The teenage pregnancy in Palawan for 2018 is the highest among the five provinces in MIMAROPA region, the Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM) said.
Regional Director Angelito Obcena of POPCOM said that the region has a total of 7,546 cases of teenage pregnancy with Palawan having 3,510 cases, and Puerto Princesa 1,051.
“For the whole Palawan, Puerto Princesa is number one in our list. The others are Taytay and also Brookes Point nasa top ten din. Actually marami sa munisipyo natin dito sa Palawan ay nakasama sa may mataas na adolescent pregnancy,” said Director Obcena.
The issue was discussed during the meeting of Palawan Provincial Family Health Advocacy Council held last week. Present during the meeting were the different offices of the provincial government such as Provincial Health Office (PHO), Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) and Provincial Information Office (PIO). Also present were representatives from non-government organizations, Roots of Health and The Forum for Family Planning and Development.
Aside from the high teenage pregnancy cases, there were also 19 cases of maternal deaths in 2018 and a majority of which are teenage pregnant women said Jenevil Tombaga, Maternal Health Program Manager of the provincial government. Presently, an 11-year-old girl who got pregnant is monitored by their office until such time that she will give birth.
Chi Vallido, Director for Programs and Advocacy of The Forum for Family Planning and Development Inc., said that the recent maternal death is lower compared that in the previous years.
“I think nasa right track ang Palawan dahil when we came in, talagang mataas ang maternal mortality rate. So ngayon nakikita namin bumababa narin ang cases nito kahit papaano, although marami rin tayong mga dapat i-consider especially ang location ng Palawan, so ibig sabihin gumaganda ang mga programa ninyo. And ‘yong council (PFHAC) sobrang sipag like similar to other provinces that I have seen, pero ang challenges talaga for Palawan is marami, like geographic challenges, financial challenges, but one of the hardest working local government ay nakita namin dito sa Palawan,” said Vallido.
To address the increasing teenage pregnancy in Palawan, the council agreed that they will form a team to implement interventions such as teenage pregnancy symposium, HIV and STI testing and counseling. NGOs likewise committed to undertake separate activities to intensify its efforts towards adolescent health.
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