Question & AnswerQ&A (QUEZON CITY ORDICE NO. SP-2327, S-2014)
The ordinance aims to amend Ordinance No. SP-1145, S-2002, to establish and improve the Maternal and Infant Health Home Visiting Program in every barangay health center within Quezon City to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates.
Qualified beneficiaries are: (a) Pregnant women in the low income bracket; (b) Mothers in the low income bracket with infants up to one year old; (c) Households in the low income bracket with infants up to one year old.
'Low income' means, with respect to an individual or family, having an income below the official poverty line as defined by the Department of Budget and Management.
Services include instruction and counseling on future health care for woman and child, prenatal and postnatal care education, childbirth and motherhood, nutrition and breastfeeding, family counseling including responsible parenthood, reproductive and sexual health education, and medical care or referral services.
Barangay health centers must designate appropriate health professionals or qualified non-professionals to deliver maternal and infant health services under the supervision of the City Health Officer.
Any maternal and infant health service under the ordinance shall not advocate, promote, or encourage abortion.
An amount is to be earmarked annually from the city's general budget for the conduct of trainings and seminars for health personnel and for producing maternal and infant health related materials to be disseminated to beneficiaries.
The City Health Department is tasked with formulating the rules and regulations necessary for the effective implementation of the ordinance.
The ordinance took effect 15 days after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation following its approval on October 14, 2014.
Maternal refers to a female parent capable of getting pregnant; infant means a child from birth up to one year old; pre-natal refers to what takes place before the birth of a child; post-natal refers to what takes place after the birth of a child.