“Guno Kem Ye” or “Bahay ni Nanay”, a culture-sensitive halfway home where pregnant women from T’boli communities can stay for a week before the scheduled delivery day for free will soon be available for the indigenous people of Surallah and its neighboring areas.
Early this week, the Guno Nem Ye conducted its groundbreaking activity at Prk. Sampaguita, Colongulo at Surallah town.
Despite being a privately owned facility started by the Gruzo family through its Gruzo Maternity Clinic (GMC), the project is an expansion of their noble vision of being of service especially to the indigenous women and children to lower cases of maternal and infant death.
One of its family members Emma Gruzo, a licensed midwife who manages the facility said “Gono Nem ye” is designed just like a traditional Tboli house.
It is situated beside the GMC to serve as a waiting facility where pregnant women can stay a week before their expected delivery date. This is to promote access to health facilities instead of giving birth at home.
Based on the survey conducted by the GMC to women ages 15-49 from five sitios of Brgy. Colongulo, at least 49% of them experienced giving birth at home through a hilot.
The facility is being sponsored by the Local government of Colongulo, Future Bridging Leadership Program, RD Foundation, among others.
