Just three months after attending the Barangay Leadership for Nutrition and Development (BL4ND), five barangays (villages) in Manila fulfilled needed nutrition reforms, including:

• the formulation of the Barangay Nutrition Action Plan with funding;
• the designation of the Barangay Nutrition Action Officer; and
• intensified tracking, profiling, and assessment of pregnant women and malnourished children.

 

Barangays 123, 212, 564, 598, and 733 attended the BL4ND on Sept. 27-28, 2022. Organized by the Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF)-trained facilitators from Manila’s health department and Samaritan’s Purse, an international NGO, the two-day training helped the participants see clearly the gaps in their nutrition systems. The participants then organized their next steps with the end goal of improving the nutritional outcomes of their population—particularly pregnant women and children under two years old.

ZFF will be checking the progress again in March when barangays are expected to meet all of their targets.

Learn more about ZFF’s programs on nutrition, focusing on the first 1,000 days: https://zuelligfoundation.org/programs/nutrition/.

(Published February 14, 2023)

Bangsamoro Region’s health leaders and stakeholders gathered in a two-day summit to learn how Universal Health Care (UHC) has progressed in two implementation sites and the specific steps toward UHC’s full implementation in the region given its distinct structure and context.

Two cases were presented: Maguindanao where the health system is devolved to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM)—a setup shared by all provinces except one—and Basilan, the only province where the health system is devolved to the local government unit (LGU). As of January, Maguindanao fulfilled 100% of the key result areas under the preparatory level of the health system maturity while Basilan achieved 94%.

On the second day, a forum facilitated the development of a technical assistance plan to support and guide LGUs in their implementation. In response, development partners and other stakeholders presented their action plans supporting UHC implementation in the BARMM. 

Jainab Abdulmajid, manager of the Zuellig Family Foundation’s ongoing USAID-funded BARMMHealth project with the University Research Co., presented ZFF’s leadership and governance training, which will have leaders from the regional management councils and provincial health boards of Basilan and Maguindanao as participants. Through the project, ZFF foresees faster UHC implementation that will result in improvements in public health policies and institutional support for services in maternal health, child health, and family planning.

The event, held last Jan. 30 to 31 in Davao City, was attended by Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Dr. Abdullah Dumama and BARMM’s Ministry of Health (MOH) top officials including Minister Rizaldy Piang, Deputy Minister Zulgarneyn Abas, and Assistant Secretary Abdulhalik Kasim, who will lead the newly created development partners coordination unit (DPCU) that will ensure a coordinated UHC effort among stakeholders. 

Experts who shared their UHC knowledge at the summit included Mahidol University’s Dr. Sauwakon Ratanawijitrasin from Thailand and Dr. Rowen Galpo, former city health officer of Baguio City. Other attendees were representatives from the World Bank, United Nations Children’s Fund, International Organization for Migration, and Mindanao Organization for Social and Economic Progress.

(Published February 7, 2023)

In a nod to Zuellig Family Foundation’s (ZFF) programs on Universal Health Care (UHC), the Department of Health’s Center for Health Development in Region 8 (DOH-CHD 8) collaborated with ZFF to accelerate UHC implementation and address nutrition challenges in the region. The DOH-CHD 8 has been a ZFF partner since 2013 under health governance leadership and municipal leadership programs.

The virtual ceremonial signing of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) held on November 29, 2022, marked the start of a new partnership under the Bayang Malusog program. The leadership development program will capacitate DOH regional leaders to support provincial leaders in creating effective and responsive province-wide health systems supporting the national health agenda.

Among those who signed the MOU were: Dr. Exuperia Sabalberino, DOH Eastern Visayas Regional Director; Austere Panadero, ZFF Executive Director; Dr. Anthony Faraon, ZFF Deputy Executive Director; Dr. Joyce Viar, ZFF Nutrition Portfolio Director; and Dr. Catherine Chung, ZFF Local Health System Portfolio Director.

