THE Philippines needs to bring down its high maternal mortality by 2015 as it is one of the nations in Southeast Asia that still ranks high in that category.

This was revealed during the day-long observance of the 5th National Pregnant Women Day held at the CSI Stadia and Jimmy L. Fernandez Center in Dagupan City on March 10.

The national statistics shows there are 200 women dying for every 100,000 births, said Dr. Ellen Manzano, regional director of the Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society (POGS) in the Ilocos-Pangasinan region.

She said the statistics also showed that out of 10 deliveries, eight are being delivered outside medical facilities or hospitals.

The observance of the National Pregnant Women Day, in conjunction with the International Women’s Month, was provided for in Proclamation No. 569 issued by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on March 9, 2004.

Dr. Ma. Corazon Gamilla, POGS national president, led the celebration which included a motorcade, lectures on maternal and child care, exhibits and free clinic for expectant mothers.

Gamilla said under the Philippines’ medium-term development goal, the objective is to reduce maternal mortality to 52 per 100,000 in 2015.

She said the lowest mortality rate recorded in the country was about 10 years ago when it was 162 deaths per 100,000 live births but even this was still “way, way up more than what it should be by this time”.

With seven more years to go before 2015, the Department of Health was challenged by Gamilla to make health delivery accessible to all, even in the remote areas, because it is difficult for pregnant women to travel to the health center which is usually many, many kilometers away.

On the other hand, Manzano said medical check up is a must for every expectant mother precisely because of the high risk factor in pregnancy.

She said that according to the World Health Organization, an expectant mother would need at least four medical check-ups in order to eliminate the possibility of medical complications.