They will be working in the
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) from later this month (December).
This will give a boost to the current ration of one midwife for every 6088 people in the area.
The deployment is being supported by the national government’s Department of Health.
The increase in midwife numbers is part of its economic recovery plan, which is hoped to boost the poor region.
This is called the ARMM economic recovery and development initiative and is aimed at addressing gaps in basic services.
ARMM healthy secretary, Dr Kadil Sinolinding, said: ‘There are more than 500 midwives in the region and the additional 150 new midwives are expected to improve the delivery of health services in the ARMM, the country’s poorest.’
He added: ‘Secretary Enrique Ona readily granted our request in accordance with the Department of Health program.’
The increase in midwives comes as the government announces that it will be allocating extra money to improve health programmes in some of the other poorest regions of the country.
There will also be extra cash available to increase the number of rural health units, clinics and hospitals.
