PH to conduct medical outreach program in Micronesia

Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa
–INQUIRER PHOTO / RICHARD A. REYES

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines will be sending healthcare workers to Chuuk in Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) as part of a two-week medical outreach program to address high maternal mortality rate, Department of Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said on Friday.

According to Herbosa, this is in line with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the two countries to strengthen healthcare initiatives and cooperatives.

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“This initiative focuses on supplementing the FSM’s local obstetrics and gynecology services, ensuring essential healthcare is delivered to those in need,” Herbosa said in his speech at the closing ceremony of the Philippine-Pacific Partnership on Sustainable Health Workforce for Health Security in Makati City.

Data from the World Bank showed that the maternal mortality ratio in FSM increased from 60 in 2000 to 74 in 2020.

The World Bank defined the ratio as “the number of women who die from pregnancy-related causes while pregnant or within 42 days of pregnancy termination per 100,000 live births.”

Herbosa also said that the team will be coming from Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital, which he regarded as the “top maternity hospital” in the country.

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“With there, we can also assess how we can provide training… we’re also looking at the possible collaboration that can happen in terms of training,” Herbosa said in a press conference after the closing ceremony of the same event.

The health chief also said that the medical services can continue through telemedicine consultations even after two weeks.

Further, when asked if the program can cause a shortage of doctors in the hospitals, Herbosa answered that similar efforts have been done in the country.

“We always do this for our own islands. We go to remote islands in the Philippines. Similar efforts… this is something we have been doing,” he stated.

Aside from the conduct of the medical outreach program, the MOU also includes “sharing of best practices in implementing health policies and programs.”

According to the U.S. Department of Interior, the FSM was one of the states that emerged from the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands in which the United States of America administered on behalf of the United Nations from 1947 to 1978. It became an independent country in 1979.