Health and Safety
The Health and Safety programs focus on safeguarding communities from threatening illnesses and other adversities by promoting health and safety education and giving them access to proper healthcare, allowing them to build resilience.
Health and Safety
The Health and Safety programs focus on safeguarding communities from threatening illnesses and other adversities by promoting health and safety education and giving them access to proper healthcare, allowing them to build resilience.
2023 at a Glance
Transformation Stories
● Annabelle Jarquio — BiyaHero volunteer, La Union
● Juanito Rapadas — President of the Pangkat Ligtas-Buhay and member of the Palawan Motorcycle Organization (PMO), Palawan
● Department of Health — Davao Center for Health Development (DOH – Davao CHD)
● Family Planning Organization of the Philippines (FPOP) — Iloilo
● Deborah “Debbie” Arroz — Barangay health worker (BHW) and Malaria microscopist, Palawan
● Lorina Arquio — Midwife and Malaria microscopist, Palawan
BiyaHero (Be-a-Hero) Program
BiyaHero seeks to equip communities with knowledge of road safety to prevent accidents and prepare individuals in cases of emergencies. To effectively cascade initiatives, BiyaHero empowers community volunteers to become Road Safety Mentors who promote and practice road safety for pedestrians, commuters, and drivers.
In 2023, 171 volunteers participated in BiyaHero’s Road Safety and Security workshops across La Union, Batangas, Pasacao, Iloilo City, Puerto Princesa City, and Calapan City. The San Fernando City Office for Public Safety organized a Road Safety Awareness Session for students at San Agustin Elementary School. Additionally, PSFI provided 94 traffic signs and infrastructure to these communities.
Response to Communities Under Emergencies (RESCUE)
The Response to Communities Under Emergencies Program empowers local leaders to act as first responders during crises. The program enables communities to proactively address various scenarios by providing comprehensive training modules.
A significant number of volunteers actively participated in workshops throughout the year: 111 in Basic First Aid and Life Support, 155 in Basic Fire Safety, 43 in Water Search and Rescue, and 75 in Family Disaster Management. These trainings benefited 16 fenceline communities in La Union, Batangas, Pasacao, Iloilo City, and Calapan City.
Beyond recruiting volunteers, PSFI worked closely with local governments to organize and capacitate groups to lead local emergency response. RESCUE also helped 10 barangays establish an organized group of citizens equipped to handle various emergencies. Additionally, it assisted in registering 39 members of the Barangay Peace-keeping Action Team of Brgy. Mansaya as part of the Community Fire Auxiliary Group (CFAG) of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Lapus, Iloilo.
Global Fund (GF) HIV Philippine Response to Optimize Testing, Empowered Communities, Treatment, and Sustainability (PROTECTS)
HIV PROTECTS aims to achieve “Zero new infections, Zero discrimination, and Zero AIDS-related deaths” and reduce the estimated annual number of new HIV infections to less than 7,000 cases by 2027. It focuses on four populations most vulnerable to HIV and AIDS: men who have sex with men (MSM), transgender people, people who inject drugs (PWIDs), and young key populations (YKP).
PSFI primarily supports community-based organizations (CBOs), local government efforts, and other regional initiatives by procuring HIV commodities, conducting training and policy interventions, assisting in the development of technical documents, supporting human rights-related interventions, directly assigning staff to facilities across 11 regions,
and carrying out various operations The program made significant progress in 2023. PSFI distributed approximately 210,084 bottles of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), 110,034 self-testing kits, 500 condom dispensers, and other necessary equipment. Additionally, 15 units of Isuzu Light Trucks (multi-purpose vans) were distributed across all 11 regions to support HIV-related outreach. The Foundation also conducted capacity-building trainings and lent technical expertise to national government agencies.
The program made significant progress in 2023. PSFI distributed approximately 210,084 bottles of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), 110,034 self-testing kits, 500 condom dispensers, and other necessary equipment. Additionally, 15 units of Isuzu Light Trucks (multi-purpose vans) were distributed across all 11 regions to support HIV-related outreach. The Foundation also conducted capacity-building trainings and lent technical expertise to national government agencies.
Global Fund (GF) Movement Against Malaria (MAM)
The Movement Against Malaria supports the Department of Health (DOH) in eliminating malaria nationwide by 2030. The remaining target provinces are Palawan, Sultan Kudarat, and Occidental Mindoro. The program aims to reduce the malaria burden in these areas and other affected provinces by strengthening local health systems, personnel capacity, and surveillance structures to prevent the re-establishment of transmission in malaria-free areas.
In 2023, MAM aimed to reduce indigenous cases by 75% compared to 2018 (fewer than 1,200 cases), achieve zero local transmission in all provinces except
Palawan, and declare 75 provinces malaria-free. However, the program faced a challenging year, with cases increasing by 100% compared to previous years. Various external factors contributed to the outbreak, which PSFI strived to adapt to and overcome immediately. In response to the surge in malaria cases, PSFI has doubled its efforts in the core malaria activities of surveillance, treatment, and vector control. 2018 (fewer than 1,200 cases), achieve zero local transmission in all provinces except Palawan, and declare 75 provinces malaria-free. However, the program faced a challenging year, with cases increasing by 100% compared to previous years. Various external factors contributed to the outbreak, which PSFI strived to adapt to and overcome immediately. In response to the surge in malaria cases, PSFI has doubled its efforts in the core malaria activities of surveillance, treatment, and vector control.
Patient Assistance Program (PAP)
Filipinos battling complex diseases such as cancer can access free medication through the Patient Assistance Program. In collaboration with Takeda Pharmaceuticals (Takeda) and Axios International, PSFI introduced PAP to assist patients who struggle to afford their medicines. Since 2017, Takeda has donated PHP 2.7 billion worth of medicines. PSFI equips physicians with a mechanism to help patients complete their treatment and manages medication stock, approvals, and reporting. Of the 780 patients enrolled in PAP, 50%have completed their treatments.
