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LGUs get portable ultrasound machines from DOH-Mimaropa

By Leilani Junio

February 20, 2018, 2:30 pm

SAVING MOTHER AND BABY. Head of Mimaropa’s health office, Dr. Eduardo C. Janairo (far right), with representatives of local government units in the region who received portable ultrasound machines from the office during a ceremony held in Quezon City on Monday (Feb. 19, 2018). The regional health office distributed the portable ultrasound devices in a bid to reduce the region’s maternal and newborn mortality rate of 100 per 100,000 live births. (PNA photo by Leilani S. Junio)

MANILA -- The Department of Health’s (DOH) office in Mimaropa on Monday turned over 25 portable ultrasound machines to primary health care facilities of local government units (LGUs) and non-governmental organizations in the region, in an effort to win the battle against maternal and newborn deaths.

“The portable ultrasound device, as a basic medical equipment, will provide local health facilities the means to improve the delivery of primary care in their respective areas, especially those under the geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas of the region,” regional director of DOH 4-B (Mimaropa), Dr. Eduardo C. Janairo, said during the turnover ceremony held in Quezon City.

The portable ultrasound machine is a wireless scanner that is compatible with iOS and android devices. It comes with a tablet that serves as monitor. The user can easily download the free application from the internet. According to Janairo, the ultrasound device and android tablet cost PHP248,500.

“With the use of this device, we can lessen maternal and infant deaths because we can monitor the fetus’ growth, check for congenital abnormalities or blood flow problem, diagnose problems with the ovaries or uterus, such as tumors, and also look for any abnormal growth in the fetus,” he explained.

In an interview with the Philippine News Agency (PNA), Janairo said Mimaropa’s maternal mortality ratio is far from the ideal ratio of 52 per 100,000 live births.

"Ito ang gusto nating maabot pero lagpas tayo doon. Umaabot tayo ng 100, kaya kailangan tulungan talaga natin ang sarili natin para maibaba ito (That is what we want to achieve but our maternal mortality rate is 100 per 100,000 live births. We need to help ourselves to reduce this rate),” he said.

He noted that unlike the big ultrasound machine in hospitals, the portable version is easy to bring and quickly transmits results and referrals in case intervention is necessary in complicated cases, thus saving the lives of both mother and baby.

"Kaya maski dalhin nyo sa ibabaw ng bundok yan o kaya sa mga isla na di kailangan ng malaking gadget para makapag-ultrasound, magagamit po yan (You can carry it around, even to the top of the mountain, or an island to perform an ultrasound)," Janairo said.

He said doctors would be trained on how to use the equipment in cooperation with the Philippine Ultrasound Society of the Philippines, Philippine League of Government and Private Midwives, Inc., Philippine Obstetrics and Gynecological Society, and Sonographers Society of the Philippines.

These groups will also receive the portable device for their use so they can share their experiences on the ground.

In a separate interview with PNA, Dr. Mathew Medrano, medical officer 3 of Mimaropa’s family health cluster, said the use of the portable ultrasound machine would help in the early detection of problem cases.

"Instead na dalhin sa rural health units, pwede natin palipat agad (yung pasyente) to other facilities. Pag urgent, magagawan ng paraan. Malaking bagay po yun. Minsan po kasi ang delayed referral ay isang cause bakit namamatay ang mga mothers and babies (Instead of bringing the patient to an RHU, we can immediately decide to transfer them to other facilities. In an urgent situation, referrals can be done right away. This is a big thing. Delayed referrals are sometimes the reason behind the death of mothers and babies),” said Medrano.

Recipients of the devices include the LGUs of Lubang, Abra de Ilog, Paluan, Sta. Cruz, and Magsaysay in Occidental Mindoro province; Baco, Gloria, Naujan, Victoria, and Bulalacao in Oriental Mindoro province; San Jose, Concepcion, Romblon, San Fernando, Banton, and Corcuera in Romblon province; Sta. Cruz and Buenavista in Marinduque province; Agutaya in Palawan province; and the Ultrasound Society of the Philippines, Philippine Obstetric and Gynecological Society, and the Philippine League of Government and Private Midwives.

Maternal and child health care is one of the pillars of Formula 1 Plus (F1+), a flagship program of the DOH under Health Secretary Francisco Duque III. (PNA)

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