Joint Program on Maternal and Neonatal Health (JPMNH)
The Joint Program on Maternal and Neonatal Health (JPMNH), funded by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), aims to accelerate the efforts on rapid reduction of maternal and neonatal mortality (Millennium Development Goals or MDG 4& 5) in the Philippines. It is anchored on the combined expertise and resources of the Department of Health and three United Nations agencies – UNICEF, UNFPA and WHO.
The programme hopes to achieve two major goals. The first goal is to improve the access of mothers and newborns to quality continuum of care and services in identified areas. The second goal is to increase the utilization of core reproductive health, maternal and neonatal services in Geographically Isolated and Depressed Areas (GIDAs) among its selected sites.
JPMNH employs the continuum of care principle through life-cycle approach. This is to ensure continuity of care from pre-pregnancy to neonatal period. There are three delivery modes: family, community/outreach and facility-based care/services.
WHO initiatives under this joint programme include:
- Essential Intrapartum and Newborn Care (EINC) protocol;
- Reaching the Urban Poor Approach;
- Community Health Information and Tracking System (CHITS);
- Assessment and support to LGUs for PhilHealth accreditation of facilities; and
- Vital registration assessment using the Reproductive Age Mortality Studies (RAMOS).