Alabat, Quezon Province — Barangay (community) health workers (BHWs) and health committees in three Quezon Province municipalities now have new resources to protect their communities’ health.

From November 5 to 7, 2026, CARE Philippines held the first turnover activity of the Integrated Health and Livelihood Program for Community Resilience Strengthening (I-HeLP), funded by the Tijori Foundation. The activity covered the municipalities of Perez, Quezon, and Alabat.

Equipping frontline health workers

BHWs are often the first point of care in their barangays. CARE Philippines turned over 106 BHW kits to equip them for their work in the community. Each kit includes basic tools for checking vital signs and height, infection prevention supplies, a first aid kit, and supplies for recording their work, all packed in a durable go bag for working in the field.

CARE Philippines also turned over 16 barangay health station (BHS) medical equipment kits. These kits support basic health services and Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Corners, which are spaces in health stations that focus on preventing and managing NCDs. Each kit includes weighing scales for adults and infants, blood pressure and blood sugar monitoring equipment, a nebulizer, and NCD education materials.

The project also turned over 16 health committee kits to help local health committees carry out their own initiatives.

With these resources, BHWs and health stations can deliver basic health services and NCD prevention close to home.

A learning app for community health workers

The project also introduced BHWs to the HEAL Hub Digital Application, a learning app built for their work. On the app, BHWs can build their knowledge and skills in:

• maternal, newborn, and child care
• pandemic preparedness
• family planning
• the roles and responsibilities of BHWs

With HEAL Hub, BHWs can keep learning and bring what they learn back to the families they serve.

“This is a wonderful project with CARE Philippines because our BHWs can use the additional supplies and equipment to deliver services to the community faster and at a higher quality,” said Dr. Joanna Fernandez, Municipal Health Officer (MHO) of Alabat. “The continuing training that CARE provides is also a good example of how to strengthen our town’s health system. Thank you very much to CARE, and long live our hardworking BHWs!”

Stronger local health systems, more resilient communities

When health workers have the right tools and skills, families get better care close to home and communities are better able to withstand shocks.

The first turnover reflects a shared commitment between CARE Philippines, the Tijori Foundation, and the communities of Perez, Quezon, and Alabat to bring essential health resources closer to the people who need them. It also strengthens the health workers and local structures that keep community health services going.