In general, what are the main functions of the Family Health Office?

The Family Health Office formulates or develops policies, standards and guidelines for public health services. It also provides technical assistance in public health program/project planning, implementation and evaluation.

What are the major public health programs under the Family Health Office?

A. Maternal and Child Health

• Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF)
  • Breastfeeding and Complementary Feeding
  • Mother & Baby Friendly Hospital Initiatives
  • Milk Code Implementation
  • Public Health Initiatives
• Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI)
• Protein – Energy Malnutrition (PEM) Prevention and Control
• Micronutrient Supplementation
• Food Fortification
• Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis (STH)
• Newborn Screening (NBS)
• Growth Monitoring & Promotion
• Oral Health
• Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI)
• Safe Motherhood/Maternal Care
• Adolescent Health
• Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD)
• Child Injury Prevention and Control

B. Women’s and Men’s Health

• Family Planning (Artificial and Natural)
• Reproductive Health
• Men’s Health
• Women and Children in Special Need for Protection
• Health and Development of Older Persons

What are the different public health services does these programs provides?

A. Child and Adolescent Health

• Care of the unborn
• Immediate newborn care
• Newborn screening
• Infant and young child feeding (including Breastfeeding)
• Full immunization
• Adequate nutrition (including Micronutrients/food fortification)
• Early childhood care and development
• Regular growth monitoring and promotion
• Oral health promotion and care
• Appropriate management of illnesses
• Deworming
• Promotion of child safety/injury prevention

B. Maternal Health

• Preparatory services prior to pregnancy
• Quality prenatal care
• Safe delivery
• Quality postpartum care
• Newborn Care

C. Womens’s Health

• Family Planning services
• Prevention and Management of Abortion and its Complications
• Women and Children Protection Unit

D. Health of Older Person

• Senior Citizen’s Act (discounts)
• Free medical services

How can one avail of these services?

These services are being provided by the Public Health Workers (Physicians, Nurses, Dentists, Midwifes, Barangay Health Workers in government hospitals, health centers and barangay health stations located in the region, province, municipality/city, Barangay. In some cases, services are being provided in the community through “outreach” programs such as the Reaching Every Barangay (REB) program and “campaigns” such as the Ligtas Tigdas Campaign for immunization.