Summary

Program goals

The Philippines has a target of reducing maternal mortality by three-quarters by 2015. In the province of Leyte, 20% of deliveries are not attended by skilled health personnel and nearly 75 women died of pregnancy-related causes in 2010. Women in the rural and poor areas still prefer hilots (traditional birthing attendants) and the comfort of their homes to deliver a baby, without the assurance of safe delivery. Against this background, The main goal of MBBC is for the poor families to have access to affordable, quality, and safe maternal and infant health services, from prepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum preparations and interventions.

Key program components

MBBC implements a holistic program to address high maternal and infant mortality. The key implementation steps involve selection of barangay with high maternal mortality rate for 1-2 weeks; appraisal and clinic renovation; consultation and negotiation with the barangay or municipality; manning and training of midwives; licensing and accreditation which depends on Philhealth but usually takes 4-8 weeks; operation by KaKaK; supervision and control by the Provincial Government; and technical assistance if needed.

KaKaK Foundation, Inc.: repairs and renovates the clinic and equips it as a birthing facility; administers supplies and logistics; process accreditation, documentation and claims; pays advanced PF to private practicing midwives; facilitates enrolment of pregnant mothers with PhilHealth through PHIC's Sponsored Program or Individually Paying Program (IPP); and promotes and markets the birthing facility.

Private Practicing Midwives: they are the core professional service providers of MBBC. They operate and maintain the birthing facility in accordance with the operations manual; conducts community work; coordinates and works with Women’s Health Team from case solicitation to post natal care and referrals; reports accomplishments to KAKAK and the BHS/RHU’s FHSIS (Field Health Service Information System). Their compensation depends on the number of deliveries the clinics have. This scheme gives incentive to the midwives for their hard work, and encourages others to put more time and effort into case solicitation and community work.

Barangay or Municipal LGU:offers a venue to KaKaK, mostly abandoned barangay health centers; registers and monitors all pregnant mothers in the village; assists pregnant women to access services in the birthing facility; assists clinic staff in recruiting pregnant women for PhilHealth coverage; advocates municipal and provincial LGUs for the enrollment of poor families under the Sponsored Program of PhilHealth.

Provincial Government: provides the ambulance; facilitate hospital partnership; coordinates with MHOs, BHWs, and local midwives; and monitors the operation of the clinics.

All clinics are under the supervision of the Chief Operating Officer of KaKaK, Sr. Eloisa L. David, OSB. Clinic operations are directly under the midwives and as much as possible coordinated with the LGU as part of the women health team from case solicitation to post natal care and referrals. All accreditations are processed by the administrative support staff including supplies and logistics. Pregnant women are also enrolled in the indigent sponsored program of the LGU with PhilHealth; this ensures full MCP coverage for mothers eligible under PhilHealth’s MCP. The program is funded mostly from PhilHealth’s MCP reimbursements; it is dependent on PhilHealth’s enrolment at the clinic’s area of operation.