CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Financial aid and healthcare support were extended to 3,978 indigent expectant mothers by the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Pampanga Provincial Government as a major initiative to promote maternal and child health.
Held as well in celebration of Women’s Month, the programs held at the Lubao Gym in Lubao and Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in this city primarily targeted expectant mothers in their first six months of pregnancy, providing essential guidance to ensure the health and safety of both mother and child.
Dr. Flerie Mayor, OB doctor of the Escolastica Romero District Hospital, and 4th District board member Dr. Kaye Naguit shared key reminders for expectant mothers, including maintaining proper diet and nutrition, attending regular dental check-ups, creating a birth plan, and observing pre-natal care.
To complement these educational lectures, each mother received P2,000 in cash assistance from DSWD and P1,000 from the Capitol. Beneficiaries were also provided with free check-ups, “Nanay Kits,” food packs, and essential multivitamins such as folic acid, ferrous sulfate, and calcium carbonate, supporting maternal health and the critical first 1,000 days of their babies’ development.
Gov. Lilia “Nanay” Pineda reminded the mothers about the risks of pregnancy particularly teenage pregnancy citing data from the Commission on Population and Development-Region 3 (CPD-3).
Central Luzon remains the second region with the highest number of teenage pregnancy cases. According to CPD 3, the number slightly decreased to 15,442 in 2023, compared to 17,107 in 2022. Pampanga recorded the highest number of cases with 3,886, followed by Bulacan with 3,850 and Nueva Ecija with 3,214. However, pregnancies among girls below 15 years old in Central Luzon increased by 3.18%, rising from 409 cases in 2022 to 422 in 2023.
Central Luzon also ranks second in the country for births among girls aged 10 to 14, with 422 cases or 12.62% of the national total.
“Inabe miya pu king Alagang Nanay Preventive Healthcare Program ing check-up kareng mabuktut. Mimye kami rin pung multivitamins, kalupa da reng folic acid, ferrous sulfate, at calcium carbonate para king first 1,000 days da reng anak. Bang asiguradu tamu pu na safe at ma-ayus ing pamagragul da reng anak ibat king atyan na ning inda angga dagul ya ing anak,” Gov. Nanay said.
“Marakal no kasi pu reng lalapit king Kapitol a atin anak a autistic o special, magkasakit lapu reng anak. Atnang kamal ing magpa-therapy, kaya dapat ayagapan tamu pu,” she added.
This program underscores the Pampanga Provincial Government’s commitment to maternal and child health, preventive healthcare, and early education, ensuring that mothers and their babies receive the support they need. Pampanga PIO/Photos: Daniel Ombina
