Building Resilient Communities: COVID-19 Stories of Grassroots Impact

Transcript

Throughout the challenges posed by COVID-19, stories of success reflected the power and enduring resilience of communities across Asia and the Pacific.  

The Mitigating the Impact of COVID-19 through Community-Led Interventions project, funded by the Republic of Korea e-Asia and Knowledge Partnership Fund, contracted two civil society organizations (CSOs) in Mongolia and the Philippines. 

Throughout the program, stories of empowerment of women and communities unfolded, showcasing the transformative power of innovative initiatives during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the Philippines, the Center for Informatics at the University of San Agustin implemented Atipan, a digital health program benefitting marginalized indigenous and rural low-income communities in the Western Visayas region.

The project trained 23 community health workers who were enabled through technology to connect the communities with healthcare professionals for free medical teleconsultations and providing basic medication and health kits for a total of 4,099 community members, in particular women and girls.

Junelyn Cervera
Trained Health Coordinator
Brgy Salngan, Passi, Iloilo

"Through the project, we were able to provide essential healthcare services to those who need it the most."

Dr Pia Zamora
Atipan Teleheath Coordinator and one of the pioneer doctors 
in the teleheath program

"With the Atipan project, we bridge the gap in providing them with healthcare access through Telehealth. If there’s such a case that they cannot see a doctor due to financial constraints, the Telehealth project gives us the opportunity to help them remotely."

Anamarie Beltran
18 years old IP mother
Brgy Dacal, Passi, Iloilo

"I live in a remote village, and thanks to Atipan, I could consult with a doctor without traveling for hours. It saved my child's life."

During strict lockdowns, a total of 2,000 vulnerable women and girls in Mongolia received personal hygiene packages to see them through the worst months of the lockdown when the cost of products skyrocketed, making it unaffordable for the most vulnerable members of society.

To further enhance COVID-19 prevention in the ger areas, Good Neighbors Mongolia also distributed portable hand sinks with water heaters to 1,750 households in Ulaanbaatar’s ger districts, addressing the limited access to water and sanitation in the area.  

Badamtsetseg Batbayr
Chinggeltei District, 
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

"The portable sink was a game-changer. My children love the warm water, especially during winters. It encouraged all of us to wash our hands regularly and maintain good hygiene."

Good Neighbors Mongolia developed and implemented the My Family program, an initiative designed to foster strong family relationships and raise awareness about domestic violence that worsened during lockdowns.

Almost 2,000 households participated in the My Family program.

Enkhzul Delgerbat
in a female-headed household in Songinokhairkhan district, 
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

"The My Family Development program was a lifeline for my family. We were facing difficult times, and this program helped us heal and grow closer as a family. It taught us how to communicate better and resolve conflicts."

The project also supported the operations of domestic violence shelter houses and one-stop centers with improved counseling programs, providing vital support to vulnerable women and girls.

The project's commitment to promoting healthy family dynamics made a significant difference in the lives of those it touched, emphasizing the power of community collaboration in fostering resilience during challenging times.

From innovative medical consultation solutions for remote and indigenous communities to supporting the most vulnerable women and girls, the power of community shone through to a brighter and more resilient future for Asia and the Pacific, led by the power of partnership between ADB and the Republic of Korea.