Coalition pushes community-based approach to health
ADDRESSING THE PANDEMIC听and future health crises requires 鈥渁听spirit of shared responsibility,鈥 according to听,听a coalition that provides underprivileged and underserved communities with access to better health.听听
鈥淭he real frontline is not in big hospitals but in communities,鈥 said Dr. Tina I. Alberto, founder of听community organization听Hope in Me Club,听one of several coalition members at听a听roundtable discussion听supporting Universal Health Care Act.听听
Joining Hope in Me Club were The Department of Health鈥檚 Health Promotion Bureau, social entrepreneurship community听makesense听Philippines, pharmaceutical firm Sanofi Pasteur, and digital health company Alaga Health.听
鈥淥ne of the values of our coalition is that we put community leaders and medical experts at the same level,鈥 said Carlos Hechanova, executive director for development of听makesense听Philippines.听For systems to change,听he added, there is a need to听be more听inclusive.听鈥淲e have to go beyond collaborations that only involve specialists or one or two types of sectors,鈥澨齢e said.听
AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION…听
No matter how sophisticated the health system, there will always be a point where it will be overwhelmed, according to Dr. Jean-Antoine听Zinsou, general manager of Sanofi Pasteur.听听
鈥淭he most sophisticated health systems will not suffice if the populace don鈥檛 adopt proper preventive behaviors,鈥 he said. 鈥淚f you want good health, you must take personal responsibility for it.鈥澨听
Added Dr.听Zinsou:听鈥淲e got several lessons from the pandemic, and the value of prevention is one of them.听One of the best preventive tools is vaccination.鈥听
When it comes to vaccines, community health organizations听can build trust and bridge gaps in education and mobilization, said Hope In Me鈥檚 Dr. Alberto.听
鈥淚n marginalized communities, most families ask,听鈥榟ow will getting vaccinated help our lives?鈥欌澨齭he听said. 鈥淲e need to help them understand the economic burden that might incur if they don’t get vaccinated.鈥澨听
The coalition鈥檚 recently听concluded pilot program,听, was able to reach 50,000 new advocates through 11 different campaigns. The pilot focused on crucial health areas such as building听vaccine confidence听in communities. It also responded to the challenges heightened by the pandemic such as听mental wellness听and misinformation.听鈥斕P. B. Mirasol听
