MAKAPAWA Community-Based Health Program

MAKAPAWA

The MAKAPAWA Community-Based Health Program was established by the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP) in the Diocese of Palo in 1975. MAKAPAWA was absorbed by Divine Word Hospital in September 2013.

PrograMA han KAtilingban para han MauPAy nga PanlaWAs (MAKAPAWA), which is also an acronym of the Waray-Waray word "makapawa," means to enlighten. This community-based health program stands for active and fruitful service.

The institutional outreach program of Divine Word Hospital conducts empowering activities, including awareness-raising, skills development, and values education across various areas and parishes in Leyte, Samar, Biliran, Limasawa Island, Pambujan in Northern Samar, and St. Scholastica's Hospital.

In collaboration with parish priests and barangay captains, MAKAPAWA provides training for Community Health Workers (CHWs) to deliver alternative healthcare and services to constituents in hard-to-reach areas.

Vision-Mission Statement

Vision

Building God's Kingdom: the reign of truth, justice, and love through the transformation and total well-being of the person in the community, renewal of earth and social system, and resistance to the globalization of capital.

Mission

Building ecclesial communities, supporting progressive people's movements and initiatives for justice, and reformulating structures of care and grace that are more relevant and affordable. We underscore service to peasant communities, the ecological and feminist movements, and the evangelization of families.

In the light of Benedictine charism, this specifically means:

• Reverence for people
• Calling the members for consultation
• Thinking together as a community and with the people who came to us and to whom we go
• Personal and communal witnessing: we must stand as Benedictines who pray and work together
• Reverence, respect, and refinement in how we carry ourselves and relate with others
• A stand concerning issues that is the fruit of prayer and discernment as a community
• Simplicity of life

Programs and Services

1. Quarterly Dental Mission

A dental mission is conducted once every quarter at the DWH OPD grounds. Beneficiaries of free dental services are from partnered communities.

2. Basic Health Skills Training (BHST)

Basic Health Skills Training (BHST) is requested by the barangay council and parish priest of areas needing assistance in alternative healthcare.

MKPW staff screen participants from the barangay or parish who are interested in the program and determined to finish the 18 sessions required to qualify as Community Health Workers (CHWs). Graduates are given certificates of completion during the graduation exercise. There should be no collection of fees from the requesting party. The training is a free service provided by MKPW-DWH.

3. Community Health Workers (CHW)

Groups of CHWs are found in 13 areas in seven municipalities. Every CHW holds health services or simple clinics and conducts herbal-making training or workshops in their area with the supervision of MKPW staff. They also have income-generating project activities and make their products available for sale during the Saturday TABO at the DWH OPD grounds and/or in their own area.

4. Faith Formation / Enrichments and Values Formation Program

Includes:

• Bible study, Bible reflections, and sharing for children, youth, and adults
• Filipino core values
• Five negative and positive Filipino traits
• Basic family values
• Stewardship
• Women of the Bible
• Other ongoing formations
• Voters education

5. Catechism Classes

For children ages 7-12 years old and for youth groups. Sessions are held once or twice a week on weekends.

6. Nutrition and Feeding Program

Feeding is done in different areas through donations from friends of MKPW. Food packs are prepared in various ways to make them palatable for the children. Parents in the area volunteer for food preparation.

7. Community Rotation

Post-Graduate Interns have two months of public health activities in different MAKAPAWA partner communities. Their community activities include:

• Community diagnosis
• Survey profiling and data collection
• Community consultation and health education
• Home visitation
• Feeding activity, blood donation drive, dental mission, and others

Pediatric residents, as part of the Residency Training Program of Divine Word Hospital, are required to have community involvement at Brgy. Palanog, Tacloban City and Brgy. 83 Paraiso, Tacloban City, the adopted communities of the MKPW program of DWH.

Internal Medicine residents are also required to have community involvement at Brgy. 83 Paraiso, Tacloban City, one of the adopted communities of MAKAPAWA.

8. Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC)

In each area where there are CHWs, JPIC was created. This is about educating and conducting training for members of Laudato Si' to further enlighten and strengthen their commitment to the promotion of justice and the integrity of creation.

9. Philberth Scholarship

The orientation of the Philberth Scholarship is given to new applicants together with at least one guardian. Each scholar is required to attend values formation sessions and other activities leading to the main objective of the scholarship: responsible leadership in the society where he or she lives. Scholars are also responsible for following all requirements every semester and rendering service to the community or hospital.