Alongside tourism and mining, agriculture and food production are two major sources of income in Benguet. Known as the “salad bowl” of the Philippines, the province contributes to about 80% of Luzon’s daily supply of lettuce, broccoli, carrots, potatoes, cabbage, and other semi-temperate crops. This is why, during his Deep Dive—a brief immersion into the health realities on the ground—Gov. Melchor Diclas was taken aback when malnutrition cases were reported in the province.

Addressing malnutrition using a multi-sectoral approach

One of the challenges of being a mountainous province is the people’s difficulty in accessing basic healthcare services. After conducting an intense and in-depth analysis of Benguet’s healthcare situation, Diclas, along with the Department of Health Cordillera, Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF), and the Provincial Health team, went on a deep dive and visited the two families with reported malnutrition cases in Atok, one of the province’s geographically isolated and disadvantaged area (GIDA) municipalities.

As a governor and a medical doctor, Diclas knows the importance of health and nutrition in children’s development and the future of the province. He immediately took action and pushed the provincial government team to prioritize the development of livelihood opportunities and agricultural interventions to address the food insufficiency in the area. He also directed the strengthening of the Provincial Nutrition Action Team and provided training for parents to ensure that the children’s nutrition and priority health needs are met.

Realizing the community’s need for better access to a nearby health facility, the governor also included the construction of a health facility in their local development plan to ensure that children’s health and nutrition are monitored regularly and that people do not need to walk long hours to access the nearest health station.

Institutionalizing healthcare for all

Diclas firmly believes that access to healthcare is a fundamental right of every citizen. So, when Benguet was chosen as one of the pilot areas for Universal Health Care (UHC), the province immediately signed up and started the local health system reforms.

He has put in place extensive measures to guarantee that everyone has access to healthcare, especially in isolated and underprivileged communities. To reach remote locations, mobile health clinics have been used, giving people access to essential medical care and health information.

An important feature of Benguet is its people’s deeply rooted cultural beliefs and traditions. Having a good grasp of this as an Igorot himself, Diclas understands the hesitations of people in choosing medical services over traditional healing techniques. Instead of forcing them to accept and adjust to the available health programs and services, he led the innovation of developing culturally sensitive facilities and service deliveries to cater to what the people need.

On the way to a healthier Benguet

The proactive and forward-thinking leadership of Diclas is helping Benguet move toward a healthier future. He has transformed the healthcare landscape by making sure health programs and services are culturally sensitive, investing in a stronger provincial health team, and leading health system reforms by encouraging multi-sectoral action.

He has transformed challenges into innovations grounded in his constituents’ needs and respectful of his people’s culture.#

(Published September 27, 2023)

As part of the continuing effort to help local health centers achieve Universal Health Care (UHC) in the northern region, the Department of Health Centers for Health Development (DOH-CHD) of Cordillera, Ilocos, and Cagayan Valley, in partnership with the Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF), recently mounted the 3rd module implementation of the Bayang Malusog Regional Leadership Development Program (RLDP) in Baguio City last September 6-7, 2023. In attendance were 27 participants, including assistant regional directors, provincial health team leaders, and UHC coordinators from the three DOH-CHDs.

In the two-day training activity, no less than the former DOH Undersecretary Dr. Myrna Cabotaje emphasized that while the training activity is critical and can provide fundamental and technical knowledge, the participants’ integration with real experience and learnings on-site will surely go a long way.

“Your role involves facilitating access to health care services. Remember the human aspect, taking into account the people’s conditions and adapting your approach accordingly,” shared Dr. Cabotaje, as she encouraged everyone to positively contribute to UHC so that its impact is truly felt. “Sharing is learning,” Dr. Cabotaje added.

One of the participants, Jennifer Valenzuela, City health team leader of Baguio City, could not agree more. “Health care has to be felt more by Filipinos and our community through better access to quality health care services,” Valenzuela said.

