Abstract |
Introduction: The Philippines has persistently high maternal and infant mortality rates and a potential not to meet its Millennium Goal targets in 2015. While infant mortality rate has improved, maternal mortality ratio has increased since 2009 particularly among the most rural and poorest populations. Objective: It is the goal to establish a Philippine Nurses Association of America (PNAA)-sponsored global partnership to promote access to quality reproductive health services by poor and underserved communities in the Philippines through a grant-funded project, Barangay Health Center led by registered nurse-midwives (RN-Midwives). Implementation: A local health clinic serving three Barangay units in Negros will be the site for this project and operated through the collaboration between a local nursing school and hospital, barangay leaders and multidisciplinary health care professionals recruited from local communities. PNAA members who are RN-Midwives with leadership and practice expertise will provide training and mentorship for participating nursing students, RNs, midwives and hilots (folk medicine practitioners) in providing quality reproductive health services to the local community. Evaluation: Outcomes of the project will be evaluated, using such indices as numbers of women and children using the service, annual fertility rate, and maternal and infant mortality rates. |