The Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital (TLJPH) in Silay City is leading the campaign for accessible and quality family planning services in Negros Occidental, in celebration of the National Family Planning Month this August.
The month-long observance highlights the hospital’s commitment to promoting responsible parenthood and reproductive health through a series of dedicated activities and services.
These include daily family planning activities, such as the “Usapan” sessions at the Outpatient Department (OPD), OB wards, and labor room. These sessions aim to educate and counsel clients on available family planning options.
The comprehensive service provision, meanwhile, covers a wide range of methods, including natural family planning, oral contraceptive pills, injectable contraceptives, postpartum and interval intrauterine device (IUD) insertion, progestin subdermal implant insertion and removal, and scheduled surgical sterilization procedures, such as bilateral tubal ligation via minilaparotomy (BTL-MINILAP), and vasectomy.
Other activities and services include health education and counseling for adolescents, with emphasis on preventing teenage pregnancy and empowering young people to make informed decisions about their reproductive health; and strengthening of OPD services, and ensuring that family planning clients receive accessible, respectful, and quality care.
The Family Planning Center at TLJPH, in partnership with the Provincial Health Office of Negros Occidental, also continues to train healthcare providers in up-to-date family planning technologies and approaches.
Through these efforts, the TLJPH reinforces its role as a key player in delivering reproductive health services in the province, aligned with the national government’s goals to promote family welfare, health equity, and informed choice.
Spearheading this year’s Family Planning Month activities is Dr. Marc Franco Leong, lead trainer of the TLJPH-PHO Family Planning Training Center and medical officer III of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at TLJPH.
Dr. Leong emphasized the importance of equipping healthcare providers with updated skills and knowledge to ensure safe, effective, and client-centered family planning services.
“Empowering both clients and service providers with the right information and tools is crucial in addressing the growing demand for responsible family planning. Through continuous training and education, we aim to uphold quality and compassionate reproductive health services,” he stressed.
TLJPH Health Education and Promotion coordinator, Ellen Dignadice, also plays an important role in the hospital’s adolescent health education initiatives. Through focused campaigns and community engagement, she helps raise awareness on the prevention of teenage pregnancy and the promotion of healthy lifestyle choices among young people.
“Education is a powerful tool. By reaching out to the youth with correct and age- appropriate information, we’re helping shape a healthier future generation,” Dignadice said.
Also supporting the hospital-wide implementation of activities is Lilyn Rojo Apellido, nurse V at TLJPH. She ensures the coordination and smooth delivery of services across departments, reinforcing the hospital’s commitment to accessible and inclusive family planning programs.
“Our aim is to make quality family planning services available to every individual and couple who need it. It’s not just about the population control, it’s about empowering families to make informed and healthy choices,” Apellido said.
As the celebration continuous throughout August, the TLJPH remains steadfast in its advocacy on reproductive health, adolescent wellness, and community empowerment, making it a cornerstone institution for family planning initiatives in Negros Occidental. | NWI
