July 13 to 15 at the Century Park Hotel in Manila saw the realization of the first MNCHN (Maternal Child Health and Nutrition Policy) EINC (Essential Intrapartum and Newborn Care) Advocacy Partners Forum to meet the demand for EINC training by building up the pool of speakers for rapid scaling up efforts. The forum was carried out for the benefit of new EINC trainers who themselves require not only training but also updates on the Department of Health’s ongoing efforts in the Scale-Up Project. Their motto being “I commit to life”—it is the first declaration in their official Partners Pledge—the group by way of this forum also commits to keeping their advocacy alive by empowering their personnel with the expertise necessary for pursuing the quality of maternal child health they aspire for.
Funded by JPMNH and WHO, EINC has either trained or oriented approximately 9000 healthcare workers in the short timespan between May and October 2011–a testament to the ongoing demand for capacity building in EINC among various key medical institutions. Requests for training come from both private and public hospitals, some even outside the National Capital Region, no to mention a handful of LGUs and private institutions. This is possibly due to the effectiveness of the EINC social marketing plan and training methodology, where administrative circulars as well as technical and professional training are brought directly to facility-based healthcare workers, emphasizing the significance of a peer-to-peer system of learning.
Funded by JPMNH and WHO, EINC has either trained or oriented approximately 9000 healthcare workers in the short timespan between May and October 2011–a testament to the ongoing demand for capacity building in EINC among various key medical institutions. Requests for training come from both private and public hospitals, some even outside the National Capital Region, no to mention a handful of LGUs and private institutions. This is possibly due to the effectiveness of the EINC social marketing plan and training methodology, where administrative circulars as well as technical and professional training are brought directly to facility-based healthcare workers, emphasizing the significance of a peer-to-peer system of learning.
The course was designed to build up a speakers bureau comprised of of EINC advocates–the healthcare professionals who, after training, are committed to improving dominant hospital practices when it comes to caring for mothers and newborns–and dedicated to ginding even more advocates given the abovementioned demand for EINC training. The demand is expected to grow further once Philhealth goes public with its new packages meant to address issues of maternal and newborn healthcare–a demand to be met by the pool of advocacy partners in collaboration with DOH and its Centers for Health Development.
After receiving their official IDs after completion of training, healthcare professionals maintain their status as EINC advocates by conducting workshops, the progress of which will be monitored via the EINC Advocacy Partners Forum website. The engagement of Advocacy Partners such as those coming from professional societies can also function as a kind of PPP mechanism of the Centers of Health Development, identifying specialists per region who can voluntarily lead orientations and trainings for the CHDs who will fund such venues for training. Besides the CHDs, the Advocacy Partners will also be working closely with DOH hospitals and their Health Education and Promotions Officer (HEPO), the DOH Family Health Office/NCDPC, the National Center for Health Promotions (NCHP), and the Local Government Unit (LGU).
The feedback has been positive with participants excited to return to their communities and impart their new learning's. Dr. Catherine Torres-Jison of Bacolod, for instance has committed to conduct EINC trainings and workshops at The Corazon Locsin Montelibano Regional Hospital, Bacolod City Lying-In Clinis and at University of St. Las Salle. She shares "learning about the evidence-based practices has empowered us to push for the advocacy because we are confident that the safety and wellness of both mother and baby are always prioritized over everything else." Moreover, she is anticipating that "bringing EINC to medical schools" as the best way to promote EINC protocol that way "[future] doctors and other health professionals will no longer be confused."
The 70 “graduates” who have completed the training were enjoined to know by the heart the
MNCHN EINC Advocacy Partners Pledge, a simple oath comprised of seven lines that capture the essence of what EINC stands for:
“I commit to life. / From its earliest stirrings in a mother’s womb, through
its intricate journey of development, until the moment of birth. / I will safeguard the
mother’s wellbeing, to maintain a nurturing environment for the life growing within. / I will
shield this new life, and ensure it begins its existence safely nestled in a mother’s warm
embrace. / I will protect this new life, and allow only milk from a mother’s breast for
nourishment. / I will zealously preserve the bond between mother and child. / All these
things I hold sacred, and will form my lifelong commitment.”
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