Country Summary According to the World Health Organization in 2014, the health situation in the Philippines can be summarized in three points: 1. Stagnation, 2. Inequality, and 3. Opportunity. The Philippines is considered a lower middle income country and is faced with a “triple burden” of disease. This includes high incidences of all key communicable diseases and an increasing number of non-communicable diseases. Another issue is that medicine prices remain some of the highest among other Asian countries. The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), set within 2015, were created with intent to reduce these issues by enforcing the following goals which involve eradicating extreme hunger to improving maternal health. The MDGs were first enacted
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Iron and iodine deficiencies can also lead to learning disabilities and affect overall intelligence in children. It is seen that higher income groups have a greater advantage over lower income groups. As a result, the country plans to increase the food supply through improved distribution of food production among communities and households to help overcome socio-economic barriers. Specific programs implemented through the National Nutrition Council in partnership with the Philippine government aim to stress the importance of breastfeeding during the first six months of life in order to reduce the prevalence of underweight infants. Other programs function to promote healthy lifestyles with providing information on healthier eating habits and proper physical activity. Unfortunately, poor health conditions in pregnant and breastfeeding women due to lack of access to health services and other factors persists to this …show more content…
Hemorrhaging during early pregnancy, a difficult labor, and postpartum hemorrhaging are a number of main causes maternal mortality. As stated in the Millennium Development Goal Progress Report published in 2014, maternal mortality can be attributed to three delays: 1. delay in deciding to seek medical care, 2. delay in reaching appropriate care, and 3. delay in seeking care at health facilities. Financial problems, lack of education, and lack of information on healthcare are just a few issues that many pregnant women in the Philippines encounter. In order to improve on these issues, socio-economic barriers must be addressed while health facilities as well as quality of services should be able to provide adequate care and
Iron and iodine deficiencies can also lead to learning disabilities and affect overall intelligence in children. It is seen that higher income groups have a greater advantage over lower income groups. As a result, the country plans to increase the food supply through improved distribution of food production among communities and households to help overcome socio-economic barriers. Specific programs implemented through the National Nutrition Council in partnership with the Philippine government aim to stress the importance of breastfeeding during the first six months of life in order to reduce the prevalence of underweight infants. Other programs function to promote healthy lifestyles with providing information on healthier eating habits and proper physical activity. Unfortunately, poor health conditions in pregnant and breastfeeding women due to lack of access to health services and other factors persists to this …show more content…
Hemorrhaging during early pregnancy, a difficult labor, and postpartum hemorrhaging are a number of main causes maternal mortality. As stated in the Millennium Development Goal Progress Report published in 2014, maternal mortality can be attributed to three delays: 1. delay in deciding to seek medical care, 2. delay in reaching appropriate care, and 3. delay in seeking care at health facilities. Financial problems, lack of education, and lack of information on healthcare are just a few issues that many pregnant women in the Philippines encounter. In order to improve on these issues, socio-economic barriers must be addressed while health facilities as well as quality of services should be able to provide adequate care and