Typhoon Bopha/Pablo Situation Report (28 January):
Ambulance provided for emergency obstetrics; more women-friendly spaces open
A referral hospital in Caraga, Davao Oriental has been tapped to provide ambulance service for emergency obstetric care as bridges were damaged by heavy rains.
Following a regional consultation on Post-Disaster Needs Assessment and Recovery Planning for Typhoon Pablo conducted by the Department of Health, UNFPA provided technical assistance in recognizing the specific reproductive health needs and concerns of affected population particularly pregnant and lactating women and young people, as well as in identifying key interventions to meet these needs.
Needs
Reproductive Health: Technical support to local health officials on the implementation of Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) for reproductive health, including Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH), in emergency is should continue. Health service providers to support RH medical missions are still needed, particularly for pre/post-natal care. Supply of dignity kits for pregnant and lactating women should also continue.In the Municipality of Lingig, Surigao del Sur, where 10 out of 18 barangays are severely affected, around 900 pregnant and lactating women are in need of prenatal and postnatal check-up and supply of dignity kits.
Gender-Based Violence: Unavailability of specific data on vulnerable groups – female headed households, pregnant and lactating women, women with disabilities, elderly women is inhibiting targeted interventions. There is a need for orientation to GBV response service providers, camp managers and Barangay officials on operationalizing existing referral mechanisms in emergency settings with adherence to survivor-centered approach. Cash and food for work programmes need to ensure equitable and fair access to vulnerable population (eg. female headed household, women with disabilities, pregnant and lactating women) by introducing types of jobs that would facilitate the participation of vulnerable women as well as ensuring a supportive and enabling environment. Affected women and girls are in continuous need of hygiene kits. There is a need for trained psychosocial counselors for targeted psychosocial interventions, especially for adolescent girls and women in affected communities.
Response
Reproductive Health: In Monkayo, Compostela Valley, the RH medical mission conducted in Banlag Elementary School served 65 pregnant and 69 lactating women from barangays Olaycon, San Jose and Banlag. The women attended health information sessions, availed of pre/postnatal care and family planning services, and received hygiene kits.
To address constraints in the referral of emergency obstetric care in Caraga, Davao Oriental due to damaged bridges, coordination was done for Manay District Hospital, a referral facility, to provide ambulance services.
After a DOH-organized regional consultation on Post-Disaster Needs Assessment and Recovery Planning for Typhoon Pablo in Caraga, UNFPA provided technical assistance in recognizing the specific reproductive health needs and concerns of affected population particularly, pregnant and lactating women and young people, as well as identifying key interventions to meet these needs.
Gender-Based Violence: The 134 pregnant and lactating women who availed of free services during the RH medical mission in Monkayo also participated in an information session specifically focused on GBV prevention and response facilitated by Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO).
A Women-Friendly Space (WFS) was established in Barangay Poblacion, Boston in partnership with MSWDO, Plan International, a local women’s organization and UNFPA. This was followed by an orientation of 136 women from the local women’s organizations on their roles and responsibilities for GBV prevention and response, as well as the purpose and function of the WFS for GBV concerns.
Focus group discussions and more information sessions were also conducted for 50 women in Cateel and another 100 in Boston, in their respective WFS which were established earlier. The group discussions focused on identifying needs and concerns of women in the communities, the special concerns for GBV in emergencies, and ways to promote the use of the WFS and the services they provide.
Also in Davao Oriental, 25 female and four male staff of the Philippine National Police (PNP) participated in a province-wide orientation of the police on key concepts and interventions for Protection, Child Protection, and GBV prevention and response in humanitarian situations.
In Compostela Valley, the provincial GBV sub-cluster agreed on referral pathways for GBV prevention and response in affected municipalities as well as information sharing and management modality. Social workers and camp coordinators were oriented on key GBV issues in the camp, as well as their roles and responsibilities for GBV prevention and response.
Gaps
Reproductive Health: The limited number of health staff hampers also limits provision to of RH services to those affected by the typhoon. Data on affected health facilities, which are needed to plan for RH outreach missions, are incomplete.
Difficulty of access to some areas is a major constraint in reaching more affected population. Broken bridges that lead to Caraga in Davao Oriental hamper the referral of pregnant women for emergency obstetric care.
Gender-Based Violence: Awareness about women’s rights and causes and consequences of GBV are low among affected women and girls. There is also lack of agreed standards and coordination among psychosocial service providers in the affected areas. Functional shelter or crisis center for women at the municipal level should be established. Temporary structures that were initially set up for WFS are also being damaged by heavy rains.
(The situation report can be downloaded from the link below)
