It was learned that the birthing facility was implemented in 2009 after Japanese Ambassador Makoto Katsura and Tanauan Municipal Mayor Roque Tiu signed the grant contract at the Embassy of Japan in Manila in order to address the mother and infant mortality rate in the said town.
Japanese Embassy Minister for Economic Affairs Tomochika Uyama, Leyte Gov. Carlos Jericho Petilla, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Senior Representative Masafumi Nagaishi and Tiu spearheaded the inauguration ceremony.
It was gathered that the new facility consists of a labor room, a delivery room, a ward, and a room for the center's staff.
The modern facility is equipped with sophisticated medical equipment to ensure a safe and healthy child delivery of pregnant women.
Officials of the Japanese Embassy noted that in the town of Tanauan, community health workers have actively encouraged pregnant women to deliver in hospitals or health centers with birthing facilities.
However, only 40 percent of the patients go to hospitals or health centers while the remaining 60 percent choose to deliver at their homes.
Petilla said the facility can now provide quality and affordable maternal health care services to the town's residents.
He said that expectant mothers will no longer resort to the services of the traditional "hilot," and thereby reduce risks of mother and infant mortality.
With health being one of top priorities of his administration, Petilla vowed that he would make the province of Leyte as one with the most number of birthing centers, in an effort to lower mother and infant mortality rate.
It was also learned that the main reason why many women still prefer the home-based delivery is because health centers in municipalities also lack birthing facilities.
In Region 8, infant mortality rate is recorded at 36 per 1,000 live births, and maternal mortality rate is noted at 231 per 100,000 live births.
Tri-City makes childbirth a positive family experience. (Tri-City Medical Center) (Women's Health): An article from: San Diego Business Journal
