Staying true to its humanitarian mission of helping the most vulnerable, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), in collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), has provided essential health services—including health caravans and vaccination drives—to marginalized and remote communities in Mindanao.
In a statement released on Monday, Jan. 6, the PRC announced that from August to November 2024, it conducted health caravans to provide basic health services, particularly to mothers, children, and the elderly in underserved areas of Mindanao with limited access to healthcare.
“Having a vast Red Cross volunteer network in the country allows us to reach communities that others might overlook, providing help where it’s needed most,” said PRC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Richard Gordon.
With support from the ICRC, the caravans also worked to address health emergencies in Mindanao, bolstering vaccination efforts in key communities.
PRC Secretary General Dr. Gwen Pang noted that, as partners in the Red Cross Movement, the ICRC has been steadfast in its support for providing health services to Filipinos.
“We thank them, as well as our tireless volunteers and staff on the ground, for making a healthier Philippines possible,” she added.
The PRC mobilized 17 chapters across Mindanao—Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Bukidnon, Cotabato, Davao del Sur, General Santos (Gensan), Gingoog, Iligan, Misamis Oriental - Cagayan de Oro, Negros Occidental, Northern Samar, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Tawi-Tawi, and Zamboanga—to carry out the health caravans.
A total of 62 health caravans were successfully conducted, benefiting 16,149 individuals across 89 communities. The PRC allocated approximately ₱2.5 million for the initiative, including support for the Health Services Program.
Meanwhile, the vaccination campaign immunized 25,258 children against various diseases in response to the measles outbreak declared in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). This effort was also part of the Bakuna Eskwela campaign in Mindanao.
In response to the outbreak, the PRC mobilized five chapters in BARMM—Cotabato, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi—to conduct a Measles Outbreak Response Immunization (MORI) campaign from April to May 2024.
The initiative deployed 37 vaccinators, including nurses and midwives, along with 102 support volunteers, reaching 211 communities across 34 municipalities and cities.
A total of 22,237 children were vaccinated, representing approximately two percent of the government's total achievement of vaccinating around 1.2 million children during the campaign.
The PRC also supported the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Education (DepEd) in their "Bakuna Eskwela" campaign, aimed at enhancing protection for school-aged children against vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) such as Measles, Rubella, Diphtheria, and the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).
Six PRC chapters—namely Iligan, Misamis Oriental, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, General Santos-Sarangani, and Sulu—were mobilized for the campaign. Through these combined efforts, 3,021 children were vaccinated across 32 schools in Mindanao.
Gordon emphasized that over the years, the PRC has provided health services to thousands of people.
“In 2025, we will continue to intensify our efforts to provide lifesaving healthcare to more people,” he said. “Rest assured, with the PRC embedded in communities, our kababayans are safe and well-cared for,” he added.