KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato –South Cotabato Provincial Hospital (SCPH) recently trained 25 nurses, and other hospital personnel in Essential Maternal and Newborn Care (EMNC) and Lactation Management earlier this month, strengthening the hospital’s capacity to provide evidence-based and patient-centered care for mothers and infants.
“We are fortunate to have a provincial government that consistently prioritizes health. Their support allows us to continue our programs and innovations aimed at improving hospital services,” Chief of Hospital II Dr. Marilyn S. Abantao, FPAFP, CHA, MMHoA, said.
The three-day competency training, held on July 22 to 24, focused on strengthening the knowledge and skills of healthcare providers in implementing standardized Essential Maternal and Newborn Care protocols, particularly during the critical first hours after childbirth.
The participants underwent discussions and practical sessions on early initiation of breastfeeding, proper infant latching, postpartum nutrition, and bedside lactation counseling to improve maternal confidence and support optimal newborn health outcomes.
Serving as resource speakers were Dr. Ma. Himaya O. Salcedo, DPAFP, and Ms. Francy E. Aguilar, RND, Nutritionist-Dietitian II of the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO), who shared current standards and best practices in maternal nutrition and lactation management.
The training also reinforced SCPH’s implementation of the Mother-Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (MBFHI), which promotes breastfeeding, early essential newborn care, and quality maternal health services through skilled and competent healthcare providers.
The activity was spearheaded by Chief Nurse Catherine Ligo, RN, MAN, together with MBFHI Coordinator Lilien A. Gonio, RN, BSM, RM, MAN, and nurse facilitators Angeline D. Buhayan, RN, MAN, and Jolly Jane B. Negrillo, RN, MAN, Ryan Caballero RN, and Gemlyn A. Palacio, RN, with the full support of Dr. Abantao.
Dr. Abantao said continuous investments in the professional development of healthcare workers remain essential in ensuring that patients receive safe, responsive, and quality hospital services.
She emphasized that such initiatives are sustained through the Provincial Government of South Cotabato’s commitment to public healthcare, adding that its support enables the hospital to continue programs and innovations aimed at improving healthcare services.
The capacity-building initiative forms part of the Provincial Government of South Cotabato’s continuing efforts to strengthen the local healthcare system by investing not only in hospital infrastructure and medical equipment but also in the competencies of its medical workforce.
Through continuous training and adherence to national standards in maternal and newborn care, SCPH aims to ensure that every mother and child receives quality, compassionate, and evidence-based healthcare from pregnancy through the earliest stages of life.
