Institute of Primary Health Care

The Institute of Primary Health Care (IPHC) is the community extension arm of the Davao Medical School Foundation (DMSF). It is a non-government organization that conducts community development. Their mission is to develop a culture of trust, honesty, and cooperation.

The aim is to build a community of competent, committed, and caring individuals, fostering graduates who are compassionate, ethical, and responsible members of the society. IPHC also aims to provide humanistic and holistic services through excellence in instruction, research, patient, and community health care. IPHC has a distinct mandate: to go into communities and carry out community development programs.

It has operated in the sector of community development since 1978. IPHC has made its presence felt in over 400 rural and urban barangays in Regions XI, XII, and Caraga over the past four decades. It has created more than 150 people’s organizations (POs) with varied levels of competency and activities, the majority of which are now active development partners in their communities.

While it started out as a small NGO focused only on primary healthcare 43 years ago, it has since expanded into a multi-issue NGO with programs and projects in a variety of areas, such as financing for health care, developing water systems, family planning, gender/development, reproductive health, agrarian reform, community-based forest management, early childhood education, educational sponsorship, organic farming, adult literacy, maternal, child and nutritional health, microlending, and leader development.

IPHC is divided into four departments. The first and largest is the Community Service Department, which houses the community extension program. The second is the Support Service Department, which focuses on generating revenue to sustain the organization’s initiatives. The third is the Project Development and Evaluation Department. This section is critical in obtaining funds by developing project proposals.

While IPHC receives support from the medical school for its community work, the organization has expanded its initiatives outside these boundaries. Initiatives such as transponsorship, UPNET (which provides internet connectivity), and microfinance programs are fueled by their own project proposals.

The IPHC has also embraced projects such as the Sexual Reproductive Health program, which is financed by Oxfam Philippines. In addition to its extensive range of programs, IPHC is involved in training and consulting projects such as the Municipal Leadership and Governance Program (MLGP). This initiative aims to strengthen mayors and municipal health officials in Regions 11, 12, and Caraga, bolstering effective leadership and governance.

Josephine B. Alindajao, better known by her nickname “Jobas”, exemplifies the unwavering dedication and passion for community development of her team at IPHC. She is currently the executive director of the IPHC. She has been a crucial member of the team for around 35 years and her journey started immediately after she received her college degree. She started her professional life as a community organizer and has now advanced to the position of Executive Director, where she has served for the past nine years.

 

Interview

Interviewee: Josephine B. Alindajao, MPD – Executive Director – IPHC

Q: What is your main role in the organization?

In a general sense, my role mandates me to oversee the entire operation of IPHC. This means I am responsible for ensuring that we generate the necessary resources to operate effectively. It’s a significant challenge because, as I mentioned earlier, we rely on an annual budget of around 21 million. This budget must be generated through various means, including providing salaries to our staff, funding community projects, and running our social enterprises, such as canteens and dietary services. This financial stability is vital for sustaining our operations.

If you hold the position of executive director, your role encompasses all the functions performed by our staff within the community. In terms of salary ranking within IPHC, the lowest position, except for clerical roles, is that of a community organizer, which is at grade level 7.

Since we are just one unit within the larger context of the medical school, which consists of different units including community extension, the medical school itself, dentistry, biology, and others, it is also my responsibility as the executive director to mainstream our experiences within the entire medical school. We want our students to learn from our community experiences because the ultimate goal of the medical school is to produce graduates who are committed to public service.

Lastly, part of my role involves maintaining good relationships among the three units of the medical school. This is crucial because there are various heads within the school, including deans and heads of units, and it’s essential for us to work cohesively as one institution.

In addition to these overarching responsibilities, there are times when I need to assume the role of a community organizer. This is because I cannot always be present in one location, so I need to manage my schedule and sometimes step in to address questions or issues in the community, particularly if a project manager is unavailable when funders or stakeholders visit.

Q: What are some of your duties in the organization on a daily/weekly/monthly basis?

On a daily basis, some of my duties involve reviewing the progress of our projects and signing checks or documents related to the disbursement of funds. This includes approving cash advances for staff to support project implementation or cover per diem and transportation expenses. Additionally, I am responsible for signing various documents such as project proposals, requests, and letters. We also have regular meetings as part of our daily routine.

While we don’t have weekly meetings, we do have monthly management committee meetings. The management committee includes department heads from the four departments I mentioned earlier, along with representatives from the rank and file and the project manager. Every other month, we hold a general staff meeting where all staff members attend.

In addition to our internal meetings and discussions, I also attend meetings with the president, executive committee, or meetings with our partners. Furthermore, we have meetings with partners from the Department of Health (DOH) where we discuss activities and collaborations that require thorough discussion and planning. These interactions are essential to our ongoing work and partnerships.

Q: What are some common challenges you encounter?

One common challenge we encounter at IPHC is related to community dynamics. We aim to organize and work closely with communities rather than simply providing relief goods. However, this can be challenging because we often work with multiple communities, each with its unique personalities and dynamics. These communities may have different cultural backgrounds and ways of doing things. It’s essential for our staff to understand and build relationships with these communities, as they will eventually need to continue the programs on their own when IPHC’s involvement concludes.

Another challenge is establishing critical collaborations with our partners. For instance, when we partner with the Department of Health (DOH), there may be scheduling conflicts or issues related to their availability. Our partners have their own mandates and working hours, which may not always align with our program schedules. This can require careful coordination and flexibility.