In his message during the ceremonial signing, Dr. Abdullah B. Dumama Jr., Health Undersecretary of DOH’s Field Implementation and Coordination Team (FICT) for Visayas and Mindanao, highlighted the importance of collective action to realize UHC. He emphasized DOH’s commitment to working closely with local government units (LGUs) and partners by supporting local initiatives and providing technical assistance.

Similarly, Health Undersecretary Camilo Cascolan of DOH-FICT Visayas echoed DOH’s commitment to work with LGUs in achieving UHC saying that UHC will help resolve health inequities.

To cap the ceremonial signing, Faraon expressed optimism that the MOU signing will not only be the start of a new partnership but the start of collaborative work toward delivering better health outcomes in Region 8. He said that UHC must be realized through more and better services. With the Bayang Malusog program, Faraon hoped to realize the message, “Tayo ay bayang malusog—bayang hangad ang mabuting kalusugan ng lahat.” (We are a healthy nation—a nation that desires good health for all.)

(Published December 20, 2022)

The importance of family planning (FP) in achieving Universal Health Care (UHC) was highlighted in the 2022 International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP) held in Pattaya City, Thailand from November 14 to 17, 2022.

At the said event, the Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF) presented its leadership course on Minimum Initial Service Package for Sexual and Reproductive Health (MISP for SRH). A partnership with the United Nations Population Fund and funded by Australian Aid, the training course strengthened the competencies of provincial leaders to implement life-saving SRH information and services, including FP, during natural disasters and other public health emergencies.

While the MISP for SRH is provided for in the Magna Carta of Women (RA 9710) and the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law (RA 10354), it is not yet widely implemented. Under ZFF’s pilot program, the provinces of Catanduanes, Laguna, and Maguindanao have crafted integrated MISP for SRH implementation plans as envisioned by the abovementioned laws.

Platform, movement, community

Sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates Institute for Population and Reproductive Health, the ICFP has been a strategic platform, movement, and community for countries, organizations, and individuals to make important commitments and celebrate innovations toward achieving FP access for all.

ZFF also shared lessons from the implementation of The Challenge Initiative (TCI), a partnership with the Gates Institute aimed at reducing teenage pregnancies. ZFF discussed how TCI used the Urban Health Equity Assessment and Response Tool¹ for increased and targeted financing of adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH) and FP delivery services. Using the Equity Matrix, Cagayan de Oro City (CDO) was able to bring down the adolescent birth rate to 35 in 2021 from 43 in 2020, and increase the modern contraceptive prevalence rate to 35 from 29 in the same period.

ZFF had two poster presentations on developing youth leaders to prevent adolescent pregnancies, and on building partnerships to scale up the implementation of the Philippine Population Development Plan in cities.

Awards

ICFP also conferred on the Zuellig family the 2022 Global Humanitarian Awards for Women’s and Children’s Health in recognition of the family’s investments in maternal and child health, nutrition, and reproductive health through ZFF. Men Form Zuellig, a ZFF trustee, received the award on behalf of Daniel and David Zuellig.

Meanwhile, Dipolog City Mayor Darrel Uy received the local champion award from TCI for “going above and beyond” in the city’s implementation of the program–investing $73,000 for 2023 (from $20,000 in 2021). Dr. Rachel D. Dilla, City Health Officer III of CDO, received the same award for mobilizing the city’s information and service delivery network.

¹ An equity matrix using Urban HEART helps assess indicators of health outcomes and health determinants and identify health inequities in a specific city.

(Published December 19, 2022)

Provincial leaders in northern Luzon sharpen their knowledge on how to attain Universal Health Care (UHC) by improving health services and overall health systems. ZFF’s BayangMalusog: Provincial Leaders for UHC Acceleration program gave leaders, which included nine governors in attendance, insights on navigating the challenges UHC demands.

For Dr. Manuel Dayrit, former health secretary and a ZFF trustee, the UHC is the culmination of all health-related laws enacted since the 1950s because it calls for the health of all Filipinos.

