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This SODEX Mobile Clinic Offers Ligation, Vasectomy and Family Planning commodities among others….

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SODEX Mobile Clinic

In a groundbreaking initiative, the DKT Philippines Foundation has unveiled the country’s first-ever mobile Family Planning (FP) ambulatory clinic. Funded by TRUST Reproductive Health Choices, the SODEX Mobile Clinic aims to provide safe and quality FP products and services to Filipinos. As it travels across Luzon, it will serve up to 3,000 beneficiaries seeking permanent contraception methods and an additional 3,570 individuals opting for temporary methods. This innovative approach promises to enhance access to reproductive health care and empower families to make informed choices.

Why the Need?

  • Hospitals in the Philippines are often bursting at the seams, with a bed-to-population ratio of 1:1000—far below the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended standard of 3:1000.
  • The National Demographic Health Survey (NDHS) of 2022 revealed that 49 percent of women of reproductive age desire no more children, emphasizing the urgent need for accessible modern family planning methods.

What’s on Offer?

  • The SODEX Mobile Clinic provides free modern family planning commodities and ambulatory services tailored to the specific needs of every Filipino.
  • For those seeking to space and limit pregnancies, the clinic offers free FP commodities such as pills, condoms, injectables, and IUDs after consultation.
  • Clients content with their current family size can avail themselves of bilateral tubal ligation or non-scalpel vasectomy, both performed using local anesthesia.

Client-Centered Approach:

  • All clients undergo thorough screening and counseling to ensure they freely choose their preferred method of contraception.
  • A robust follow-through mechanism is in place. Clients are endorsed to partner health care providers in the LGUs for post-procedure follow-up.
  • Loida Almendares, Director of Programs at DKT Philippines Foundation, emphasizes the importance of maintaining open communication with midwives and volunteers to address any post-procedure concerns.

Meet the Team:

  • The SODEX Mobile Clinic is part of the comprehensive SODEX Program, overseen by the assigned program manager at DKT Philippines Foundation.
  • The clinic is manned by a team of experts trained in Family Planning procedures, basic life support, and managing health emergencies.
  • Dr. Luis Garcia, Jr., a seasoned specialist in voluntary surgical contraception, leads the team, supported by three nurses, a midwife, and a driver.“

 

Partnership with LGUs

    

DKT Philippines Foundation partnered with select Local Government Units (LGUs) to organize the SODEX Program Partner’s Network for Family Planning, which is aligned with the mandate of the universal health law.

 

The SODEX Program Partner’s Network for Family Planning promotes collaboration among various sectors to collectively develop and implement mechanisms to improve the health of women, children and families, and meaningfully participate and contribute to government efforts to achieve universal health coverage for Reproductive Health through the provision of continuous good quality family planning education, services, commodities, funding, and policy support.
The LGUs’ role is to mobilize local health and population network/structure to determine individuals and couples needing family planning services. A partner LGU will lead the coordination with a hospital in the community as the referral facility or host facility.
With glaring challenges in terms of family planning service provisions due to availability, geographic accessibility, or acceptability of services, DKT Philippines Foundation’s SODEX Program is laying the groundwork for empowering Reproductive Health choices for Filipinos.

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