LEYTE

The Province of Leyte lies south of the Islands of Samar, separated by the narrow
San Juanico Strait and East of the Islands of Cebu and Bohol. South of it is the Province
of Southern Leyte. It is mountainous with a very rugged range cutting the Province in
half from Northwest to Southeast. Two important plains sit on either side of the
mountain ridge, the Ormoc Plain in the West and the Leyte Plain in the East. The cost is
very much indented with several important Bays: Ormoc Bay at the West, Carigara Bay
at the North and Leyte Gulf at the East. Rain Falls, more or less, steadily throughout the
year and the Northern part of the Province is often visited by strong typhoons.
The Provincial Health Office is built on a plain land and is very far from rivers
and San Pedro Bay.

DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE AND HEALTH MANPOWER

Area
Projected Population (2006)
Population Density
Municipalities
Barangays
Number of H.H.
Health Facilities:
Govt Hospitals
Rural Health Units
Brgy. Health Stations

46,695 sq. km.

1,349,226
1,449,554
31.04 per sq. km.
41
1,366
294,960
1 Provincial Hospital
8 District Hospital
3 Community Hospital
45
284

Health Manpower:
Physician
Hospital
Field

84
45

Nurses
Hospital
Field

164
62

Midwives
Hospital
Field

5
279

Rural Sanitary Inspector

Hospital
Field

none
15

Rural Health Dentists

Hospital
Field

11
29

Medical Technologist
Hospital
Field

15
42

Health Educator
Hospital
Field

9 (designated)
2

Pharmacist
Hospital
Field

12
none

Sanitary Engineer
Hospital
Field

Medical Equipment Technician

Hospital
11
Field
none
Nutritionist Dietitian
Hospital
Field

9
3 (2 vacant)

PROVINCIAL HEALTH STATUS (2008)

Impact Indicators
1. Number of Childbirths
2. Crude Birth Rate
3. Crude Death Rate
4. Infant Mortality Rate
5. Maternal Mortality Ratio
6. FIC

32,109
24/1,000 population
5,877 OR 4.05/1,000 population (2007)
6.04/1,000 live births
99.6/100,000 live births
96%

In 2008, the Provincial Health Office recorded a total of 32,109 childbirths. Of

this, 10,752 or 34.92 % (of total prenatals) are Risk Pregnancies. Traditional birth
attendants (TBAs) assisted 6,943 (22%). Deliveries by Skilled Birth Attendants
(Doctors, Nurses and Midwives) accounted for 78% (25,045).
Maternal and Infant Deaths for the year is low, 32 and 194 respectively or with a
Maternal Mortality Ratio of 99.66/1,000 live births and Infant Mortality Rate of
6.04/1,000 live births.
Inspite of the low Maternal Deaths, Leyte would still envision that all births will
be facility base and handled by Skilled Birth Attendants.
The Provincial Investment Plan for Health (PIPH) under the Formula One (F1)
Initiative of the Province for 2009-2013 included capacitating facilities as BEMONC or
CEMONC for RHUs and Hospitals. The Barangay Health Stations will be converted to
Birthing Facility.