Pregnant women urged to undergo prenatal checkups

By Dolly Yasa

 

BACOLOD City – Emergency Operations Center-Task Force One Hospital Command Center (EOC-OHCC) administrative officer Dr. Claire Capiral encouraged pregnant women to undergo prenatal checkups.

Capiral advised pregnant women to be “vigilant,” adding that prenatal checkups are important “to note if there are complications before delivery.”

She also said that the OHCC monitors the daily healthcare capacity, which pertains to data regarding the Capacity Utilization Rate (CUR) and bed availability of the seven hospitals in Bacolod.

The OHCC aims to facilitate hospital admission, thereby ensuring that all moderate-to-severe patients will not be refused admission to the health facilities, Capiral added.

Capiral further said that “pregnant women can experience changes to their immune systems that can make them more vulnerable to respiratory viruses.”

City Administrator Em Ang, EOC-OHCC executive director and deputy for administration and operations, said changes, plus the fact that there is no vaccine for COVID-19 yet, mean that expectant mothers should be proactive when it comes to safety measures.”

Pregnant women are at an increased risk for COVID-19 and at increased risk for other adverse outcomes such as preterm birth, Ang said.

She also said that the EOC recommended to pregnant women to follow certain health protocols; such as wearing of face masks and face shields, practicing good hand hygiene, physical distancing and staying at home if possible, especially during the last trimester of pregnancy.

“The EOC likewise advises these women to seek early consultation when experiencing symptoms or if there’s a history of close contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case,” Ang added.