Philippines: Health care for the hardest-to-reach children

Summary

UNICEF-supported health teams in the Philippines are working to deliver essential health supplies and vaccinations to remote areas around Panay Island, which were severely impacted by Typhoon Haiyan. Focusing on hard-to-reach communities, they prioritize the most vulnerable, including children under 5 and pregnant or lactating mothers. The initiative aims to restore routine immunizations and improve health care access for those displaced by the disaster, with local midwives like Maria Roselyn Batan playing a crucial role in providing care despite personal losses.

Takeaways

• 🏥 UNICEF is supporting health teams in the Philippines to deliver health supplies and register children for vaccinations in remote areas.
• 🌪️ Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) caused significant damage to health centers and disrupted routine immunization services.
• 📍 The first strategic decision by UNICEF post-Yolanda was to prioritize assistance to hard-to-reach areas, which are often neglected in humanitarian aid.
• 👶 Health teams are focusing on registering children under 5 and pregnant or lactating mothers for essential health care.
• 💉 When incomplete immunizations are identified, the teams arrange for vaccinations at local health clinics.
• 🤰 Midwife Maria Roselyn Batan, a long-time local health care provider, is part of the health team, despite being displaced by the typhoon herself.
• 🏠 Batan and her husband repaired a health station in Bantigue, allowing her to continue providing care to her community.
• 🛤️ The health teams are traversing difficult terrain to reach as many mothers and children as possible, ensuring health care access.
• 📢 This initiative is part of a pilot program aimed at improving health care access for vulnerable populations.
• 🔗 For more information on UNICEF's work, visit unicef.org.

Q & A

Where is the UNICEF-supported health team operating?

The health team is operating around Panay Island in the Philippines.

What is the team's primary mission during their navigation of the waters?

The team's primary mission is to deliver health supplies and register children in remote areas for vaccinations.

What was the impact of Typhoon Haiyan, also known as Yolanda, on health centers in the area?

Typhoon Haiyan damaged or destroyed countless health centers, disrupting services such as routine immunizations.

Why did UNICEF prioritize hard-to-reach areas in their response to Yolanda?

UNICEF prioritized hard-to-reach areas because they are often neglected when it comes to humanitarian aid, and UNICEF aims to ensure these areas receive necessary support.

What is the goal of the pilot program that the UNICEF work is a part of?

The goal is to improve access to essential health care for mothers and children, with a focus on the most vulnerable and those living in hard-to-reach areas.

How does the health team identify children and mothers in need of health care services?

Health teams go door-to-door to register children under 5, and pregnant and lactating mothers.

What action does the team take when they find someone who is not fully immunized?

When someone is not fully immunized, the team arranges for the necessary vaccinations at a local health clinic.

Who is Maria Roselyn Batan and what is her role in the health team?

Maria Roselyn Batan is a midwife on the health team, providing health care in the area for over 20 years, and she is also among the people displaced by the typhoon.

What was the condition of Batan's home after the typhoon, and how did she continue her work?

Batan's home was washed away by the typhoon. After her husband made basic repairs to the health station in Bantigue, they moved into a back room so she could continue providing health care.

What challenges does Batan and her team face as they work to reach mothers and children?

Batan and her team face difficult terrain and cover extensive ground in their efforts to reach as many mothers and children as possible, regardless of their location.

Who is the reporter providing this information, and where can more information be found?

The reporter is Thomas Nybo, and more information can be found by visiting unicef.org.