A mother's first glimpse: How free ultrasounds are changing lives in some rural areas in the Philippines

Metro Manila, Philippines - Jhoyme Viernes Santos is no stranger to motherhood. At 33, she’s expecting her third child. But as she steps into the Rural Health Unit (RHU) in Santa Barbara, Pangasinan, something is different—she’s about to experience her first-ever ultrasound.

"Sa third baby ko po, first time ko po naranasan na mag-ultrasound dito sa RHU," she shares, her excitement unmistakable.

[TRANSLATION: This is my third baby, and it's my first time having an ultrasound here at the RHU Center in Santa Barbara.]

Inside the RHU, she watches the screen as the black-and-white image of her child flickers into view. For the first time, she’s able to see her baby before birth.

For Jhoyme and countless other mothers in remote areas, prenatal care is often a luxury. Check ups cost money they don’t have. Travel to distant hospitals drains both time and resources. But seeing her baby’s heartbeat on the ultrasound screen changes everything.

"Malaki pong tulong ito sa amin. Makikita agad ang gender, maririnig ang heartbeat, at mamo-monitor ang paglaki niya," she says.

[TRANSLATION: The ultrasound is a huge help because we can see the baby's gender and monitor their heartbeat and growth.]

Bridging the gap in maternal care

This International Women’s Month, the call for better maternal healthcare is more urgent than ever. While many women around the world have access to regular prenatal care, mothers in the Philippines’ remote regions continue to struggle, especially in far-flung areas like Palawan, Occidental Mindoro, and parts of Luzon. Some expectant mothers never see a doctor during pregnancy—not because they don’t want to, but because they simply can’t afford to.

Others only learn about complications when it’s already too late.

The numbers are stark. The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 3.1 aims to reduce maternal mortality, yet the Philippines still records one of the highest maternal death rates in Asia. Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and Timor-Leste are some of the countries, according to a United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) report in 2018. All have particularly high maternal mortality rates, of over 100 deaths per 100,000 live births.

But according to World Bank Data, the maternal mortality ratio in the country has improved from 129 in 2000 to 78 in 2020.

“Most maternal deaths are preventable,” the World Health Organization states. “All women need access to high quality care in pregnancy, and during and after childbirth" 

Yet some women in remote areas are often left without options.

This is precisely the mission of Life Matters International, a nonprofit organization led by German radiologist Dr. Steffan Haller. His team is working tirelessly to bring life-saving prenatal services—particularly ultrasounds—to underserved communities.

“We wanted to have a lasting impact,” says Dr. Haller. “Medical missions are helpful, but once they end, little remains behind. Our goal is to create sustainable change by decreasing maternal mortality through education and training.”

Haller explains that the biggest challenge lies in remote areas where healthcare is stretched thin. “In some places, one doctor serves tens of thousands of people,” he notes. “That’s not enough. The WHO recommends at least one ultrasound (activity session) per pregnancy, but that’s still not happening here.”

His team has reached areas like Lubang in Occidental Mindoro, Culion and Linapacan in Palawan, and Santa Barbara in Pangasinan. Their training sessions equip midwives with Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) technology, allowing them to detect complications early—without requiring pregnant women to travel hours to the nearest hospital.

Empowering midwives, saving lives

For many midwives, this training is more than just a professional upgrade—it’s a lifeline for the mothers they serve.

“Unang una kasi rural health kami diba, rural areas po lalo na po malalayo yung barangay nila na unang-una pong problema talaga nila is yung pera po, pamasahe papunta ospital po. So noon nagkaroon po kami ng POCUS po, nagagawa na naming siya, dito po. Hindi na nila kailangang mamasahe papuntang ospital po,” Verlhie Carcagente, Sonography Instructor said.

[TRANSLATION: First of all, we’re in a rural area, and the biggest issue for these distant barangays is money for transportation to the hospital. With POCUS, we can provide care right here, so they no longer need to travel to the hospital.]

"Dati, hindi alam ng mga midwife ang kondisyon ng ina at sanggol. Pero ngayon, mas maipapaliwanag na namin ang komplikasyon at pangangailangan gamit ang ultrasound," says Verlihie, a midwife.

[TRANSLATION: "Before, midwives had no way of knowing the mother and baby's condition. But now, with ultrasound, we can better explain complications and what they need.]

“Ito lang yung organization na pagkakaalam ko na nagtuturo ng ultrasound sa mga malalayong lugar sa buong Pilipinas. Ito lang yung dedicated na ang bawat buhay ay mahalaga,” said Reginald Alain Santos, PR, Fundraising, Liasion.

[TRANSLATION: This is the only organization I know that teaches ultrasound in remote areas across the Philippines. They’re dedicated to the belief that every life matters.]

The results speak for themselves. Pregnant women who once had no choice but to endure risky, unmonitored pregnancies are now receiving critical prenatal care—at no cost.

The ongoing struggle

Reaching Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs) remains one of the biggest challenges for the health department in the Philippines. A critical roadblock is the severe shortage of healthcare professionals in these remote regions. Many doctors, nurses, and midwives gravitate toward urban hospitals and private institutions, leaving rural communities with little to no access to maternal care, emergency treatment, and basic health services.

According to the Journal of Global Health Reports, financial struggles, limited career growth, and poor working conditions drive many medical workers away from the public health sector. This ongoing exodus of healthcare professionals worsens the healthcare gap in underserved areas.

To bridge this gap, the Department of Health (DOH) has partnered with various organizations to extend medical assistance and enhance healthcare delivery. With the support of its frontline staff and local health workers, the agency continues to provide vital services to those who need them the most.

A ripple effect of change

To date, Life Matters International has reached around 500 mothers, midwives, and healthcare workers in underserved regions. The impact? Healthier pregnancies, fewer maternal deaths, and empowered communities taking control of their well-being.

Haller believes this is just the beginning.

By equipping local healthcare providers with ultrasound skills, the organization is creating a ripple effect—one that extends far beyond individual pregnancies. Midwives trained today will train others tomorrow, ensuring that more mothers receive proper prenatal care in the years to come.

“So what’s different about us?” Dr. Haller asks. “We don’t distribute medicines. We don’t treat patients. We don’t act as doctors. We teach. Because when people learn, they can do better—not just for themselves, but for their communities.”

"Mothers are the heart of every family. When a mother dies, the family falls apart. That’s why we need to take care of them every single day," Haller explained. 

For Jhoyme and thousands of other women, the ability to see their baby for the first time is more than just a medical procedure—it’s a moment of connection, hope, and reassurance that they are not alone.

Stories like Jhoyme remind us why maternal health matters. It’s not just about the mother. It’s about children. The family. The future.

However, without long-term solutions—such as better incentives, improved infrastructure, and retention programs to certain areas, the country’s most vulnerable populations will remain at risk.

As Dr. Haller puts it, “Mothers are the nucleus of the family. When a mother is healthy, the whole family thrives. And when a mother dies, the family falls apart. If we truly care about our communities, we must first take care of our mothers.”