Businesses asked to fast-track MDG efforts
The coalition aims to attain better maternal services through public-private partnerships (PPPs) by 2015.
Factors that cause the death of 11 mothers each day are insufficiency of quality health services, lack of education, uncoordinated public and private service providers, and inadequate financial support.
Recently, a convention dubbed as the 162-52 Summit was held to rally the private and non-profit sectors in consolidating plans for local health system development, particularly in areas where the maternal and child health indices are low.
As one of the lead convenors, the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) represented by its Executive Director Rafael C. Lopa, encouraged companies to revisit their practices and workplace programs that may open doors to creating an agenda for the poor communities in need of health support.
“As the secretariat of the MDGs and the Business Sector, improvement on Maternal and Child Health (MCH) are at the forefront of PBSP’s initiatives. Through our PlaCEs (Platforms for Collective Engagements), predominantly in Health, PBSP provides metrics aligned with the national agenda on tuberculosis and MCH, and parameters to help evaluate sustainability of company operations,” said Lopa.
PBSP showcased the collective effort of its member companies in strategic financing for development projects and leveraging of corporate contributions.
Some of the social investments put up are the Pfizer Bluehouse Project, Medical Equipment Support with United Way Worldwide, and the health project for women in Agusan del Norte. PBSP has also worked with local health units to provide services to infants, children, and pregnant and lactating mothers through vaccinations, and donation of equipment, installation of facilities, and provision of medicines and supplements.
Also in its previous partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on the Private Sector Mobilization for Family Health (PRISM), PBSP assisted companies in establishing MCH programs in the workplace.
Solving the maternal mortality problem requires the expertise and participation of the public and private sectors. The 162-52 Coalition allows organizations across the industry, regardless of scale, to invest and work together on programs that will speed up the accomplishment of MDG 5.
As of 2008, the Philippines has an adjusted MMR of 162 per 100,000 live births which is far from the MDG target of 52 deaths per 100,000 live births.