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Technical Officer from the WHO treks to reach the 1st mangyan village in the mountain. These teams crossed the same river in different locations to get to the several Mangyan Villages in order to conduct the survey.
WHO Philippines
The World Health Organization Country Office in the Philippines conducted a formal validation of maternal and neonatal tetanus (MNT) elimination across sixteen regions in the country together with the Philippine Department of Health, UNICEF, and the US Center for Disease Control.
Maternal and neonatal tetanus have been among the most common lethal consequences of unclean deliveries and umbilical cord care practices. When tetanus develops, mortality rates are extremely high, especially when appropriate medical care is not available. The definition of MNT elimination as a public health problem is defined as less than one NT case per 1000 live births in every district.
The survey conducted in the province of Occidental Mindoro, considered to be the district at highest risk, found no case of neonatal tetanus among the births identified in the survey. Because Occidental Mindoro was selected as the "highest-risk” province for neonatal tetanus in the Philippines, with the exception of the ARMM, it is likely that neonatal tetanus has also been eliminated in the other provinces at lower risk. To complete the validation of MNTE in the Philippines, a three-round Tetanus toxoid immunization of child-bearing age women will be held in ARMM beginning this year with focus on areas that are not usually reached by routine health services.
“The WHO continues to work with the Philippine Department of Health and other health partners to sustain efforts to eliminate MNT across the country. Having achieved this milestone proves that, although the risk of MNT is always present, vaccines are one of the main components needed to continue to protect communities.” said Dr Julie Hall, WHO country office representative in the Philippines.