Bacolod anti-hilot ordinance ok'd

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines  — The City Council has approved on third and final reading last week the “Homebirth Regulation Ordinance” seeking to regulate the practice of traditional home deliveries or delivery attended by the traditional birth attendant (hilot or paltera).

Authored by Councilor Em Ang, chairperson of the committee on gender and development, with Councilor Roberto Rojas, health committee chairman, as co-proponent, the ordinance cited United Nation reports that obstetrics complications are still the leading cause of maternal and child deaths in the world.

In the Philippines, 36 percent of births are still attended by a traditional birth attendant, according to a report of the Medical Action Group in 2008, the ordinance states.

A report of the Bacolod City Health Office in 2011 also reveals that the leading cause of death among pregnant women after delivery are eclampsia, hemorrhage and sepsis or post-partum infections, which could have been prevented if the woman is brought to the hospital or is taken care of by a trained medical professional, the ordinance added.

The Medical Action Group recommends that the best way to reduce the risks of complications and infections that may cause the death or serious illness of the mother and the baby is to increase the proportion of deliveries in a safe and clean environment under the supervision of skilled attendants and health professionals, the ordinance stated.

The ordinance intends to prohibit or disallow the practice of home birth deliveries and stipulates that only duly licensed medical professionals and licensed lying-in establishments shall be allowed to operate the delivery of the child as a precaution against the incidents of death of mother and child due to infections and diseases.

Ang said the City Social Welfare Administration, complimented by the Philhealth cards, can support the hospital expenses of mothers who do not have any source of income.

The barangay health centers shall report regularly to the Punong Barangay cases of pregnancy and shall refer the same to the Bacolod Lying-In Clinic or to licensed birthing facilities for further evaluation. 

The Barangay Health Workers shall encourage traditional birth attendants or palteras to be trained as licensed midwives, while the barangay captain shall closely monitor the incidence of traditional home delivery and shall apprehend violators.

The ordinance emphasized that any person who violates the law will pay the fine of P1,000 for every delivery of birth and may face an imprisonment of six months to one year in first offense; while a fine of P2,000 for every delivery of birth and an imprisonment of one year will be imposed against repeat offenders. (FREEMAN)