21/07/2026
๐ฃ๐ฎ๐น๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐ป ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ด-๐๐๐บ๐ผ ๐๐น๐ถ๐บ๐๐ฎ๐ป ๐จ๐๐ฎ๐
(๐ง๐๐ฟ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ ๐๐ผ ๐ฆ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐ด๐๐ต)
โKung para ito sa kalusugan ng mga bata at mga kababaihan, susuportahan namin ito.โ,
Midwife Vida Wilma Diamante, capturing the spirit of cooperation during a gathering in Sitio Landing, Barangay Pinagturilan, Occidental Mindoro.
The mountains surrounding Sitio Landing are vast, green, and familiar to the Indigenous Peoples (IP) who have lived there for generations. Winding footpaths lead to small farms and the forest has always been a place of refuge and livelihood.
But when health workers arrive carrying vaccine boxes and other commodities, the mountains become a place to hide, due to misconceptions stemming from traditional beliefs.
Recognizing this challenge, the local government and health workers knew that protecting the health of mothers and children would require not only medical services, but also the strong support of community leaders.
Before, Health Care Workers (HCWs) like Midwife Vida faced immense difficulties reaching IPs in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA). Many communities are in remote areas where transportation is limited and health facilities are far. For some families, visiting a health center requires hours of travel, often through rough, mountainous paths.
Promoting Antenatal Care (ANC) also became a challenge. Some parents feared vaccines and supplements might cause illness, while others preferred herbal remedies and traditional healers. In some cases, lack of clear information led to hesitation and non-compliance in completing ANC visits.
To strengthen maternal services, the Municipal Health Office organized a โCommunity Dialogue with IP Leaders and Community Members.โ Health workers explained the importance of antenatal care, while leaders raised concerns. Health workers addressed these concerns and clarified misunderstandings. The community dialogue also highlighted the pivotal role of local leaders in encouraging families to participate. As trusted voices, Barangay Local Government Unit (BLGU) officials and IP leaders have the ability to guide parents, share correct information, and support health services.
Through this initiative, the Municipal Health Office strengthened partnership and cooperation with community leaders, an important step in reaching families living in remote areas.
When community leaders support health programs, families feel more confident in participating; when families are informed, a healthier community is built.
This growing partnership made it easier for health workers to promote health and nutrition services. More importantly, the activity strengthened the shared responsibility of both the health sector and the community in safeguarding the health of mothers and children.
Improving health services in remote communities is not only about bringing nutrition and health services closer to the people; it is also about building trust and partnership.
By engaging IP leaders through dialogue and with active participation of pregnant mothers and the community, the Municipality of Santa Cruz is strengthening its efforts to ensure that everyone has access to life-saving health services.
Because when leaders and communities stand together to protect children and mothers, even the most distant village is never beyond the reach of care.
