The Family Planning Program Implementation Review was conducted last February 24-26, 2015 at Grand Regal Hotel, Davao City. It was highlighted with the “Araw ng Parangal” for the most deserving LGUs in the implementation of Family Planning Program in the region. The ceremony also recognized the highest performing RHUs of the provinces and a health center from Cotabato City.
The four provinces and one city presented their accomplishments with emphasis on FHSIS reports, FP major indicator- the Contraceptive Prevalence Rates, local initiatives, sustainability strategies, policies, and public-private partnerships. They discussed functional service
delivery networks and the support coming from the Local Chief Executives from the provinces, municipalities up to the barangays. Interventions common to all LGUs are: the conduct of data quality check to ensure reliability of FP data and the regular monitoring of their supervisors. The reports of activities conducted in 2014 were presented and so the support from health development partners.
Furthermore, major issues were presented such as the increasing number of teenage pregnancies, inadequate trained human resources affecting the services, inadequate FP supplies, and the high drop outs of FP users. Assistant Secretary of Health for Technical Support Dr. Paulyn Jean Roselle Ubial recognized the efforts of the region, the provinces and cities in the implementation of the FP Program. She stressed the importance of local initiatives which are responsive to the needs of the clients, and emphasized that when dealing with FP clients, they require a “Face to Face” approach of motivation to practice an FP method. She also presented Republic Act 10354 (The Responsible Parenthood & Reproductive Health Act of 2012) that could respond to the FP issues.
On the other hand, Regional Director Dr. Teogenes F. Baluma discussed the importance of accessibility to FP services, both in service delivery from trained health providers and the FP supplies at any delivery points. He highlighted the importance of activating the Barangay Health Board responsible for drafting local policies. He also emphasized the importance of service delivery networks and training of more health workers to address teenage pregnancies. On the issues of FP data, Dr. Dolores Castillo, the Chief Of Party of Mindanao Health, JPHIEGO commented the importance of looking at the relevance of high drop out rates among FP users, lower number of new acceptors and women who opted to change methods.
Based on the 2014 FHSIS report, the contraceptive prevalence rates (CPR) of the provinces ranged from 62% to 68% while the CPR of the highest performing RHUs ranged from 65% to 87%. The regional CPR increased to 58%, (still with partial reports from General Santos and Cotabato City) compared with the national benchmark of 65%.
The 2014 awards for the Highest Performing LGU was given to South Cotabato Province with consistent high Contraceptive Prevalence Rates of 67%, because of sustainable strategies in all municipalities such as the passing of local ordinances, funding support from LGUs, and active participation of local partners. The Best Local Initiative in Family Planning program was awarded to Sarangani province with a unique strategy of an active leadership from the office of the governor with approved ordinances, and a scholarship called “Paaral sa Sarangan” for the would-be health workers in the province. Special Awards were both given to Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat provinces for facilitating the “cleaning” of their data based; and their local initiatives which impacted the implementation of the program in their localities. Congratulation to all awardees and to all of us Health Workers!
