UNFPA and its partners in the health cluster and reproductive health working group for humanitarian response provided reproductive health services to women affected by the flooding in Cotabato City last week.

Data from the Cotabato Social Welfare and Development Office show that there are more than 120,000 people in 28 barangays who have been affected by the flooding which was caused by incessant rains that took place in Maguindanao and North Cotabato early this month.

Responding to the request of the Cotabato City government and the city health office for assistance to those affected by the floods, UNFPA conducted six reproductive health medical missions in six evacuation centers in the city last August 10 and 11.

The mission was able to reach out to 203 women – 189 of whom were either pregnant or breastfeeding. Services provided during the mission included pre-natal and post-natal check-ups and reproductive health information sessions, including family planning sessions. The beneficiaries were also able to avail of free medicines, family planning commodities, and dignity kits, which enable the women to maintain sanitation and hygiene in evacuation centers.

UNFPA coordinated with members of the Reproductive Health Working Group (RHWG) and the Health Cluster, which conducted other activities such as psychosocial support sessions and child-minding and feeding. In one of the evacuation centers, a doctor complemented the reproductive health services with general medical check-up.

Cotabato City Administrator Cynthia Guiani Sayadi has said 26 of Cotabato City's 37 villages have been submerged by flood waters, forcing thousands of residents to move to higher grounds.

There were 3,588 families who have moved to evacuation centers. In communities, 2,392 families were housed in temporary shelters such as covered courts; while 1,196 more families sought shelter in schools.