, including prenatal check-ups, postnatal visits, and facility-based delivery to ensure safe pregnancy, and reduce the risk of maternal complications and maternal mortality.
Dr. Faith Angeli G. Amolo, CHO’s Safe Motherhood Medical Coordinator, told the Madayaw Program over city-owned Davao City Disaster Radio that as part of the celebration of the Safe Motherhood Week, the CHO is amplifying its safe motherhood advocacy, urging pregnant women to avail of quality maternal healthcare.
“Kung quality ang healthcare nga madawat ni mommy from pregnancy until after childbirth, mas healthy ug mas safe pud si baby. For this campaign, ginahighlight nato ang atoang maternal health services such as ang atoang antenatal care, kani ang atoang prenatal care, facility-based delivery ug postnatal care (If the mother receives quality healthcare during pregnancy until after childbirth, the baby will be safer and healthier. For this campaign, we are also highlighting our antenatal care which include prenatal care, facility-based delivery, and postnatal care),” she said.
Amolo said that pregnant women should have at least eight prenatal check-ups during the duration of pregnancy. She said that these check-ups are essential to detect possible complications and other risks during pregnancy.
“Kaning prenatal check-up, kani ‘tung pagkonsulta sa buntis at the beginning and all throughout the span of pregnancy. Important ni because it detects problems early before pa mahimong komplikasyon or critical ang kondisyon sa mga mama (Prenatal check-up are consultations with pregnant women from the beginning and throughout the span of pregnancy. This is important because this helps detect problems early during the pregnancy even before these issues turn to complications or critical situations for mothers),” she explained.
These pregnancy risks include severe bleeding, pre-eclampsia or high blood pressure, infection, preterm labor, and other complications during delivery.
Amolo explained that these risks may lead to maternal death if left undetected and untreated. In 2025, a total of 38 maternal deaths were recorded in the city with severe bleeding, and pre-eclampsia as the leading causes. However, these pregnancy risks are preventable through early detection.
The CHO offers free prenatal consultation every Tuesday of every week; laboratory testing; HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis screenings; counseling, prenatal supplementation, and vaccination that are available at the district health centers.
“We encourage nga tana’ng buntis to avail of these services. Mag-adto lang mo sa nearest health center sa inyo’ng area. All these services are for free to use of our pregnant women (We are urging pregnant women to avail of these free services as these are meant for them to utilize. All they have to do is visit the nearest health center in their area),” Amolo said.
The CHO and the Department of Health (DOH) also strongly advocate for facility-based delivery by skilled health professionals to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality.
“We strongly advocate nga sa facility g’yud manganak ang mama because complications during labor can happen suddenly even in normal pregnancy. Kung naa ta sa health facility, naa didto ang atoang skilled birth attendants like our doctors, nurses, and midwives nga trained and equipped to respond to any possible complications (We strongly advocate for facility-based delivery because complications during labor can happen suddenly even in normal pregnancy. If we give birth in a health facility, our skilled birth attendants like our doctors, nurses, and midwives are there, and they are trained and equipped to respond to any possible complications),” Amolo addrd.
“Naa pud sakto nga medication and gamit sa hospital or birthing facilities to address emergencies. Ang referral pud is mas dali kung kinahanglan og emegency cesarean session or higher level nga care ang mama (Hospitals and birthing facilities are equipped with adequate medications and equipment to address emergencies. Referrals are also more efficient should the expecting mother need an emergency cesarean session or other higher level care),” she added.
The DOH, through the CHO, urged pregnant women to adopt safe motherhood practices, and complete all eight prenatal sessions and four postnatal sessions to ensure theirs and their babies’ safety. Families are also urged to support pregnant women during their pregnancy journey not only physically but also emotionally and financially. CIO
Written by: J. Villaluz
Edited by: A. Nawal
Photo by: J. Faelnar