Promising accomplishments in northern Luzon have also been highlighted including the progress of licensing and accreditation of primary care facilities and the growing commitment of local leaders to champion the integrated approach to UHC. Most of the provinces in the region have achieved 100% on the preparatory level of UHC maturity—a set of standards set by the DOH.

However, challenges remain to ensure access and quality of primary care services, a competent health workforce, and a functional electronic medical records system. Central to these challenges is the operationalization of the Special Health Funds.

These health system challenges are being addressed through proactive and responsive leadership and more intentional team coaching. Among the initiatives being worked on are the enhancement of the user interface of iClinicSys, the electronic medical records system used in primary care facilities, and the development of a technical assistance package aimed at expediting compliance with licensing and accreditation standards for needed facilities. These plans are part of a broader strategy that seeks to strengthen their approach to increasing immunization coverage in the regions.

The BayangMalusog Regional Leadership Development Program continues to empower leaders in their pursuit of UHC, creating a healthier Filipino population. #

 

(Published September 26, 2023)

The Zuellig Family Foundation Institute for Health Leadership (ZFFI) recently hosted a two-day Learning Session for Academic Partners (APs) at the Bayview Park Hotel Manila on July 26 and 27, 2023. The event aimed to equip APs with practical insights from real-world experiences, enhancing their strategies for implementing essential local health programs, including those related to health systems, nutrition, and adolescent sexual and reproductive health. The training focused on Bridging Leadership (BL) and the Health Change Model, both recognized by the Foundation as powerful tools for driving transformative health care outcomes.

The first day emphasized key topics such as BL and the pivotal roles of APs in executing Universal Health Care (UHC) goals. The occasion also marked the Foundation’s 15th anniversary, highlighted by a Memorandum of Understanding signing with new APs. A recognition ceremony honored the significant contributions and unwavering support of APs in the Foundation’s mission of advancing better health outcomes for all.

Austere A. Panadero, President of ZFF, highlighted the intricate nature of implementing UHC, involving expansion and restructuring. Many local government units lack readiness for this, as seen in the gradual UHC rollout. Panadero sought support for UHC changes, questioning how to expedite these with available resources and which institutions can guide effectively. He said that ZFF sees the APs as a solution. In the UHC rollout, academic institutions become transformative educators, evidence-based influencers, and advocates for quality care, empowering local health leaders to achieve UHC efficiently.

On the second day, APs openly exchanged insights and recommendations across three themes: health leadership and governance program implementation, the role of academic institutions in mentoring health leaders, and research study findings. The recommendation suggests continuing deep investigations by APs with involvement of peers for meaningful learning, while also expanding faculty ownership for teaching and coaching. It urges APs to apply program strategies with local governments, enhance coaching skills for Department of Health partnerships to empower LGU leaders, and stresses trust-based relationships as pivotal for positive changes in local health systems.

The two-day session involved 17 participants from 10 esteemed institutional partners, including Ateneo de Zamboanga University, Cebu Normal University, Davao Medical School Foundation, Inc., Silliman University, St. Paul University Philippines-Tuguegarao, University of the Philippines Manila-College of Public Health, University of the Philippines Manila – School of Health Sciences, and University of the Philippines Visayas. Newly engaged institutions, Cordillera Career Development College and Mindanao State University-Sulu, also joined the event.

(Published August 22, 2023)

Ilocos Region’s Universal Health Care (UHC) provincial health teams gathered in La Union last July 4 to 6 for training activities under the BayangMalusog Provincial Leadership Development Program. BayangMalusog is a health leadership development program to accelerate UHC implementation in partner provinces.

The sessions were implemented by the Department of Health – Ilocos Center for Health Development in partnership with the University of the Philippines – College of Public Health (UP-CPH) and the Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF).

The training focused on helping provincial health teams become adaptive leaders to improve the region’s health outcomes in line with UHC’s implementation. The sessions included sharing experiences, good practices, and challenges of the areas in their UHC progress and workshops on team dynamics and developing team synergy. The event ended with the development of action plans for the region’s #JumpSTART in UHC for BayangMalusog.