He reminded governors and other provincial leaders that “investing in health is investing for the future” and the return on investments includes “decreased premature deaths” and “increased quality of life.”

Dr. Israel Francis Pargas, PhilHealth senior vice president, said the agency is designing its programs “to have a more comprehensive outpatient primary care package” to comply with the UHC law, which calls for every patient to pass through primary care physicians whose gatekeeping role is to ensure proper referral of cases. Ideally, therefore, all diseases are diagnosed at the primary care level.

In closing his presentation, Dayrit voiced his hopes that the governors leave a legacy of better health in their provinces.

The Department of Health (DOH) Centers for Health Development in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and Region 1 sponsored the module runs in Baguio City and Laoag City, respectively. Lending their time to support their provincial teams were DOH CAR Director Rio Magpantay, M.D., and Region 1 Director Paula Paz M. Sydiongo, M.D. Caraga Regional Director Cassion, M.D. was also present in the Baguio City module run to join Agusan del Sur Governor Santiago Cane Jr. who shared his bridging leadership journey with the other governors and the accomplishments of his province in UHC. His province has met all requirements for the preparatory level of UHC maturity—a set of standards set by the DOH—and hopes to attain the highest level of UHC functionality before his second term as governor ends in 2025.

For more on Agusan del Sur’s achievements in UHC, listen to https://spoti.fi/3zlTYRX.

CAR and Region 1 provinces will have their next module in March 2023 after an intensive practicum period which will see ZFF-trained regional leaders coaching and mentoring the governors and their teams. The provinces are expected to meet specific milestones designed to lead them toward UHC
attainment.

CAR governors present were Apayao Gov. Elias Bulut Jr., Benguet Gov. Melchor Diclas, Kalinga Gov. James Edduba, Ifugao Gov. Jerry Dalipog, and Mountain Province Gov. Bonifacio Lacwasan. For Region 1, Ilocos Norte Gov. Matthew Manotoc and La Union Gov. Raphaelle Veronical Ortega-David attended the event, which switched to hybrid following the strong quake in Northern Luzon last Oct. 25. Aklan Gov. Jose Enrique Miraflores, a first-termer whose province has been a ZFF partner since 2016, joined the Region 1 event online. Region 6 Director Adriano Suba-an was in Laoag City.

(Published December 9, 2022)

Managing health systems is complicated enough without the COVID-19 pandemic. The Zuellig Family Foundation is proud to have trained mayors who have ably risen to the challenge. All underwent the ZFF’s health leadership and governance program.

Toni Yulo-Loyzaga, a ZFF trustee, pointed out the observed leadership skills, starting with leveraging personal and professional background.

During the recently concluded online forum organized by ZFF, local chief executives from its partner provinces and cities mentioned their different careers before joining politics. This, according to Loyzaga, adds value to their role because it allows them to use a wider lens in understanding health challenges. Koronadal City Vice Mayor Peter Miguel developed advocacy for reducing maternal deaths when his late wife, who worked as an obstetrician-gynecologist, told him that no mother should die of childbirth. He strengthened maternal and child care in his city by upskilling the barangay health workers (BHWs).

Loyzaga noted that ZFF LCEs value partnerships with the academe and the private sector, whom Loyzaga said must be valued not just as donors, but as co-implementers. Zamboanga City Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar involved private groups and government agencies in the city’s health agenda focusing on teenage pregnancy, rights of women and children, tuberculosis, and contraceptive use. Collaborations with the private sector allowed the city to manage the influx of locally stranded individuals and returning Filipinos amid the pandemic.

But effective health leadership does not end with owning and creating solutions. Loyzaga pointed out how trust-building is at the heart of behavioral change and public governance. LCEs must reach out to understand and build trust with their constituents. “It is the glue that binds our communities,” said Loyzaga.

