The Department of Health (DOH), through the Health Promotion Bureau (HPB) signed a Memorandum of Undertaking (MOU) with the Consuelo Zobel Alger Foundation to formalize its joint implementation of health promotion and violence and injury prevention initiatives.

During the virtual signing event on June 29 that tackled the current situation of gender-based violence and violence against women and children amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, DOH HPB Director Beverly Ho underscored that the DOH HPB remains commited to prevent and eliminate gender-based and other forms of violence and abuse in schools, workplaces, and communities as part of its health promotion mandate.

“Violence and injury prevention is among our priority areas for health promotion, and we are dedicating resources and efforts that are directed towards this, not only at the national level but more importantly, these should reach the barangays and our Filipino households,” said Dir. Ho.

Atty. Carmela Andal-Castro, Managing Director of Consuelo Foundation, highlighted the significance of a collaborative approach and the critical role of non-government institutions in this line of work.

“Non-government and civil society partners are essential in achieving the goal of eliminating all forms of violence and abuse, especially with regard to reaching communities and at-risk individuals on the ground, and empowering and capacitating community members,” added Atty. Andal-Castro.

The Consuelo Foundation works on prevention and treatment of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of children, women, and their families in the Philippines and in Hawaii. In line with its mission, the organization has been ably assisting the HPB in its development and implementation of the Health Promotion Playbook: “Juana Be Wais” for the priority area on violence and injury prevention.

The Health Promotion Playbook, consisting of policy briefs, template policies and ordinances, implementation and monitoring plans, and ready-to-use communication materials, is among the response of the DOH HPB to its mandate of assisting local governments to address the social determinants of health and create settings which promote individual and community well-being, as part of the Healthy Pilipinas vision.

The DOH HPB and Consuelo Foundation will continue to jointly work on initiatives that will strengthen community engagement, enhance capacity for stakeholders, and expand the reach of shared knowledge and communication materials with local health promotion implementers and non-health sector counterparts.