The UP-CPH facilitated the executive session for Governors Jerry Singson of Ilocos Sur and Rafy Ortega-David of La Union, focusing on the governors’ learnings from the deep dive sessions, action plans, and leadership strategies in leading the UHC Implementation. Both governors expressed their strong support for the upcoming activities of their region to implement UHC.

At the end of the activity, DOH CHD Director Dr. Paula Paz Sydiongco and DOH CHD Assistant Director Dr. Rodolfo Antonio M. Albornoz reaffirmed their support to the governors towards the progress and implementation of UHC in the Ilocos Region.

The League of Corporate Foundations (LCF) held its annual CSR Expo 2023 from July 4 to 6, 2023, with conference sessions at the Makati Diamond Residences and an exhibition at Glorietta II Activity Center. This year’s event aimed to embed sustainability and accountability among its member organizations to align its ESG (environmental, social, and governance) frameworks and reporting with government priorities and requirements.

As the Vice Chairperson of the LCF Health Committee, Dr. Anthony Rosendo Faraon, deputy executive director of the Zuellig Family Foundation, presented the committee’s strategy for reinforcing private sector participation in improving access to health care, especially among vulnerable communities. Efforts focus on the use of innovative health care technology, such as new diagnostic tools, medicines delivery, and telehealth. Expanding the usage, quality, and availability of these innovations with the local governments provides opportunities for the private sector support to government interventions in implementing the Universal Health Care Law.

An estimated 200 participants from among its members, partners, stakeholders, and CSR practitioners, participated in the CSR Expo. For more information about LCF and the CSR Expo access the LCF FB page (League of Corporate Foundations – LCF), and the LCF CSR Expo website (https://lcf.org.ph/csr-expo/).

(Published July 18, 2023)

From setting up teen hubs and centers in every public school and village to the creation of a council that will drive all programs for adolescents, Naga City is taking bolder yet wiser steps to curb teenage births through a newly passed ordinance.

Known as the “AYSRH Ordinance,” the measure was enacted last month, a critical move that would finally institutionalize and bring harmony to the city’s wide-ranging adolescent and youth sexual and reproductive health programs and services.

“The ordinance is like an arm or an instrument for us to be able to achieve our purpose, which is for adolescent girls to avoid being pregnant and for them to better prepare themselves for the years ahead because this lay down the acts that we have to do,” said Naga City Mayor Nelson Legacion.

Naga City’s adolescent birth rate has continuously dropped for the last four years, from a high of 30.21 in 2019 to 20.10 in 2022. But it has observed an uptick in repeat pregnancy in teenage mothers from a low 39 in 2020 to 56 in 2021 and 62 last year.

The mayor is pushing for zero teenage pregnancy in three years as it works under the guidance of The Challenge Initiative (TCI), a program co-managed by the Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF) with the Bill and Melinda Gates Institute for Population and Reproductive Health.

Launched in 2020, the program aims to stem teenage pregnancies in the country by improving access to family planning programs and promoting positive health-seeking behavior among youth and adolescents.

Road to ‘zero’

Legacion expressed confidence that the “ambitious target” was doable with an ordinance that will strengthen the city leadership team and its information service delivery network (ISDN), composed of various stakeholders that will journey with the city government to achieve such dream, and with the continued support of TCI and ZFF.

Among the many things the ordinance would set in motion are the creation of the City Adolescent and Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health (AYSRH) Council, which will act as the advisory, planning, and policy-making body for the full implementation of the law, and the provision of a comprehensive culture-sensitive, age- and development-appropriate sex education in schools and the communities.

The law also obliges the city government to provide sufficient funding annually for all its AYSRH programs and services and to strengthen the capability of barangay health workers, nutrition scholars, and other frontline health and social workers in providing care and education tailored to the needs of adolescents and the youth.