Lastly, Loyzaga reminded the leaders to recognize the value of risk communications and the need to integrate it into their health programs at the very beginning. Risk communication builds trust and cooperation among the people and enables mutual dialogue and participatory decision-making. ZFF conducted a series of online forums to highlight the accomplishments of its partner local government units (LGU) whose health leaders participated in the USAID-supported Institutionalization of Health Leadership and Governance Program. The IHLGP aimed to help LGUs provide constituents easier access to quality healthcare services and improve health outcomes.

One-and-a-half months since the imposition of the enhanced community quarantine, some provinces in the Philippines remained COVID-free. Agusan del Sur is one of them.

Governor Santiago Cane Jr. attributed this to the good teamwork among provincial and local government leaders and personnel. They also strictly adhered to the ECQ guidelines and protocols.

“What must be allowed must be allowed, and what is not must not be allowed. If we become complacent, then the problem will become uncontrollable. We have been blessed with people who can work hand-in-hand with each other,” Cane said.

Provincial health officer II Dr. Jacqueline Momville said the local government began distributing information, education and communication materials on COVID-19 in every barangay in early March. Even without a confirmed case, the LGU set up a COVID hotline and implemented strict monitoring of people entering the province.

The doctor also said its low population density could have contributed to Agusan del Sur’s zero COVID-19 case. And she linked this to the province’s intensive campaign on contraceptive use, a long-running campaign of the province in partnership with ZFF.

Preparing the people for the worst

Despite their success, the governor admitted they face issues now that the province is transitioning to general community quarantine (GCQ). One major concern is their inadequate number of healthcare personnel and equipment. And while it has enough community quarantine beds for mild and severe cases, it lacks ICU beds for critical cases should an outbreak occur.

Agusan del Sur is also adjacent to provinces with positive COVID-19 cases. Therefore, Dr. Jomar Rabajante of University of the Philippines Los Baños Institute of Mathematical Sciences and Physics said the province must guard their borders.

As a measure to fight the pandemic, Momville said the local government unit (LGU) are already planning to conduct province-wide training for disaster resilience in health to improve case detection, contact tracing, and address proliferation of fake news during emergencies.

ZFF trustee Dr. Dayrit said the key to keep COVID-19 cases zero lies in creating a communication system that would keep people informed of their own roles in combating the virus, as well as the concerted efforts of all levels of the LGU to protect the public.

Cane said their greatest defense now is the people’s compliance to staying at home. “We have to face this. I believe that this kind of war can only be won if we retreat to our homes. Ang mga duwag ang mananalo (The cowards will triumph). Follow the protocols.”

Another crucial step is providing PPE sets for all healthcare staff especially since they have inadequate number of personnel. The LGU was advised by Dayrit to also look into the possibility of tapping private organizations to assist them in establishing testing facilities since the current turnaround time for tests takes at least a week.

Improving capacities to overcome threats

Testing for the Caraga Region is done in Davao City. Department of Health regional director Dr. Jose Llacuna Jr. said he has asked the DOH national office to accredit the Caraga Regional Hospital and Butuan Medical Center as test centers to minimize the turnaround time.

Llacuna also said the Regional Task Force for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (RTF COVID-19) One Caraga Shield had been laying out plans for the region’s shift to the general community quarantine (GCQ).

Cane then said they will be procuring more PPE sets, as well as ventilators. He also said they will continue giving support for provincial surveillance team, establishing risk communication and hazard contingency plan, capacitating all levels on disaster resiliency and management, establishing additional isolation facilities, establishing COVID test lab and more ICU beds, and strengthening psychosocial support for patients, the patients’ families, and front-liners.

As the province braces itself for possible new waves of the infection, its people can take comfort in their health leaders’ decisiveness, and ability to adapt and collaborate. As Momville said, “Every day is learning by doing. We learn what needs to be done better. We become better persons. We are not ready in many ways, but we are doing our best. It’s bringing out the best in us.”

The discussion with the Agusan de Sur health leadership team was held last April 30. This executive session is part of ZFF’s efforts to help its partner-provinces effectively manage the COVID-19.

