DOH to relaunch maternal care program

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III is set to retool — and rename — the "Ligtas Buntis" program initiated by his predecessor Manuel Dayrit.

Duque said the current name has a negative connotation because of its association with another program of the Department of Health (DOH) — the "Ligtas Tigdas" campaign against measles.

"We are thinking of calling it ‘Ligtas na Buntis’ because if you say ‘Ligtas Buntis,’ it gives you the impression that it’s a disease and something that should be avoided. It has (an) ambiguous meaning," he said.

Duque said the DOH is now sourcing the funds needed to jump-start the program.

Upon assuming office, Duque ordered a review of the program that became controversial because it entails educating women about natural and artificial methods of family planning.

Under the program, health workers distributed contraceptives, earning the ire of the Roman Catholic Church and other groups.

The goal of the program, launched last February, was to educate one million women in urban areas on reproductive health and family planning.

Duque said that upon reviewing the program, they found that a "failure" in its implementation needed to be addressed. He did not elaborate.

According to Dr. Yolanda Oliveros, head of the DOH’s National Center for Disease Prevention and Control, the "weakness" that they observed in the program involved "lack of preparation."

She added that they only had five months to prepare for the undertaking and this was not enough for them to coordinate closely with all local government officials.

Oliveros maintained that while many local leaders accepted the campaign, a few did not support the program.