CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY(January 10) – The provincial government of Camiguin has launched a new maternal and child health initiative aimed at strengthening prenatal care compliance and improving early-life health outcomes in the island province.
Governor Xavier Jesus Romualdo said the Wellness of Mother and Baby (Womb) program seeks to encourage expectant mothers to complete regular prenatal checkups—an intervention health officials identify as critical in preventing pregnancy-related complications.
“We want to encourage our pregnant mothers to always go for checkups to ensure a safe pregnancy and healthy infants,” Romualdo said in an interview.
Health context
Provincial health officials said while Camiguin has recorded relatively lower maternal mortality compared to larger provinces, challenges remain in ensuring early and consistent prenatal visits, particularly among mothers in far-flung barangays and those with limited access to transportation.
Local health data show that missed or delayed prenatal checkups remain one of the most common risk factors associated with complicated deliveries, low birth weight, and preventable newborn illnesses—trends mirrored nationally, according to the Department of Health.
The Womb program directly addresses this gap by tying material support to the completion of at least eight prenatal visits, in line with updated maternal care standards.
Support for mothers
During the program launch, the provincial government distributed newborn clothing sets, baby supplies, and strollers to 48 pregnant women and recent mothers who completed the required prenatal checkups.
For Maria, a first-time mother from a coastal barangay, the incentive helped offset the financial strain of preparing for childbirth.
“Malaking tulong po ito sa amin. Hindi lang dahil sa gamit ng baby, kundi dahil mas naging masipag po akong magpa-checkup,” she said. “Mas kampante ako na maayos ang kalagayan ng anak ko.”
Another beneficiary, Aileen, who recently gave birth to her second child, said the program helped reinforce the importance of regular monitoring.
“Noong una, minsan lang ako nagpapa-checkup dahil sa pamasahe. Pero dahil sa programang ito, sinikap ko talagang kumpletuhin,” she said. “Mas maaga ring nakita ng midwife ang mga dapat bantayan sa pagbubuntis ko.”
Sustained maternal care push
Provincial officials said the Womb program builds on maternal and child health initiatives the province has implemented since 2022, aligned with the DOH’s Safe Motherhood Program.
Health workers on the ground noted that beyond material assistance, the program’s biggest impact lies in normalizing regular prenatal care and strengthening trust between mothers and local health providers—an approach seen as vital in sustaining low-risk pregnancies and healthier births in small island communities.