When the Philippines recorded its first COVID-19 case in January, Aklan was regarded as one of the hotspots because it had direct flights from Wuhan, China and tourists continued to flock to Boracay. But the provincial government’s quick actions proved effective in containing the virus. In fact, as of April 24, the province only had six confirmed COVID-19 cases, four of which have since recovered, and zero COVID-19 death.

During the recent executive session for governors facilitated by the Zuellig Family Foundation, UP COVID-19 Response Team member Dr. Jomar Rabajante said Aklan is still in the preventive stage, which means there is no COVID-19 outbreak in the province.

What worked in Aklan was its immediate response. It enforced border and port controls, and the closure of the international airport. It intensified its information campaigns across media platforms. It activated the municipal health officer-led Barangay Health Emergency Response Team for monitoring of identified or suspected cases. A mobile app was developed for COVID-19 hotlines, pharmacies, and food deliveries. Sanitation tents were set up in hospital entrances.

Aklan Governor Florencio Miraflores acknowledges that they have been “lucky” not to have local transmissions until now. But he also admitted the pressure to restart the tourism industry is great considering it is a major source of income where funds for the healthcare system also come from.

Enhanced community quarantine could be lifted soon in Aklan.

Still, prepare for the worst

Rabajante, however, reminded Aklan to still prepare for the worst scenario given the province’s lack of facilities to accommodate many cases should an outbreak occur. At present, Aklan only has a maximum capacity of 178 community quarantine beds, 31 hospital beds, 9 intensive care unit (ICU) beds, and 4 mechanical ventilators.

The province has not yet crafted a comprehensive plan for the reopening of the province that is why Miraflores is cautious. He knows “the chances of an outbreak is still there considering that Aklan is a tourist destination.” Thus, their next challenge is making sure there will be no widespread infection after COVID-19 related restrictions are removed.

ZFF Deputy Executive Director Dr. Anthony Faraon recommended taking this time for the provincial government to consult with all municipal mayors while they are still at the preventive stage. To further strengthen their preventive measures, Faraon suggested mobilizing a province-wide contact tracing team, focusing on the hotspot municipalities, strengthening community-based management, and finding continuous supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) sets for community health workers.

Communicate well the risks, test more, protect health workers

ZFF Trustee Dr. Manuel Dayrit said the LGU should strengthen its risk communication strategies so every Aklanon knows the risks of getting and spreading the virus. And instead of buying, Dayrit also encouraged the making of face masks by ordinary citizens.

He said the province should identify the places where exponential growth could occur and build testing facilities near tourist areas so faster detection and isolation of probable COVID-19 patients are possible. “Outbreak potential increases with delay,” Dayrit added.

On the use of Bayanihan funds, Dayrit suggested prioritizing the purchase of PPE for healthcare workers. He also urged Aklan to fill the gaps in its healthcare systems particularly on the number of facilities in order to remain on top of the situation.

Routine activities to keep COVID-19 at bay

According Dayrit, COVID-19 will stay as long as no vaccine is discovered. Hence, another crucial move for Aklan is to establish barangay-to-regional routine activities to effectively monitor probable infection in communities, and activities in hospitals and quarantine facilities. He recommended creating a provincial command group that will be in touch with all levels of the LGU and ensure non-COVID needs are also taken into account.

Department of Health-Center for Health Development in Western Visayas director Dr. Marlyn Convocar said the testing capacity in the region is limited especially since it also caters to Region IV-B; hence, the delay in results. She suggested tapping private groups to increase Aklan’s laboratory testing capacities.

She also recommended clustering of influenza cases while gradually lifting community quarantine. She added that stringent measures be in place to limit and check the arrival of tourists and repatriates, impose strict healthcare measures in the workplace and schools, and continue surveillance in the community even after the lifting of community quarantine.

Miraflores thanked Dayrit for essentially spelling out the steps they have to take, and Convocar for the added inputs to what and how they should proceed post-ECQ. The challenge is to strike a balance between livelihood and public health.

The executive session, held last April 25, is part of ZFF’s efforts to assist its partner provinces in responding to the threats of COVID-19.

