In Zumarraga town in Samar, an Inter-island Health Referral System - Strengthening through one facility, one health service boat project was adopted to address access barriers to women in need of facility-based deliveries. Dr. Katerina Nono-Abiertas, founder of the One Health Service boat, explains that the set-up enables patients to access health centers by having boats ferry them to maternity units.

Initially, they started with one boat that had to cater 25 barangays in Zumarraga. At present, four low-cost, fuel-efficient, and cost effective service boats were added to the fleet after donations came in from other doctors.

According to the Asian Development Bank, there are 114 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in the Philippines in 2017. Through facility and service improvements and promotion of facility-based deliveries, an increase in facility-based births results in fewer women dying at home and better postpartum care. But for geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA), reaching the said facilities prove to be a significant hurdle.

Dr. Nono-Abiertas shared that by training health personnel, engaging the mayor and barangay health workers, developing an ordinance, and creating a hotline to contact the center, they were able to develop a system that not only provided access to GIDAs, but they also managed to change the delivery of health services and enhanced the health workers’ motivation.

The innovation is in the financial model which was developed to create sustainability by upgrading and expanding maternal health facilities to become accredited by PhilHealth, which in turn, will enable the facility to receive reimbursements to fund the operation and maintenance of the sea ambulances. Through this set-up, facility-based deliveries rose from 20% to 90%, created employment for men as boat operators, and improved the health workers’ morale and motivation.

Dr. Nono-Abiertas emphasized in her presentation the need to care for health workers, saying “If we really want people-centered health systems, people should not come first, health workers should come first,” and that by ensuring the people working on the ground are cared for, effective patient care will follow.

Lastly, she added the importance of first-hand field experience and empathizing with the community, inviting other researchers and stakeholders to visit the field and find time to work with the communities.

The One Health Boat project is one of the top five models of social innovations in the country recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Social Innovation in Health Initiative (SIHI). Dr. Nono-Abiertas was invited to be part of the panel discussion on Research on Social Innovations in Health during PCHRD’s 36th anniversary celebration on March 16 at the Philippine International Convention Center.

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Written by Reuben Andrew R. Razal
Created: 10 April 2018 

PROGRAM UPDATE- Dr. Bernadette Ramirez, World Health Organization’s (WHO) Scientist, will deliver the keynote address for the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development’s (PCHRD) 36^th anniversary celebration on 16 March 2018 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).

Dr. Bernadette Ramirez joined the WHO-Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) in June 2007 with over 20 years academic and research experience in health product innovation, drug discovery, vaccines, and the development of diagnostics for infectious tropical diseases.

She provides support and coordinates projects that studies population health vulnerabilities, vector-borne diseases, and ways to increase population resilience against the climate change impact in Africa.

Joining Dr. Ramirez as guest speakers are Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Fortunato de la Peña, Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque, and UP Manila Professor Mary Ann Lansang.

The 36^th anniversary celebration will highlight social innovations in health. Part of the program is the recognition of good practices in social innovation in health including the winners of the 2017 Search for PHL Social Innovation in Health Initiative (SIHI) Solutions.

A panel discussion follows which will discuss opportunities and appropriate frameworks on social innovation in health research.  Panelists include University of the Philippines (UP) Manila Professor Noel Juban, UP School of Economics Professor Aleli Kraft, Ateneo De Manila University Institute of Philippine Culture Research Associate Dennis Batangan, and One Health Boat Project Founder Katerina Nono-Abiertas.

Awarding of newly accredited Research Ethics Committees (RECs) and winners of the “Visualize Health Research: Visual Abstract Contest” will also be conducted.

PCHRD is the national coordinating and monitoring body for health research. For more details, visit www.pchrd.dost.gov.ph. Don’t forget to like us on Facebook (/dostpchrd) and follow us on Twitter (@DOST_PCHRD)!

The World Health Organization (WHO) describes social innovations as “novel ways to implement comprehensive solutions by engaging and collaborating with actors across hierarchies and sectors.”

On its 36^th anniversary, the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) will highlight social innovations in health research. The celebration will take place on 16 March 2018 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).

According to Dr. Jaime Montoya, PCHRD Executive Director, the Council wants to discuss and emphasize relevant researches that empowers individuals and communities to achieve their optimum potential.

“In the current innovation ecosystem, there is a gap on what we think is the best way of ensuring that innovations will benefit our community. Social innovation is the key as it provides unique lens to tackle complex healthcare delivery challenges as well as combine best practices across range of disciplines,” Dr. Montoya explained.

Highlight of the program is the recognition of good social innovation practices in health including the winners of the 2017 Search for PHL Social Innovation in Health Initiative (SIHI) Solutions. The Call aims to honor innovations that demonstrate inclusivity, affordability, and effectiveness in health care in the country.

A panel discussion will also be held to discuss opportunities and appropriate frameworks for social innovation in health research. Invited panelists include University of the Philippines (UP) Manila Professor Noel Juban, UP School of Economics Professor Aleli Kraft, Ateneo De Manila University Institute of Philippine Culture Research Associate Dennis Batangan, and Surigao del Norte Municipality of Del Carmen Mayor Alfredo Coro.

Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Fortunato de la Peña, Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque, and UP Manila Professor Mary Ann Lansang are expected to grace the event.

PCHRD is the national coordinating and monitoring body for health research. For the updated program, visit www.pchrd.dost.gov.ph. Don’t forget to like us on Facebook (/dostpchrd) and follow us on Twitter (@DOST_PCHRD)!