Since joining the TCI, the city gradually increased its investments in ASYRH services from Php728,000 in 2020 to over P1 million in 2022, the start of the program implementation. It quadrupled to P4.1 million in 2023.

Adolescent-friendly spaces in all schools and villages

The ordinance also mandates the establishment of teen hubs in all public schools and teen centers in the barangays that will give adolescents and out-of-school youths an exclusive schedule to avail of reproductive health services with confidence and privacy.

So far, teen centers or adolescent-friendly facilities have been created in Barangays Concepcion Pequeña, Balatas, and Calauag.

“Part of the services we ask from teen centers and teen hubs is to address the stigmatization because it is one of the reasons why there is poor health-seeking behavior among our teenagers,” said Councilor Gayle Abonal-Gomez, author of the ordinance.

She also said the city was looking forward to getting private schools on board to set up their own teen hubs and mining data from its body of research on ASYRH to further improve the local government’s programs.

Underscoring the importance of the role of parents in teenage pregnancy prevention, the ordinance shall also see the implementation of a family support program that will provide parents of adolescents with the necessary education and support that encourage parental involvement.

“We are closely monitoring the rise in repeat pregnancies among teenage mothers…and based on observations and with our dealings with the barangays, the role of the family and parents plays a big part in this,” she said.

Widening of networks and programs

Another major component of the ordinance is the formal establishment of ISDN that will “harmonize all existing services and program interventions” on ASYRH in the city.

Under the newly enacted law, the City Population and Nutrition Office will spearhead gathering and linking up various stakeholders involved in the provision of ASRYH services to form a referral system and provide health services tailor-fit to the specific needs of adolescents.

“Before this ordinance, we already have many public and private partners and linkages, there are many programs and services [on ASYRH] available in the city. But the concern was that efforts were not institutionalized and harmonized,” said Abonal-Gomez.

“One advantage of this ordinance is that it will unify all our actions and with everyone officially on board, we will be able to grow our networks and the programs itself,” she added.

This article first appeared on the official website of the City Government of Naga.

(Published June 9, 2023)

Good nutrition governance is good politics. This echoed as the main takeaway during Zuellig Family Foundation’s (ZFF) Learning Forum on Nutrition held on July 5, 2023, at the Heritage Hotel in Pasay City. The hybrid event gathered 110 in-person attendees and at least 130 more via Facebook Livestream and Zoom. 

ZFF-KGJF partnership

Titled “Stories of Co-Creation for Strengthening Food and Nutrition Systems,” the learning forum provided a venue not only to recognize the achievements of the 12 ZFF-trained mayors from Sarangani and Basilan but also to disseminate best practices toward the reduction of malnutrition in the country.  

The learning forum was part of the Provincial Nutrition and Governance Program (PNGP) partnership of ZFF and the Kristian Gerhard Jebsen Foundation, focusing on the first 1,000 days’ (F1KD) population—pregnant women and children under two years old. Stunting and wasting prevalence rates in all 12 municipalities under PNGP decreased in 2023. In Sarangani, the stunting prevalence rate has gone down to 3.2% in 2023 from 7.22% in 2020; while in Basilan, it decreased to 14.51% from 17.38% for the same period. 

PNGP has been providing leadership interventions to the provincial, municipal, and city leaders of Sarangani and Basilan since 2021. Their front-line service providers also received technical and mentoring support. PNGP will continue working with the two provinces and two of their municipalities, in piloting interventions on developing positive behaviors among households and communities.

For more information about ZFF’s programs on F1KD nutrition, visit https://zuelligfoundation.org/programs/nutrition/.

Good politics

Municipal Mayor Ma. Theresa Constantino of Malungon, Sarangani said: “When there is good nutrition, [it means] there is good governance. And when there is good governance, definitely, wala akong kalaban (I do not have an opponent). There is good politics.” Malungon had been a recipient of the National Honor Award from the National Nutrition Council (NNC); it has recorded low stunting and wasting prevalence rates of 1.7% and 0.02%, respectively, in 2023. Among the local government’s initiatives were the provision that all households have backyard gardens (to address food access and security) and access to sanitary toilets (to provide a clean and safe environment for the healthy growth and development of children). The local government also increased investments in nutrition human resources and even institutionalized the retention of barangay nutrition scholars and other community volunteers through a municipal ordinance.

