Koko: DOH must set childbirth protocols amid COVID-19 crisis

Specific guidelines for the medical treatment of pregnant patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) should be arranged by the Department of Health (DOH), Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III said Thursday.

"DOH should be reminded to come up with protocols on 'childbirth in the COVID era' just in case they haven’t yet. Pregnant women are one of the most vulnerable at this time. They worry about COVID and they worry about their pregnancy," Pimentel, whose wife gave birth last week, said in a statement.

"A game plan should be put in place for COVID positive mothers-to-be," he added.

Healthcare facilities should be specifically designated for COVID-19 patients who would give birth and a team of medical professionals willing to work on such cases must be assembled, the senator underscored.

Pimentel was one of the three senators who tested positive for COVID-19 last month.

He received flak for accompanying his then pregnant wife Kathryna to the hospital despite being a person under investigation. He said he immediately left the hospital upon receiving the result of the COVID-19 test that he was positive.

His wife had to postpone her scheduled delivery of their baby girl as she was also required to undergo COVID-19 test.

Her test result has not been officially disclosed to the public but she recently shared on Facebook how grateful she was for her second life after surviving a "miracle emergency C-section delivery."

Kathryna thanked all the medical professionals who "sacrificed and risked" themselves to save her and her baby's life.—AOL, GMA News