PH medical teams lauded for outreach program in Micronesia
Department of Health
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine medical teams that conducted medical outreach programs to Chuuk in Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) reaped praises from the Department of Health (DOH) and FSM for their service.
The medical teams from the Department of Health and Jose Fabella Memorial Medical Center mainly provided obstetrics and gynecology services.
“This is a tribute to our medical teams from the Department of Health and Jose Fabella Memorial Medical Center for providing medical services in Micronesia. The skills of Filipino healthcare workers are truly recognized by the world,” DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said in Filipino in a video statement.
READ: PH to conduct medical outreach program in Micronesia
The medical outreach program is part of the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Philippines and the FSM to strengthen healthcare initiatives and cooperation. The program aimed to address the high mortality rate in the FSM.
FSH Secretary of Health Marcus Samo said that the Philippines has a lot to offer to his country, especially the mentorship program that will be beneficial in the long run.
“People don’t have access to specialized medical care. So the team coming here with their specialized skills will definitely help our people,” Samo said in the same video statement.
Samo also expressed optimism that the partnership “is a beginning of a long term cooperation between our two governments.”
Dra. Estrella Jusi, Philippine medical team lead, shared that they held training on basic emergency, obstetrics, and newborn care.
In the same video statement, she said that the 34 participants from the first batch “are participative and interested in performing the return demonstration.”
Jusi said that they also conducted gynecology consultations and procedures such as caesarian sections, and a public health promotion on breastfeeding.
Data from the World Bank showed that the maternal mortality ratio in FSM increased from 60 to 2000 to 74 in 2020. The World Bank defined the ratio as “the number of women who die from pregnancy-related causes while pregnant or within 42 days of pregnancy termination per 100,000 live births.”/mr
