Roots of Health

Roots of Health (Ugat ng Kalusugan) is a nonprofit organization focused on improving the reproductive, maternal and sexual health of women, girls, and their communities in Puerto Princesa, Palawan in the Philippines. The organization aims to encourage self-reliance and independence among women, young people and families in Palawan by providing scientifically accurate information on health, along with age-appropriate educational services to change health attitudes and behaviors.^[1] Roots of Health also seeks to reduce the incidence of maternal mortality and promote the importance of preventing teenage pregnancy to help ensure continued education.

History

Roots of Health was founded in 2009 by Susan Evangelista and her daughter Amina Evangelista Swanepoel. Evangelista, a professor at Palawan State University, was initially concerned about the unplanned pregnancies and lack of reproductive health knowledge among her students. Recognizing this unmet need, the two women worked together to establish an organization focusing on reproductive and women’s health, with the larger goal of improving health and quality of life in this impoverished province of the Philippines.

Work

Women-Oriented Programs^[2]

Roots of Health employs a rigorous needs assessment process that involves interviews and surveys in order to select underserved communities in Puerto Princesa that would most benefit from their work. Once the communities are selected, they offer a comprehensive package of programs and services to any and all women and young people in the community who wish to partake, including the following:

Maternal health sessions
Financial literacy program
General reproductive health services (i.e., free contraception)
Healthy pregnancy program (i.e., free pregnancy testing, provision of prenatal vitamins, medical check-ups)
Community health advocate training program

Generally, ROH is active in a community for about two years, offering maternal health education and financial literacy curricula, as well as basic clinical services and classes for teens and children, before moving into a less involved “light touch” phase once the two years are completed. The organization currently has two active communities (Aplaya and Magsasaka) and four “light touch” communities (Pulang Lupa, Little Tondo, Unang Lahi and Busngol).

Youth-Oriented Programs^[3]

Community teen programs (i.e., focusing on self-esteem and building healthy relationships, standing up to peer pressure, and recognizing whether one is ready to begin a relationship)
Reproductive health classes for high school/college students
College/high school student health advocate training program
Usap Tayo (Let’s Talk) sessions

Children-Oriented Programs^[4]

Community educational support program (i.e., recreational activities for children whose mothers are participating in the maternal health/financial literacy classes)

Media recognition

Roots of Health was recently recognized by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s Family Health Division as a headline non-profit for funding on Catapult.org.^[5] Their staff and programming have been consistently featured in notable global and national news outlets, including The Guardian.^[6]

Swanepoel, the Executive Director, has also been featured in several publications including Celebrity Living, Women’s Health and Cosmopolitan Magazine. She was named a finalist for the Millennium Development Goal of Improving Maternal Health. and previously nominated for an MDG Warrior award by Probe Media Foundation in the Philippines.^[7]

Board members

Dr. Marty Dewees
Johanna B. Fine
Justine Fonte
Jennifer Gachiri
Sabrina Hermosilla
Suneeta Kaimal
Christine Moran
Keefe Murren
Melissa Nibungco
Mae Podesta
Stefanie K. Schmidt
Blanka K. Wolfe

Advisory committee

Carlos Celdran
Pamela Cajilig
Mae Legazpi
Dr. Junice Melgar
Nancy Mikkelson
Sara Reysio-Cruz