As of February 11, UNFPA and its partners has already served 5,547 women and girls in 40 outreach missions for survivors of typhoon Pablo in the affected communities of Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental.

The missions included 29 medical missions specifically targeted to provide prenatal check up for some 1,400 pregnant women and postnatal care for nearly 1,200 lactating mothers.

Services integrated into the outreach missions conducted by UNFPA and its partners include health information sessions which focus on key reproductive health issues such as recognizing the symptoms of pregnancy complications, prevention of sexually transmitted infections, responsible sexuality for adolescents and family planning. The information sessions also provided participants with contact to service providers within their communities.

Information sessions on gender-based violence also help women and girls become aware of their rights under the law, particularly the Violence Against Women and Children Act, and how they can prevent this. The GBV sessions also tackle prevention and response to human trafficking cases.

Alongside the RH medical missions and information sessions, UNFPA and its partners also distribute hygiene/dignity kits to the women and girls affected by the disaster. These kits ensure that they are able to maintain cleanliness and hygiene to prevent diseases and illnesses while living in an emergency situation.

UNFPA also provides support to health facilities damaged by the disaster to ensure that they will be able to continue providing much-needed maternal health services. So far, UNFPA has turned over clinical delivery equipment and medicines that could serve up to 5,000 pregnant women and contraceptives supply for up to 10,000 affected women who want to practice family.