A renowned advocate for mother and newborn health care, Dr. Maria Asuncion Silvestre, has made history as she became the first Filipino laureate of the esteemed United Arab Emirates Health Foundation Prize awarded by the World Health Organization.
Dr. Silvestre, the founder of the non-governmental organization “Kalusugan ng Mag-Ina” (K.M.I. Health of Mother and Child), joins the prestigious ranks of former recipients, including Hillary Clinton (1998), Médecins sans Frontières (2002), Magdi Yacoub (2003), Stella Lubayelea Obasanjo, First Lady of Nigeria (2004), and the Philippines’ National Kidney Institute and Transplant Institute Renal Disease Control Program (REDCOP) which claimed the award in 2012.
Dr. Silvestre’s significant work which has helped saved newborns not only in the Philippines but around the world, was recognized on May 26th, 2023 (May 27 PST), at the 76th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland. Her exceptional contributions to public health, through K.M.I. have led to significant strides in mother-and-child care. Silvestre’s achievements have not only elevated the Philippines’ standing in health development but have also extended its impact to 17 countries in the WHO Western Pacific Region.
Child and newborn care advocate Dr. Maria Asuncion Silvestre of the Philippines' Kalusugan ng Mag-Ina, Inc. (KMI) is the first Filipino to receive the UAE Health Foundation Prize. Congratulations! https://t.co/9ZIO3C0GPR
— GoodNewsPilipinas.com (@GoodNewsPinas_) May 29, 2023
Dr. Silvestre’s groundbreaking work, the Unang Yakap (First Embrace) Essential Intrapartum and Newborn Care (EINC) Protocol, was specifically lauded by the World Health Organization. The protocol involves “a simple set of choreographed actions for health workers attending a mother during delivery and her newborn immediately after birth and during the first week of her or his life,” as stated in the W.H.O. award citation.
This innovative protocol has become a crucial tool in bridging the health equity gap in mother-and-child care, fostering partnerships with various national governments. Furthermore, Silvestre played an instrumental role in scaling up the First Embrace campaign for Early Essential Newborn Care.
During her speech at the award ceremony, Dr. Silvestre emphasized the invaluable bond between mother and newborn. She stated, “Nonseparated, the mother/newborn pair is our first food system. We should protect it as passionately and as furiously as we protect our agricultural lands, coral reefs, and rainforests.”
Dr. Silvestre’s pioneering protocol has been implemented in numerous health facilities in the Philippines and elsewhere, reaping substantial benefits. “Evidence shows that receiving at least one of the four core steps was protective; the more elements of essential care received, the more newborn survival improved. Breastfeeding saves lives,” she added.
The Unang Yakap Essential Intrapartum Newborn Care was conceptualized in order to have early initiation of breastfeeding, as early as delivery. The newborn is placed strategically on the mother’s breast so the infant will be able to feed immediately when hungry.
The step-by-step interventions in Unang Yakap EINC are:
- immediate and thorough drying of the baby
- early-skin-to-skin contact between the mother and the newborn
- properly-timed cord clamping
- non-separation of the mother and baby for early breastfeeding initiation
The United Arab Emirates Health Foundation Prize, established in 1995, is awarded to those who have made outstanding contributions to health development. This year, Dr. Silvestre was honored with the award, which includes a $20,000 prize, acknowledging her transformative work in mother and newborn health care.
Her inspiring journey, marked by her advanced studies in Neonatal and Perinatal Medicine at Children’s Hospital of Michigan and Wayne State University, her service at the University of the Philippines College of Medicine and the Philippine General Hospital, and her commitment to breastfeeding advocacy, highlights the transformative power of dedication and innovative thinking. In the words of the World Health Organization, “Her work has helped to save countless lives at the national level and beyond.”
Dr. Maria Asuncion Silvestre’s tireless efforts, groundbreaking achievements, and unwavering commitment to health development are a beacon of inspiration for advocates and practitioners worldwide. Her outstanding commitment and innovative strides in mother and newborn health care, stand as a beacon of inspiration, showing the power of relentless dedication and compassionate service. Her award is not only a triumph for the Philippines but also an affirmation of the transformative impact of health advocates globally.
More mother and child care initiatives in the Philippines include the First 1,000 Days Law, infant visual impairment diagnostics, and a newborn hearing program.
SEND CONGRATULATIONS in the comments below to Dr. Maria Asuncion Silvestre and the Unang Yakap EINC team for helping save newborns’ lives.
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