Cebu Maternity Hospital, 100-year legacy of prominent women in Cebu

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

CEBU CITY – The Cebu Puericulture Center and Maternity House Inc., (CPCMHI) more commonly known as Cebu Maternity Hospital turns 100 year old on September 28 this year, a century of legacy of the prominent and civic-minded women in Cebu that voluntarily came together and founded the first Cebu Woman’s Club (CWC) in 1918.

Founded by Filicisima Najarro-Jerez, Carmen Rallos and Maria Rallos, the goal of CWC then was to share and serve the underprivileged women and children in Cebu and the neighboring islands by setting up puericulture centers in Parian, San Nicolas, Pardo and Mabolo.

According to Teresita Manguerra, a CPCMHI board of trustee that she and most of the members of the board are here because of their grandparents or parents that handed over to the next generations the legacy of running this institution.

Board of trustee Florencia Streegan narrated that in 1920 the patients at the puericulture centers increased so much that prompted the club to build a maternity house that was first established in Fort San Pedro which offered pre and post-natal and assisting normal deliveries.

Dr. Ma. Cristina Senerpeda, CPCMHI president said, the Cebu maternity Hospital is the only non-profit institution in Cebu that actively promotes women’s rights to education and quality healthcare as well as promoting newborn health.

“The hospital has been consistently providing educational and healthcare services for women and neonates in the Visayas region. We have provided subsidized and free healthcare and delivery services to probably more than 500,000 women and children since 1922,” Senerpeda said.

In a press conference on August 23 at the Laguna Garden Café with the CPCMHI board of directors/trustees, women power was palpable as the younger generations of the prominent names in Cebu such as the Jerezes, Sottos, Villalons, Osmenas, Renners, Escanos, and others hugged the history of the institution and the many stories that capture a century of maternal and child care.

Streegan said that in 1926 another milestone was celebrated when the School of Midwifery was founded under the guidance of principal Felicidad Ybanez with 14 pioneering graduates from the school. The Hospital and the School were closed during the war.

Ma. Lourdes Jereza said that they hope to reestablish the School of Midwifery which was reopened in 1955 but closed again during the pandemic.  “Drawing plans and discussions are now ongoing for the re-establishment of the school with new and updated curriculum,” she added.

Today, the CPCMHI continues to be the venue for prioritizing women and children through healthcare and education specifically promoting women’s reproductive health, newborn health and women’s education.

 Its services include nursing service, Labor/delivery/operating rooms; special care unit, out-patient/laboratory departments, pharmacy and ambulance service. 

For its 100^th anniversary, a host of activities are lined up for September including pre-natal check up for pregnant women, women with gynecological concerns, pap smear and screening for cervical cancer and other problems.

Senerpeda added that there are other events to highlight the hospitals' 100th year and the presentation of its new logo that symbolizes maternal and child health care.