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Unang Yakap Reflection Essay

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Unang Yakap (First Embrace)

Every human has the right to life. Therefore, from the day a newborn begins his/her journey to

the world, he/she must be protected from all means of danger, especially for the first 48 hours. However

as stated in the video, the majority of newborn deaths occur in their first week of life. The alarming

component of this statistic is that some of those deaths could have been prevented if only there is

adequate and appropriate care at the time of birth and during the postnatal period. I was captivated by the

first few seconds of the video, which showed several clips of the first contact between mothers and their

newborns, and I can’t help but think: what could be done to better improve the health services provided

for them? What could be done so no single baby born will ever die?

It is clear that the goal of the Essential Newborn Care (Unang Yakap) protocols is to save not just

newborn lives but also to provide care and support for mothers. As shown in the video, it follows step-by-

step procedures which are simple, cost-effective and evidence-based. It also provides a wide range of

benefits which are not just purely medical but also foster natural bond between the mother and her baby –

a precious moment that shouldn’t be taken away from them. Ultimately, providing Unang Yakap gives

them a great, “positive postnatal experience” (WHO, 2022a). Unang Yakap aims to improve maternal and

newborn health and well-being. (WHO, 2022b).

I would also like to point out that although Unang Yakap campaign mainly focuses on the

essential newborn care protocols such as the early initiation of breastfeeding, the video also emphasized

the promotion of exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months and to be continued up to 2 years of age,

which is commendable. Nutrition is a very important aspect for the survival of infants until their growing

up years. I agree that the provision of ENC will not only mean better lives but also the survival of the

future generation of Filipinos.

Hearing all the experts say that Unang Yakap can reduce child mortality, high-quality care and

support from health professionals is expected which is crucial in the delivery of maternal and newborn
health services. We need skilled and highly-trained doctors, nurses, and other allied health professionals

to be able to achieve our targets. It is equally important that we need adequate resources and facilities that

are allocated for maternal, newborn and child health. We need the support from the government by

providing the funds, enacting laws and support programs that will further protect the lives of our Filipino

mothers, newborns and children.


References

World Health Organization. (2022a). WHO recommendations on maternal and newborn care for a

positive postnatal experience. Retrieved 8 October 2022, from

https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240045989.

World Health Organization. (2022b). WHO urges quality care for women and newborns in critical first

weeks after childbirth. Retrieved 8 October 2022, from https://www.who.int/news/item/30-03-

2022-who-urges-quality-care-for-women-and-newborns-in-critical-first-weeks-after-childbirth.

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