The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday has emphasized the importance of family planning amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The DOH also expressed concern on the possibility of the population ballooning to seven million unintended pregnancies if the lockdown continues for the next six months.
“Ang ‘di planadong pagbubuntis ay mas mahirap para sa sinumang mag-asawa lalo na sa panahon ngayon na wala tayong kasiguraduhan kung hanggang kailan natin kakaharapin ang panganib na dulot ng virus (Unplanned pregnancies are more complicated for any couple especially when there is no certainty as to when this crisis brought about by the virus ends),” DOH USec. Maria Rosario Vergeire said.
In response, the DOH cited the use of “Usap Tayo” as part of its family planning campaign to prevent unintended pregnancies.
Based on studies, around 25 percent of family planning services in hospitals stopped due to the COVID-19 health crisis. But Vergeire added such services are still available in barangay health centers which have supplies of contraceptives such as condoms and pills.
The DOH has also been monitoring the mortality rate among mothers amid the impacts of the pandemic on birthing services. It warned about the harm of giving birth at home and in unlicensed facilities as a number of pregnant women choose to give birth outside hospitals for fear of acquiring COVID-19.
As of June 9, the total number of COVID-19 cases in the country reached 22,992 after 280 fresh cases and 238 late cases were reported.
The death toll has climbed to 1,017 while the recovery count rose to 4,736.
“Tumataas yung fresh cases the past days, oo. But this could be a function of reporting. Nakukumpleto na natin yung submission ng list natin (Fresh cases are increasing in the past days but this could be a function of reporting. We are now completing the submission of lists),” Vergeire explained.
“Pangalawa, function din kung ano yung pinagbabasehan natin itong mga individual cases na lumalabas, and it is based on the release of results of the laboratory (Second, another function is the basis of individual cases released, and it is based on the release of results of the laboratory),” she added.
