DAVAO CITY (PIA) — In celebration of Safe Motherhood Week the Buntis Congress 2025 was successfully conducted at Brgy. Catalunan Grande, Davao City.
Carrying the theme “Kalidad na Pangangalaga sa Ina, Kalusugan ng Sanggol may Grantiya,” the activity gathered over 100 pregnant women from the community who received a wide range of free maternal health services aimed at ensuring safer pregnancies and healthier babies.
Among the services offered during the event were prenatal check-ups, laboratory testing, HIV screening and testing, ultrasound, and clinical breast examinations. Participants also benefited from nutritional assessments and counselling, family planning education, dental care, and general medical services.
The event included PhilPen (Philippine Package for Essential Non-Communicable Diseases Intervention) registration, basic pregnancy exercises, and tetanus-diphtheria (TD) immunizations.
John Walter Abehbh S. Lauban, Barangay Health Station (BHS) Nurse, highlighted the program’s success in improving maternal care in the community.
“Para makabalo pud mi sa amoang health po, kung unsa po ang need namo imnon nga vitamins. Expect, kanang free vitamins po, tapos kani po, free check-up. Naa na po, kanang free check-up diraa sa barangay — kanang sa prenatal — ug kanang naga-hatag pud sila og free vitamins po.” Albano said.
(So we can learn about our health, on what vitamins we need to take, there is free checkup in the barangay, and also prenatal.)
John Walter Abehbh S. Lauban, Barangay Health Station (BHS) Nurse, noted the effectiveness of the system, pointing out that they have not missed any pregnant patients and very few give birth without prior records at the health center.
“Actually, effective po siya kasi wala naman kaming na-missed na buntis. Kunti lang din ang nanganganak na mother na walang record sa health center. Kami, parang zero nga, kasi importante gyud kaayo magpa-prenatal para bigyan natin siya ng booklet — para dire-diretso na ‘yan pag immunization ng bata. Parang packaged deal na ‘yan eh. Kung magpa-prenatal ka, understood nga may immunization after.” Nurse Lauban said.
(It is effective as we did not miss any pregnant women, there are a few women giving birth without a record at the health center. For us here there are zero cases of women without a record. It is very important to have a prenatal checkup so we can give you a booklet so you can directly immunize the children, it is like a packaged deal. When you have prenatal then the babies will be immunized after.)
Medical doctor Julinda K. Acosta, the head of the Technical Services Division of the City Health Office (CHO), highlighted the strong coordination between the CHO and the Brgy. Catalunan Grande LGU in delivering comprehensive health services to the community. She noted that by providing consistent and accessible services, the barangay helps ensure healthier pregnancies, safer deliveries, and the prevention of maternal deaths.
“Naga-hatag gyud mi og importance sa mga kababaehan nga buntis, sa mga mothers nga buntis, para malikayan nato ang maternal deaths. Para gwapo pud ang ilahang panglawas — ang ilahang health — while naga-buntis sila, para maganda yung outcome sa nanay at para sa sanggol, para sa safety pud nila.” Acosta said.
(We give importance to pregnant women, the pregnant mothers so we can prevent maternal deaths and also they will be healthy while they are pregnant so the outcome will be good not just for the mothers but also for the babies, for their safety.)
(REC / PIA XI)