Maintaining the continuous improvement of staff competencies is also a challenge. It’s crucial to ensure that our staff are well-trained and capable of fulfilling their responsibilities effectively. This requires ongoing training and professional development to keep pace with changing needs and best practices.

Perhaps the most significant challenge, especially for a non-governmental organization like ours, is resource generation. Sustaining our operations requires resources, including funding. With a staff of 50, resource management becomes critical, and securing adequate funding can be a constant challenge.

Q: What initiatives have you taken that led to positive changes in your local community?

The IPHC plays a critical role in our local communities as facilitators and catalysts for development. We do not view ourselves as project implementers but rather as guides who assist and empower the community to manage their own development programs. We believe in partnering with the community and understanding their limitations and needs, as well as our own.

Our initiatives involve having project staff who reside in the community for 15 to 20 days each month, depending on the project’s mandate. For example, in our sponsorship project in San Isidro, where we support 500 sponsored children, our staff engage with them, provide tutoring, ensure they receive school supplies and other necessities on time, and more.

We also have initiatives in microfinance, where we provide loans to community members, and our staff also collect repayments. However, our primary approach is community organizing. We employ community development workers or organizers in our communities, ensuring that our programs are part of an ongoing community development process rather than one-shot deals. While we do have programs for disaster response, most of our initiatives are designed to promote sustained development within the communities we serve.

Q: In what ways do you think that the organization can play a larger role in the local community in the future?

The IPHC, as the community extension arm of our medical school, has a significant role in preparing medical students for their future roles as healthcare providers. By exposing them to public health challenges and immersing them in community healthcare settings, we aim to instill in them a deep appreciation for public health and a commitment to serving underserved communities.

In the future, we hope that our efforts in training and exposing medical students to real-world healthcare challenges will result in a higher percentage of graduates choosing careers in public health, such as municipal health officers or rural health workers. By doing so, we aim to address the shortage of healthcare professionals in Mindanao and ensure that quality healthcare is accessible to all communities.

Our critical role is to empower communities to take an active role in their own healthcare and to create a demand for health services, especially in areas where we are present. We believe that this approach will contribute to the long-term improvement of healthcare access and outcomes in our local communities.

Reflections

Community development organizations like the Institute of Primary Health Care (IPHC) and Yayasan Pondok Kasih play a crucial role in addressing the healthcare and social needs of people in their respective regions. IPHC operates in specific regions of the Philippines, including Regions XI, XII, and Caraga, serving both rural and urban communities. On the other hand, YPK is based in Indonesia but provides assistance and support to various parts of the country.

Despite their different locations, these organizations share several common characteristics in their approach to community development and their emphasis on healthcare and engagement strategies. Both IPHC and YPK are non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that work independently of the government to fill gaps in healthcare and social services. They adopt a multi-sectoral approach, addressing a wide range of issues beyond their primary focus areas. IPHC, for example, has expanded its work into gender and development, leadership and governance, and more. Similarly, YPK not only provides healthcare services but also education and other forms of assistance.

In terms of focus and approach, IPHC primarily concentrates on community organizing and development. Their main goal is to empower local communities to take charge of their own development through the formation of community organizations and the implementation of various initiatives. YPK, on the other hand, places a stronger emphasis on providing direct healthcare services and immediate assistance to those in need, operating health clinics, offering nutrition guidance, and addressing immediate health concerns.

Both organizations share a common commitment to improving their communities. IPHC, as the community extension arm of the Davao Medical School Foundation, undertakes initiatives tailored to local needs and empowers communities. YPK strives to provide assistance and support to Indonesia’s impoverished and marginalized populations.

Ms. Josephine Alindajao, the Executive Director of IPHC, and Dr. Jimmy Wongui, the Director of Health at Yayasan Pondok Kasih, are both leaders in their respective organizations. Ms. Josephine oversees various aspects of IPHC’s operations, including resource generation, operational monitoring, relationship maintenance, mainstreaming community experiences into the medical school, and occasional community organizing. Dr. Jimmy primarily focuses on healthcare issues, managing a health clinic and an orphanage, providing health education, and working to enhance community living conditions. Despite their differing responsibilities, both Ms. Alindajao and Dr. Wongui are actively engaged in community development efforts.

IPHC and YPK exemplify community development organizations dedicated to addressing healthcare and social well-being challenges in their regions. While they may operate in different locations, these organizations share a common mission of helping individuals in need and empowering communities to improve their quality of life.

References

Davao Medical School Foundation. (2023).IPHC – The Official Davao Medical School Foundation, inc. Retrieved from https://www.dmsf.edu.ph/iphc/.

Researchers

Hello! I am Deo Prince V. Piapes, and I live in Buhangin, Davao City. I’m the eldest sibling in the family. I’m pursuing my education right now at San Pedro College Inc. I am currently working towards my Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science, and I am currently in my fourth year of my studies. I enjoy watching movies and documentaries, reading history books, and playing video games. My ambition is to become a doctor, serving the needs and improving the health of people with dedication and care.

Hello! I am Dj P. Landero, and I live in Surallah, South Cotabato, but currently residing at Matina Aplaya, Davao City. I have a big family back home. I am currently studying at San Pedro College, taking the Bachelor of Science program in Medical Laboratory Science, and this is my final year of study. I don’t really like to go out that much, rather stay home watch movies, anime, play games and occasionally I do calisthenic workouts and lifting. My goal is to become a successful laboratory scientist and help my mother, siblings, and the Ministry of God.