Basilan Gov. Jim Hataman-Saliman commended his mayors for their success stories in addressing malnutrition noting that fear of losing was the biggest hindrance in nutrition governance. “Takot kaming matalo. Takot kami na ang aming initiatives ay hindi in lalo kung hindi sikat sa social media (We have a fear of losing. We fear that our initiatives will not resonate well to the crowd, especially if we are not popular in social media.),” he said.

To which, Dr. Maria Cecilia Acuin, a ZFF consultant, reassured that “Sa nutrisyong sapat, panalo tayong lahat (With proper nutrition, everyone is a winner.).” She cited a World Bank study that found every dollar invested in nutrition has the potential of yielding a $44 return.

Read more about the journey of the 12 municipalities at http://bit.ly/StoriesOnNutritionGovernance.

Panel discussions

The learning forum was divided into three panel discussions. The first discussion, “Strengthening Nutrition Governance and Financing to Improve Service Delivery,” tackled the pivotal role of effective governance in increasing investments and improving the delivery of nutrition services.

Aside from Constantino, four other local chief executives highlighted the importance of investing in health human resources.

Mayor Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman (Isabela, Basilan) prioritized the hiring of a registered nutritionist dietician and an additional six support staff for the city nutrition program. Likewise, Mayor George Falgui (Kiamba, Sarangani) created a plantilla position for Nutrition Officer III through a municipal ordinance, making Kiamba the first municipality in Sarangani to have a permanent municipal nutrition action officer.

Mayors Victor James Yap (Glan, Sarangani) and Roderick Furigay (Lamitan, Basilan) also emphasized the importance of health human resources as crucial sources and main providers of services.

The second discussion, “Bolstering Data Governance in Nutrition,” touched on using data to inform evidence-based decisions and actions.

Mayor Arcam Istarul (Tipo-Tipo, Basilan) used data to ensure that appropriate interventions and support are provided to those who need them most. Mayors Jul-Adnan P. Hataman (Sumisip, Basilan) and Hanie Bud (Maluso, Basilan) intensified efforts under their respective Operation Timbang (OPT) task forces to track, assess, and provide targeted interventions to malnourished children.

The final discussion, “Confronting Food Insecurity and the Underlying Causes of Malnutrition,” highlighted the importance of stakeholder engagement and collaboration in confronting the issue of food insecurity and the underlying causes of malnutrition.

Mayor Vic Paul Salarda (Alabel, Sarangani) shared how they established a Nutri-Bakery with a private nongovernment organization and the provincial nutrition office and supported by a tripartite memorandum of agreement. Likewise, Mayor Alexander Bryan Reganit, Jr. (Maitum, Sarangani) showcased their partnership with the Philippine Carabao Center to establish a dairy box for locally-sourced milk feeding that would provide access to dairy products in the market.

A recording of the learning forum can be found here: https://fb.watch/lHpEEaPaoO/.

The Zuellig Family Foundation is proud to be among the co-funders for the Asia Philanthropy Circle’s Regional Early Childhood Development (ECD) Landscape Research launched on July 6, 2023.

The time period from when a child is born up to six years old is crucial, laying the foundation for physical, emotional, and intellectual well-being. Giving children the best start in life requires access to comprehensive programmes and services supporting their health and developmental needs to ensure they get the best start.

This groundbreaking study comprehensively maps policies, programmes, and services in early childhood development across China, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Singapore, identifies gaps, and provides recommendations where philanthropy can make meaningful interventions to improve ECD outcomes in the region.

Download the full report here: https://asiaphilanthropycircle.org/regional-early-childhood-development-ecd-research/

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