3rd Quarterly Narrative Report: Health Promotion and Communication Project Year 4

Its primary area of focus is the third intermediate result (IR3), "appropriate healthy behaviors and practices increased." HealthPRO is working closely with the Philippine Department of Health (DOH) and Local Government Units (LGUs) to improve health outcomes through behavioral changes primarily among patients or clients as well as their communities, including families, community members, care givers, health providers, program managers, local chief executives, policy makers, and the private sector. HealthPRO's communication activities are addressing the following health services: Maternal, Neonatal, Child Health and Nutrition (MNCHN), Family Planning (FP), Tuberculosis (TB), and HIV-AIDS. The expected outcomes of the HealthPRO Project are: positive behavioral results among individuals and caregivers, including adoption of behaviors that prevent disease and reduce risks of morbidity and mortality; increased capacity of national and local institutions in carrying out effective health promotion strategies and activities; and improved coordination and integration of governmental and non-governmental health promotion activities funded by USAID and other donors. HealthPRO is currently working in 30 provinces in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, including the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), and select cities for HIV/AIDS. The project is implemented in accordance with the Year 4 Annual Workplan, with accomplishments clustered under four components: communications planning, communications implementation, capacity building, and project management. Under communications planning, HealthPRO provided technical assistance to two new provinces, Samar (West) and Leyte (North), in developing their BCC Plans. All other provinces reviewed and/or updated their respective BCC plans. HealthPRO also provided technical assistance in ensuring HPC activities are integrated in the provincial 2012 Annual Operational Plans (AOPs). Leveraging of funds for health classes and health events amounted to more than two million pesos. Campaign designs and communication materials were developed and pretested during the quarter. These included the second batch of Garantisadong Pambata (GP) communication materials, second batch of communication materials for family planning (FP), the FP communication and promotional package specific for ARMM, initial prototype of the "congratulatory package" targeting Muslim newly-weds, Safe Motherhood (SM) communication package, tuberculosis (TB) communication plan and job aid for community health volunteers, and the HIV/AIDS communication package. Under communications implementation, provincial and municipal GP launches were conducted in four provinces, reaching more than 5,200 individuals. Municipal health events on FP were conducted in five provinces, while FP was integrated in SM events conducted in two provinces, reaching more than a thousand participants and more than one million people by mass media. Provincial and municipal health events for safe motherhood (SM) were conducted in nine provinces, reaching more than 1,600 participants. Seven cities conducted activities during the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial (IACM). HealthPRO also provided technical assistance in the design, launching, and implementation of SMS4MSM (SMS for MSM) Initiative to disseminate HIV/AIDS prevention information among MSM. The Lakbay Buhay Kalusugan (LBK) campaign completed its Luzon leg in Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, and Pangasinan, while the Visayas leg started with Negros Occidental, reaching over 5,000 individuals and leveraging more than PhP 800,000 from local LGUs. Under capacity building, interpersonal communication and counseling (IPC/C), community mobilization, and mass media activities were implemented, and technical updates were conducted. The final version of the IPC/C Training Manual for HSPs was provided to the DOH, while an IPC/C TOT was conducted for Samar and Leyte. IPC/C rollouts continued in different provinces, while the one-day IPC/C training was introduced through orientations and rolled out in the field. In Metro Cebu, the DOH-funded IPC/C for Peer Educators (on HIV/AIDS) was conducted. HealthPRO provided technical assistance to the Commission on Population (POPCOM) by enhancing the IPC/C skills of Population Workers through two batches of IPC/C TOTs. An FP Technical Update Meeting was conducted for South Cotabato, while HEPO meetings were conducted. Several provinces were oriented in the supportive supervision approach using two practical tools (client exit interview questionnaire and IPCC checklist) in the efforts to institutionalize improved interpersonal communication and counselling and assure its quality. Orientation in community mobilization for PHO staff and rollout to local counterparts were conducted. As a result, additional health classes and health events were conducted in Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, and ARMM, reaching more than 20,000 participants. Community groups were also mobilized to assist in the health classes and health events. HealthPRO provided technical assistance in the orientation of LMP provincial chapter members on Family Health. HealthPRO also linked with other organizations, including DSWD, community groups, nongovernment organizations, business sector