Health committee eyed for pregnant women, infants in evacuation centers

There seems to be an increase in the number of infant deaths at the evacuation centers in Lanao del Norte. With this, some groups are asking for separate rooms for pregnant women and infants, according to the exclusive report of GMA News' Victoria  Tulad on "State of the Nation with Jessica Soho."

According to doctors at the Gregorio Lluch Memorial Hospital, the fourth child of Abud Arabi, an evacuee, died while still in the mother's womb.

The infant was laid to rest under the shade of banana trees near their temporary home in Iligan City, having nowhere else to bury the child.

The 9-month-old child of Johaira Maguinalang died last Saturday. She said the child succumbed to pneumonia after suffering from fever, cough and diarrhea after they left their home amid the siege in Marawi City.

"Masakit para sa akin, kasi kaisa-isa ko 'yun na anak na babae, sobra talagang masakit sa akin 'yung nangyari sa anak ko," she told GMA News.

Oxfam, a non-government organization, noted that staying in evacuation centers pose as a risk to the health of expecting mothers and infants.

"Kapag ang mga babae daw ay manganganak na,  yung isa sa ating paa ay nasa hukay, napaka-totoo 'non, lalo na sa panahon na emergency," said Rhoda Avila, the group's Policy Research and Campaigns Advisor.

"Congested ang ating mga evacuation centers, kapag sa panahon ng malamig, o kaya mainit na mainit, o kaya may lamok, nakapaka-delikado ito para sa mga baby," Avila added.

Oxfam said expecting mothers and infants should be given a separate living quarters in evacuation centers.

They should also be given nutritious food and clean drinking water.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Health (DOH) said they will study the infant mortality among internally displaced persons (IDPs).

"Very alarming talaga 'yan, nagkaroon tayo ng directives sa Department of Health na tingnan nila 'yung mga buntis nating mga IDPs at tingnan nila kung kailan manganganak," DSWD Undersecretary Hope Hervilla said.

Authorities added that relatives of evacuees who have died inside evacuation centers can avail of the government's burial assistance program.

Among the plans of the DSWD and the DOH is the creation of a health committee in evacuation centers what would monitor and provide assistance to expecting mothers and infants. — Margaret Claire Layug/BAP, GMA News