MANILA, Philippines - Different sectors and individuals from government, civil society, academe and business recently celebrated their unity in sustaining a community healthcare program for indigent Filipino mothers.
During their recent gathering at the Ateneo Professional Schools in Makati City, global healthcare company MSD’s managing director Chris Tan; Kaya Natin convener Harvey S. Keh; Kaya Natin project director Jess Lorenzo; Simulan Nating Gumawa-Stella Maria Dela Strada (SINAG-SMDS) chairman Norberto C. Nazareno and president Floy Aguenza; former San Isidro, Nueva Ecija Mayor and Ateneo School of Government (ASoG) senior fellow Sonia B. Lorenzo; and Quezon City Third District Rep. Bolet Banal and Councilor Allan Reyes pledged continued support to the Health Leaders for Mothers (HL4M) program.
The pilot HL4M program is currently being implemented in selected barangays in Quezon City. Under the initiative, health providers, particularly barangay health workers (BHWs) and midwives, will be trained in primary maternal and child healthcare including the importance of prenatal checkups and facility-based birth deliveries. Expectant mothers in these partner communities will also be enrolled in PhilHealth to ensure that basic healthcare services are provided for them.
Beyond discovering new cures and manufacturing medicines, MSD actively seeks and supports initiatives such as the HL4M program that foster health education and research, disease prevention and management, and sustainable partnerships for improving access to medicines and vaccines. The initiative, called “MSD for Mothers,” is a 10-year, $500-million commitment to work with global health partners in ensuring that no woman has to die of complications from pregnancy and childbirth, according to Tan.
MSD strongly adheres to a holistic approach in addressing national health issues. Thus, it continues to partner with local government units, private organizations and concerned communities to help implement various health programs. Tan hopes that through MSD’s scientific and business expertise, as well as human and financial resources, the HL4M program will become successful.
“We will be here together with you; we will be here for everybody involved in this initiative,” he says.
“The HL4M program is a big step for our constituents in ensuring our mothers do not die due to complications from pregnancy and childbirth. We’re very grateful to MSD, Kaya Natin, Ateneo and SINAG for being our partners in this initiative,” he says.