Key Interventions and child health and other health-related messages and activities. A. Demand Generation In 2019, according to the RPRH Regional Implementation Team (RIT), around 513,000 women nationwide attended various demand generation activities and received guidance on good practices in maternal and infant health. One of the regularly-conducted demand generation activities in communities is the Buntis Congress, organized by local government units and civil society organizations (CSO) nationwide. The majority of topics covered by this activity focused on improving the well-being of pregnant mothers, infants, and children. Other topics included responsible parenting, reproductive health, proper nutrition, what to expect during labor and delivery, breastfeeding, and newborn screening. CSOs17 contributed a total of 725 demand generation activities participated in by more than 33,600 women. Activities included Buntis Congress, Buntis Party, Responsible Parenthood and Family Planning (RPFP) classes, and community education sessions, including small group discussions and mass awareness events. Additionally, CSOs also produced more than 31,500 information, education and communication materials on MNCHN. These were distributed to more than 18,500 women of reproductive age in areas where they operate. At the national level, DOH and the United Nations Children’s Fund, in partnership with Breastfeeding Pinays and SM Cares, led the celebration of the National Breastfeeding Awareness Month in August with the theme “Lakas ng Magulang, Sigla ng Pagpapasuso – Kalusugan, Nutrisyon ng Kabataan para sa Kinabukasan.” This activity is part of the breastfeeding advocacy campaign of said partners dubbed as Hakab Na! 2019. Meanwhile, the Health Promotion and Communication Services of DOH continue to utilize social media to promote various maternal 17 2019 Reports from the Family Planning Organzation of the Philippines and Likhaan Center for Women’s Health In 2019, during the Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio campaign, social media was used and complemented by the distribution of materials to provide information on the prevention of polio and the schedule of the polio immunization campaigns. During the same year, various monthly health celebrations were also conducted to highlight efforts on ensuring the health of mothers, children, and the whole family. B. Service Delivery Maternal Health Services The MNCHN core package of services consist of interventions delivered at each life stage, namely: pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, delivery, post-partum, newborn, and child care. These services are anchored on the Implementing Health Reforms for Rapid Reduction of Maternal and Neonatal Mortality issued through DOH Administrative Order 2008-0029. This policy articulates the strategy for rapidly reducing maternal and neonatal deaths through the provision of packages for MNCHN services. Antenatal care visits. At the national level, DOH FHSIS data showed that the number of pregnant women provided with at least four pre-natal check-ups (ante-natal consultations or ANC) increased from 53 percent in 2018 to 58 percent in 2019. Moreover, at the regional level, majority of regions (12 out of 17) reported improvements in ANC visits with Region VII registering the highest percentage-point increase (18 points) compared to last year’s figure. This was followed by Region VI, Region X, and NCR. Despite the increase, only NCR among all other regions achieved more than 80 percent of ANC coverage [Table 7]. It is important to note however that, owing to the difficulty in gathering, completing, and validating FHSIS data due to mobiliy restrictions during the pandemic, data results may change when FHSIS reports are completed. Antenatal care rate is relatively low compared to facility based delivery as reporting for ANC starts 42 2019 Annual Report Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012