Philippines: pregnant women at risk in the aftermath of typhoon Rai

The Philippines’ Department of Health and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) are deeply concerned for pregnant women and victims of domestic violence living in the provinces hit by the super typhoon last month.  

Adding to the current increase in COVID-19 cases, there are reports that women in labour are being turned away from hospitals due to overcapacity, placing them and their unborn children in great danger, the UNFPA says.

“We need to act quickly and together to ensure women and girls experience safe pregnancy and childbirth, have continued access to sexual and reproductive health services, and be protected from domestic violence,” stressed Dr. Leila Joudane, the UNFPA Philippine Country Representative.

Typhoon Rai (locally named Odette) was the 15th and deadliest storm to hit the Southeast Asian nation in 2021, with more than 400 reported deaths. New assessments by the Philippine Red Cross reveal that a staggering 1.5 million houses were destroyed or damaged, and millions of people are urgently in need of humanitarian support. 

The typhoon has aggravated a situation already made critical for women due to the COVID pandemic. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), there was an estimated 30% increase in mothers dying during childbirth in 2020, and preliminary data for 2021 show that the trend will remain the same. The PSA also believes that unintended pregnancies may increase by up to 42%. 

The UNFPA and the Philippine Department of Health are calling for humanitarian partners to place the needs of pregnant and lactating women and of victims of domestic violence at the centre of the relief assistance. They also advocate for helplines to remain open in order to accommodate the needs of women for family planning and gender-based violence (GBV) response.

“We must ensure the continuity of essential and life-saving sexual and reproductive health and GBV services not just throughout the course of the pandemic but also beyond these trying times,” said Philippine Secretary of Health Francisco T. Duque III.

Featured image: Typhoon Haiyan, november 2013. Photo: Mans Unides / Erik de Castro. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0