Health and Livelihood Recovery Begins in E. Samar

Recovery of health and livelihood programs formally begins in three Eastern Samar municipalities that suffered massive destruction in the aftermath of super typhoon Haiyan (local name: Yolanda).

Mayors Mark Biong of Giporlos, Nedito Campo of Quinapondan and Melchor Melgar of Salcedo recently signed their respective tripartite partnership agreements with the Zuellig Family Foundation and CARD Inc. to help their towns restore proper maternal and child healthcare (MCH) services.

Under the agreement, ZFF, with support from the US-Philippines Society, will provide funds to incentivize pregnant women to seek proper natal care and activate a pregnancy tracking system. ZFF will give computers for such system and will also finance the procurement of health kits for midwives, barangay health workers (BHW), mothers and newborns. Approximately 398 midwives and BHWs are expected to get kits. They will also receive P1,000 incentive within six months to start and maintain the tracking system.

The incentive program for mothers and health workers commences after the local governments conduct their respective Buntis (pregnant women’s) Congress. The town of Salcedo held their congress last December.
The MCH recovery program, which will run for six months beginning January, is estimated to benefit 700 mothers in the three municipalities.

CARD Inc., which has a wide membership base and satellite offices in the province, will manage and supervise the release of funds and incentives under the different programs identified, including the incentives for pregnant women and the enrolment of health workers and mothers in CARD-MRI Insurance Agency’s micro-insurance product. CARD, a micro-financing institution to help eradicate poverty, will collaborate with ZFF and the municipalities on the conduct of recovery efforts.

A restricted revolving fund will also be established to finance livelihood activities of mothers and communities.
ZFF is also planning to hold consultative meetings soon with mayors, municipal health officers and municipal planning and development officers of the three LGUs and other badly damaged Samar and Eastern Samar towns. The purpose is to have other funding and resource organizations discuss with the LGUs their specific recovery plans in health, livelihood and education.

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About the photo: Amid the massive destruction, a sign in Bagtong village in Salcedo, Eastern Samar serves as a reminder to residents. It says: “Tindog (Rise) Bagtonganon” and “All’s well,” written underneath.

ZFF has ongoing recovery programs in Eastern Visayas. To help in these efforts, please get in touch with Sealdi Gonzales, scgonzales@zuelligfoundation.org, or call her at (632) 8213329 local 117.

ZFF officers with the mayors of Eastern Samar municipalities