In the Philippines, extreme weather events continue to intensify due to climate change, leaving communities increasingly vulnerable to their impacts. Over the past year, heavy rainfall has battered residents of Mindanao, southern Philippines, causing extensive flooding, landslides, and power outages. By February, more than 350,000 people were displaced from their homes, thousands left homeless and more than 20 killed. In June, a monsoon brought heavy rains that displaced another 200,000 in many zones of the island, and more families were evacuated in September due to strong rains in Davao City. Severe climate events such as these can lead to the widespread loss of livelihoods, with crops and infrastructure destroyed, as well as an increase in the likelihood and spread of disease in displaced communities. Evacuation centers and government aid are often limited and cannot address the magnitude of devastation.
As a part of ongoing disaster relief and rehabilitation efforts made possible by our Climate Resilience Fund, Lunas Global Health Network partnered with the Women Studies and Resource Center (WSRC) to support a Moro (Muslim ethnic minority) community in Davao City that has experienced the ongoing impacts of climate disaster and poverty.
Programming supports health and highlights women’s issues in Davao City
Lunas mobilized over 20 volunteers, including WSRC members and community health workers, to deliver healthcare services, facilitate a discussion on women’s issues, and provide enrichment activities for 119 members of Barangay 19B in Davao City. The community is mostly composed of informal settlers* near the banks of the Davao River, an area prone to flooding during the rainy season. The majority of residents do not have a stable income and face significant barriers in accessing essential healthcare services, leading to widespread health problems like hypertension, tuberculosis, diarrhea, and untreated wounds.
As part of our programming, we delivered health services to 41 patients, evaluating various medical issues and providing medicines to last for at least a month. Seven patients were referred to specialist centers including UCCP Social Concerns, Brokenshire Hospital, Mindanao Cleft Center, and the Jubilee Foundation for various follow-up procedures including cataract surgeries, an appendectomy, obturator applications, thyroid work-up, and renewal of leg prosthetics. Many patients were able to take advantage of reduced or no cost programs to receive urgent treatments. Referrals such as these make an important difference in the health outcomes of people in impoverished areas as these often do not have access to specialists, who are critical in ensuring appropriate care for complex and chronic conditions.
*Informal settlers live in slum communities with cramped living spaces, insecure tenure and inadequate access to essential services such as water and sanitation (https://borgenproject.org/informal-settlements/).
Similar to a dialogue we hosted in a nearby Moro community about COVID-19 and mental health, our October programming featured a community discussion where the compounding impacts of gender and climate issues were brought to light. Women’s issues are prevalent in Davao City, with widespread early pregnancies, STIs, and inadequate access to reproductive health education. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, in 2023, Davao had the second highest percentage of teen pregnancy out of any region in the country.
Community members discussed how women’s lower social status and heavy responsibility for the health of family members often lead to women shouldering a heavier burden after climate disasters. Participants in the discussion mentioned that higher food prices and reduced sanitation services following intense periods of flooding threaten the livelihoods and health of women and children especially, leading to malnutrition and disease. Community members agreed that women’s involvement in local organizations involved in environmental issues are essential for creating more inclusive, equitable, and effective solutions to environmental challenges.
While these services were taking place, other enrichment activities were also offered including free haircuts, bead earrings and bracelet making, soap making, and children’s activities to promote hygiene, strengthen community bonds and provide recreation. Overall, the program received a large amount of positive feedback from the community.
Rising health impacts of climate change
Mindanao has faced extreme rainfall this year, a troubling example of the growing environmental damage affecting nations worldwide due to human-caused climate change. A report by World Weather Attribution published online in March found that the frequency of heavy rains in the eastern Mindanao region has risen in step with global warming, making it all the more likely that disastrous events such as this will happen again. Despite this, the Philippine government has not provided the resources to prepare communities for lost livelihoods and infrastructure, increased disease, malnutrition, injury, and death. These effects are worsened by the poverty that persists in climate risk zones such as flood-prone areas of Davao City.
To enable communities to be better prepared against the growing threat of severe weather events, Lunas Global Health Network works to empower residents to safeguard their health and advocate for more secure livelihoods and living conditions. Join our Healthy Planet, Healthy Futures campaign to help build resilience against climate change in communities across Southeast Asia! Donate to our Climate Resilience Fund here to support more relief and rehabilitation programming.
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