Amor Y. Saludar
CENTRAL
VISAYAS, June 29 (PIA) – The
Department of Health (DOH-7) and the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center have
come up with a program for young parents and teenage mothers.
In a recent Association of Government
Information Officers-Philippine Information Agency (AGIO-PIA 7) Forum, VSMMC
Medical Specialist Dr. Irish Manguilimotan said they are already intensifying
their Program for Young Parent (PYP).
Manguilimotan said that PYP address the needs of
young parents to gather information vital to the health of the young mothers
during and post pregnancy as well as the baby.
“Aside from the regular checkup we are also into
information education campaign on mother and family support,” she noted.
At present, the number of
pregnant teenagers availing of the PYP in VSMMC have increased.
There were some cases that have
been referred to Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-7) as
some of the pregnant teenagers were reported to be victims
of abuse.
She added that majority of their clients range
from 16 to 17 years old, although they have had one as young as 14.
Manguilimotan stressed that they still extend
their health services to the clients they referred to DSWD-7.
Department of Health (DOH-7) has also
partnered with the Population Commission (POPCOM-7) in the advocacy to promote
proper health awareness among the youth.
DOH-7 Medical Officer Dr. Hayce Famor said
that “we are gaining grounds in partnering with POPCOM in giving health
education to youth.”
Aside from this, Famor stressed that DOH is
ensuring and taking measures for pregnant women to include young mothers to be
free from anemia.
“DOH ensures pregnant mothers are not suffering
from anemia because vitamins are distributed for free in all public health
centers up to barangay levels and other public health facilities," she
said. (rmn/ays/PIA 7/AGIO-PIA 7 Forum)