LERC’s Humble beginnings Towards Implementation and actual practice of Universal Health Coverage

by: Marlon B. Fulo

Universal Health Coverage has been accepted as common development norm for all countries to promote equity among citizens. Access to health care actually is being considered as human right that has developed over the century. This became a standpoint among nations in ensuring that all citizens must have “access to key promotion, preventive, curative and rehabilitative health interventions for all at an affordable cost, thereby achieving equity in access” (World Health Assembly Resolution 58.33). With the said principle, health care should be delivered to ALL, regardless of their social stature and economic abilities.  

Guided by the above principles, Muslim Aid Philippines (MAPhil) was inspired with the initiatives of its local partners stationed at the Livelihood, Education and Rehabilitation building (LERC) in Caloocan City which, in many ways adopted the key framework of UHC and implement such health programs to local community members.

LERC’s Humble Path to Local Health Interventions

In 2006, a group of barangay health workers, local leaders, and parents of children with disabilities under organization of the Livelihood, Education and Rehabilitation Center (LERC) conducted a medical mission for the poor residents of barangay 185 in coordination with local NGOs, UERMM, the local government unit of Caloocan and Barangay 185 council. The said activity has provided free medicine and health consultations to more than 1,500 residents of Brgy. 185 of Caloocan City and that of proximate barangays. 

From then on, this initiative became an annual activity of said key players in the said barangay, catering not only residents of barangay 185, but even reaching other barangays in North Caloocan like Camarin and Amparo, and eventually reaching residents of the City of San Jose Del Monte.

Realizing the extent of health needs in their area of operations, the occupants of LERC eventually decided to establish a separate center that they envision to be a center that will take charge in “awareness raising for healthy lifestyle, prevention of disease, acquisition of cheaper medicine; especially for the indigent residents, provision of early intervention for children diagnosed with disability, establish a referral system with health agencies and private institutions, and capacity building of the local health workers and even the parents of children with disabilities.