Even before COVID-19 hit, marginalized and remote communities had already been facing the difficulties of providing basic needs of their families including food and medical needs. Not only did COVID-19 claim countless lives; it also left the world in a difficult situation. The pandemic has led to economic and health crisis that we have been experiencing up until now.
Fortunately, there are charitable organizations and individuals willing to help those in need. Most of these organizations are non-profit organizations (NGOs).
With the drastic changes in the economy, it would mean that more people need help from NGOs across the globe. The charitable activities of NGOs differ in scope in terms of local, national, or international level. Nevertheless, all of them play a crucial role in providing the needs and easing the life of poor communities.
The Role of NGOs in the Philippines in Increasing Health Access
In developing countries in Asia like the Philippines, the World Bank reports that up to one-third of health care services are provided by non-profit (NPOs) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). NGOs are being utilized more and more by the government and inter-governmental institutions in an effort to ease the economic burden while seeking ways to improve access to and quality of health care.
The role of NGOs lies in their capacity to reach poor communities and remote areas. NGOs being small-scale and flexible actually help them provide services where government assistance is usually extremely limited and ineffective.
In addition, NGOs have the opportunity of promoting local participation through ‘community empowerment’. Being community-based, NGOs are able to know the actual needs of a specific community. Their personal involvement helps them to deliver services to where it is needed the most. This is important since local populations have a better understanding of their own needs.
Several NGOs in the Philippines for health advocacies often have their own clinics, hospitals, and health care centers. Others work in cooperation with the government on health services planning and training.
How NGOs Provide Medical Assistance to Local Communities
The main tasks of NGOs in the health system are providing services and raising health advocacy. These services include medical, social, and psychological services. Below are some of the medical programs provided by NGOs.
1. Provide food and nutrition.
With a year marked by unprecedented hunger felt globally, one of the prominent missions of NGOs is to fight hunger and malnutrition. NGOs conducting feeding programs are among the efforts done to address the problem of malnutrition, hunger, and food insecurity in most countries.
Also, these programs mostly aim to serve underprivileged individuals, especially children. Therefore, feeding programs are important to provide care and basic necessity to those who need them the most.
2. Deliver medical assistance and health education.
In this time where we are still facing the aftereffects of the pandemic, the marginalized communities face an even more difficult access to proper and affordable healthcare. Thus, NGOs have been reaching out to them to provide medicines, hygiene kits and health checkups.
Aside from medical assistance, NGOs also promote healthy lifestyle through holistic health education. This can be done when health professionals take part in educating people on what they can do to lead a healthier life. There are many groups that offer free seminars to rural areas. When people are well-informed about the importance of health education, they could have a healthier life.
3. Support women and young people through family programs.
Women and children are among the most vulnerable members of the community. In order to protect them, NGOs for health dedicate their efforts to delivering family health programs.
In the Philippines, a program led by the Department of Health (DOH) called the Safe Motherhood Program aims to ensure the welfare of mothers and meet their needs throughout their pregnancy. This program includes safe deliveries, check-ups, and care visits. It also supports children’s health through newborn screening and immunization to prevent illnesses.
In addition, reproductive health education is another critical family health program. It addresses issues on overpopulation and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Several NGOs advocate for the implementation of reproductive health policies and programs.
Childhope Philippines: An NGO that Provides Medical Assistance
Childhope is one of the prominent NGO in the Philippines for health that focuses on children’s needs. We at Childhope Philippines promote children’s welfare, especially those who don’t have a place they can call home. We see the need to safeguard their rights as individuals. Thus, we conduct different health programs that help improve their quality of life.
Childhope is an NGO in the Philippines for Mental Health
Health isn’t just focused on the physical, but it should also give focus to mental wellbeing.
Childhope is a non-government organization that provides psychological aid and counseling. This way, we help kids and their parents to cope up with stress and learning challenges. This program also focuses on neglected and abandoned children by donating to shelters. We help provide basic needs of children such as food and home.
Furthermore, we advocate for mental health education. We believe that open discussions and seminars about mental health foster acceptance, and help others understand people who are dealing with mental health issues. Plus, it creates a sense of belonging in a community. This awareness also urges people to seek professional help if needed.
Childhope Philippines’ Commitment Toward Children’s Health
We at Childhope are committed to delivering a better and healthier life to children. As an NGO in the Philippines for health, children’s wellbeing is our top priority. Through these programs, we help make their lives better and safer.
Health and Medical Services
We have programs dedicated to giving health services. KliniKalye (mobile health clinic) aims to help street children stay healthy by providing primary preventive medical care, consultations, and treatments. We visit indigent areas in Metro Manila every week to provide free medical services using mobile health clinics.
KliniKalye collects health information from patients and does one-on-one consultations. Health volunteers focus on illness prevention while also educating patients on proper hygiene and diet.
Kalyenderia Mobile Soup Kitchen
Childhope Philippines has also launched a project that aims to support not only on the education aspect but also on their overall health. Kalyenderia is our very own Mobile Soup Kitchen with the goal to share nutritious meals on wheels with the street children.
How to Help Street Children and Support Their Health
As an NGO in the Philippines for health, we strive to increase health awareness and extend help to poor communities. Throughout the years, our projects and initiatives have been successful due to our kindhearted donors and partners who have supported us to keep our programs and projects running—all to help advocate for children’s health.
Make an impact on the lives of children in need by volunteering or supporting our cause through donations. Let’s work together and open the door to equality by bringing health care close to indigent communities.