LUNA, Apayao – To expand access to effective and long-acting family planning methods, the Provincial Health Office (PHO) conducted a two-day clinical training on Progestin-only Subdermal Implants (PSI) from May 5 to 6, 2025, at the Apayao Tourism and Sports Complex (ATSC).
Led by Provincial Health Officer Dr. Mark Joleen P. Calban, the training brought together health workers from various municipalities, equipping them with the skills and confidence to administer one of today’s most reliable long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) methods.
Calban delivered a lecture covering the fundamentals of PSI including commonly used brands such as Jadelle, Implanon NXT, and Nexplanon. He emphasized their safety and efficacy and further noted that these rod-shaped implants that are placed under the skin, can prevent pregnancy for up to five years and are over 99% effective, particularly useful in geographically isolated areas where access to regular clinical services is limited.
The hands-on component of the training was facilitated by Shyla Trumpo of the Far North Luzon General Hospital and Training Center and Rey Sagandoy of the Provincial DOH Office. Participants were guided through proper insertion and removal techniques, infection control, and patient counseling protocols. Each was given the opportunity to practice under supervision to ensure safe and competent delivery of the service.
Senior Health Program Officer Joyce Sabadao, provincial focal for the Family Planning and Reproductive Health Program, also addressed the group, focusing on the importance of healthy timing and spacing of pregnancies.
“You are not just providers. You are educators, advocates, and supporters of women’s health,” Sabadao told the participants, underscoring the larger impact of informed reproductive choices.
Among those who availed of the service during the training was 33-year-old Jenifer Flores, a mother of two, who opted to shift from injectable contraceptives to the implant.
“I do not want to get pregnant again. Giving birth is really hard,” she said. “I feel safer with the implant.”
Through this initiative, the PHO aims to scale up reproductive health services in the province, especially in remote communities where access remains a challenge. By Loremia Pareja
