Groups expand health initiative in ‘underserved’ Eastern Samar towns

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TACLOBAN CITY, LEYTE, Philippines — The provincial government of Eastern Samar, the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), and World Vision Philippines have launched the second phase of a maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) project that will run until 2030, expanding efforts to improve healthcare services in some of the province’s most underserved municipalities.

The partnership paves the way for a new five-year program that will focus on Jipapad, Maslog and Giporlos towns, where access to quality maternal and child healthcare remains limited due to geographic isolation and inadequate health resources.

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The project aims to reduce maternal and infant deaths by improving prenatal, childbirth, postnatal, and child healthcare services. It will also strengthen referral systems, upgrade the skills of healthcare workers, improve health facilities, and increase community awareness to ensure mothers and children receive timely medical care.

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World Vision-KOICA MNCH Project Manager Romil Jeffrey Juson said the new partnership agreement forged last July 10 represents more than the continuation of a development program.

He said Phase 2 will focus on making the gains of the first phase sustainable by strengthening the province’s healthcare referral network.

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“By strengthening this network, we bridge gaps, streamline services, and build a localized healthcare ecosystem that can withstand future challenges independently,” Juson said.

He added that the project also supports the government’s Universal Health Care program by ensuring safe childbirth services and quality healthcare for children.

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Project Director Jihwan Jeon thanked the provincial and municipal governments for supporting the initiative and said the positive results of the first phase encouraged KOICA to continue its partnership in Eastern Samar.

“So, now we are officially advancing into Phase 2 of the project. We will proudly partner with the provincial government of Eastern Samar and work alongside the municipal governments of Giporlos, Jipapad, and Maslog,” Jeon said.

Vice Governor Maria Caridad Sison-Goteesan expressed gratitude to KOICA and World Vision for continuing to invest in the province’s healthcare sector.

“We have long been ranked among the country’s poorest provinces, but with the continued support of KOICA and World Vision, we are confident that we can reach those who have remained underserved and provide them with the healthcare they deserve,” she said.

The first phase of the project began in 2021 and focused on improving healthcare facilities, strengthening referral systems, and training health workers in the municipalities of Taft, Dolores, Quinapondan, and General MacArthur.

Officials said the second phase seeks to institutionalize those gains and build a more resilient healthcare system for mothers and children.

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Similar KOICA-World Vision maternal and child health programs have also been implemented in Samar, Northern Samar, Southern Leyte, and the cities of Tacloban and Ormoc. /cb