Outside Metro Manila, Bataan is among the provinces with rising cases of COVID-19. Before the Luzon-wide lockdown, it recorded only one confirmed case. As of April 24, there were 77 cases. More worrisome is the 55 COVID-19 cases among health workers of the Bataan General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC), a Department of Health-run facility.

Being a partner-province of the Zuellig Family Foundation, a virtual executive session for the governor and his health team was facilitated by ZFF to help analyze Bataan’s situation and recommend ways forward.

A resource person during this coaching was UP Response Team member Dr. Jomar Rabajante, who said that based on the trend in the province, interventions have been effective in slowing down the virus.

Some of these interventions are intensified information campaign using different platforms, contact tracing, free transportation services for health workers, training by the BGHMC of health personnel and inter-agency task force on infection control and prevention measures, scheduled public market operations, and heightened surveillance.

But Rabajante cautioned the province from being complacent. It should, according to Rabajante, intensify its detection, tracing, and testing capacities especially in the identified hotspot areas or those localities with high number of positive COVID-19 cases such as Balanga, Orani Orion, Samal, and Limay.

He highlighted the importance of preparing for worst case scenarios. He said that, if the ECQ is lifted after April 30, the peak of infection in the province may happen sometime in the first week of May. In that case, the province would require facilities and equipment beyond the present capacity of Bataan hospitals.

Given this probability, Bataan Governor Albert Garcia plans to develop a real-time monitoring system to get ahead of the problem, while adding, “We need health experts to guide us. I’d like to ask for hand-holding partnership to be ahead of the problem before it gets bigger.”

Public-private partnership for COVID-19 containment

To contain COVID-19 cases in BGHMC, the province signed a formal agreement with the DOH Central Luzon office/BGHMC, and the private hospital Centro Medico de Santisimo Rosario for the private hospital to treat emergency medical services after the closure of BGHMC’s out-patient department. The provincial government shoulders indigent residents’ expenses as BGHMC becomes exclusive to COVID-19 cases.

Aside from Centro Medico, patients needing elective surgeries, direct consultations, and other health needs not related to COVID-19 can go to the district hospitals.

ICTs for COVID-19 Response

As a step to mitigate the further spread of COVID-19, the province also intends to maximize all available information and communication technologies (ICTs). “This COVID-19 crisis made us realize so many things, and most of it are hard lessons. It made us realize the inefficiencies of our health system, fragmented layers of government, and even disoriented communication,” Garcia admitted.

ZFF Trustee Dr. Manuel Dayrit said everybody has to be on the same page so the LGU must do granular strategies in conducting risk assessments, which means, according to Dayrit, risk assessment must be done at different levels: individual, household, barangay, municipal, and provincial. Doing so would enable the LGU to make more precise plans and manage resources based on the priority needs of each level.

In response, Garcia shared their plan of setting up a call hub that will serve as a health command center. This command center will then be the central repository of all data related to COVID-19 cases within the jurisdiction of Bataan. It will enable faster detection and isolation of probable cases and consequently, speed up actions from the local health leadership.

Not just health response but employment as well

In addition, Bataan is also looking into the efficiency of texting mechanism to gather data from households and even hospitals. According to Garcia, texting might be a great platform since there are 170,000-180,000 cellphone users in Bataan. It can be an opportunity to reach many people about preventive measures and as a means to monitor the well-being of household members.

The LGU is also eyeing to maximize the presence of social media by setting up chatbots since majority of the population own social media accounts and it offers faster reply mechanisms. It will also give the people more options to send out their concerns given the limitations of short messaging service (SMS) or text.

This system will also provide employment as it requires manpower who will be responsible for collecting data from the callers and processing gathered data into comprehensible information. Likewise, data collected will enable the local chief executives to see if initiatives are flattening the curve and to plan their next actions. The executive session was held last April 21 is part of ZFF’s efforts to assist its partner provinces in responding to the threats of COVID-19.