Roots of Health

19/11/2025

This International Men’s Day, our Deputy Director Marcus Swanepoel reminds us that strength isn't just physical.
It's also about understanding ourselves.

When men and boys reflect, communicate, and make space for honest conversations, they help build healthier relationships, families, and communities. 👦🏽👨🏽‍👩🏽‍👧🏽‍👧🏽

Roots of Health’s Astig Pre campaign promotes healthy masculinity and engages young men and boys in meaningful discussions on s*xual and reproductive health, including how to understand themselves and relate better to others.

Watch our vodcast episode on men and their emotions here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1H5k7wyPqZ/

Supporting men's wellbeing and growth benefits everyone.
Let's keep creating safer, healthier spaces for all. 🙌

16/11/2025

For 16 years, Roots of Health (Ugat ng Kalusugan) has helped young people and families in Palawan make informed choices — breaking cycles of unplanned pregnancy and poverty, and building lives rooted in health and dignity.

This year, join us in our Pamana Campaign to pass on a legacy of knowledge, empowerment, and brighter futures.

Your gift helps make these possible:

$10 / P590 — An hour of talk therapy for young people in crisis

$50 / P2,950 — A contraceptive implant that protects a young woman from unplanned pregnancies for up to 3 years

$100 / P5,800 — A s*x-ed session for 100 young people, breaking myths about safe s*x, consent, healthy relationships, and avoiding pregnancy

$500 / P29,500 — An outreach mission to indigenous youth in an isolated community, bringing essential services closer to the most marginalized

$2,000 / P 117,800 — Keeps our youth clinic open for a month, enabling over 1,000 young people to access care without judgment

Pamana means more than inheritance. It’s the lessons, wisdom, and dreams we choose to pass on. 🌼

💛 Donate now and leave a legacy of hope: https://donorbox.org/pamana

10/11/2025

In many remote parts of Palawan, women have never had a pap smear. Services are usually too far and too costly, and survival comes first.

Recently, a group of mothers traveled 2.5 hours from their village to avail of Pap smear tests from our clinic. For the first time, this service was free and within reach.

Reproductive health is a right, but for many, it’s still a privilege. With your support, we can change that.

Help us bring life-saving services to more women who would otherwise go without.

Help us make it possible.

https://rootsofhealth.org/donate

05/11/2025

✨ Proud Moment for Roots of Health at ICFP 2025! ✨

Roots of Health has once again been selected to share our work on the global stage at the International Conference on Family Planning in Bogotá! We are honored to present both an oral presentation and a poster presentation today to celebrate the voices, stories, and resilience of communities in Palawan.

📣 If you’re at ICFP Bogotá, don’t miss these sessions happening in just a few hours:

Oral Presentation
Family Planning as a Catalyst for Sustainable Development in Rural Palawan
Marcus Swanepoel, Deputy Director
📍 Agora Room G
🕐 11:55 AM – 1:15 PM (Bogotá Time)
👉 Expect insights on how Roots of Health's three pronged approach to family planning (education, health services, and systems strengthening) drives progress beyond health — from women’s empowerment to climate resilience and sustainable development.

Poster Presentation
Decolonizing Reproductive Health: Advancing Equity and Justice in Rural Palawan
👤 Jan Servando, Education Programs Director
📍 Agora Main Lobby – First Floor
🕑 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM (Bogotá Time)
👉 Discover how community-led approaches, youth leadership, and culturally grounded care are reshaping reproductive health services in indigenous communities in Palawan.

With over 3,500 delegates in vibrant Bogotá, we are grateful for this opportunity to elevate voices from the margins and champion .

See you at our sessions — let’s connect, collaborate, and keep pushing for SRHR for all!

30/10/2025

Watch our newest TikTok featuring ROH midwife Yza as she takes us through a day in her life serving women and families in the community.💗

Follow us on TikTok for more inspiring stories and updates!

27/10/2025

Teachers are powerful prevention partners. 💪

Over the weekend, we ran a 3-day STI, HIV & AIDS training with the Puerto Princesa City Health Office, building teachers’ confidence to talk about s*xual health and connect students to confidential care through the city’s referral system.

Fear and misinformation keep people from getting tested or seeking care. By training teachers, we multiply voices that can reduce stigma inside classrooms. When young people feel safe to ask questions early, they are more likely to protect themselves and access services without shame.

Even more exciting: Roots of Health will open a new HIV Treatment Hub early next year — only the second in Palawan — expanding access to free, stigma-free care.

Empowered teachers and students + more referral pathways + accessible treatment = a smarter, stronger HIV response. We are thrilled to be building this future together. 🙌

27/10/2025

We are so happy Palawan teachers are now on board in HIV prevention and care! 🥰

City Health Office and Roots of Health train Puerto Princesa teachers to guide students in HIV prevention and s*xual health education. | STORY AVAILABLE IN THE COMMENTS ⬇️

20/10/2025

Early detection saves lives.

Our volunteer Community Health Advocates teach self-breast exams through a fun song and dance created by former ROH nurse Daisy — making life-saving knowledge easy to remember and easy to share.

We bring this information to the communities we serve. And yes, we shared this on TikTok too 🩷
https://www.tiktok.com/

The Tagalog song demonstrates the steps: look in the mirror (left/right, up/down), feel for lumps while standing and lying down, and check the ni**le. It reminds women in our communities to make self-breast exams a healthy habit. 🙌

17/10/2025

Clinic closed, dance floor open! 💃

Happy Friday from Nurse Piety and Midwife Tess, your friendly Roots of Health team reminding you that good health also means good vibes. 💙✨

16/10/2025

𝐖𝐞’𝐫𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐬

Are you passionate about advancing women’s and young people’s health? Roots of Health is looking for a Clinical Programs Director to lead our efforts in delivering high-quality, community-centered care and services across Palawan.

Reporting to the Executive Director, s/he will oversee clinic operations, manage projects and budgets, support staff development, and guide program evaluation and expansion. This role is key in strengthening our internal systems and ensuring our programs continue to make a lasting impact.

If you think this could be you, learn more and apply here 📩
https://rootsofhealth.org/job-opening-clinical-programs-director/

15/10/2025

Today, on International Day of Rural Women, we honor the strength of women who live farthest from the reach of healthcare, many of whom walk hours through rugged terrain just to access the services they need.

At Roots of Health, we reach these women where they are, providing reproductive health care and counseling that go beyond distribution of contraceptives. Our nurses and midwives take time to listen, explain, and build trust. Because when women understand how their bodies and contraceptives work, they gain the confidence and peace of mind to plan their futures—despite poverty, inequality, or the impacts of climate change.

Each year, our clinics and outreach missions help protect more than 17,000 women from unplanned pregnancies, empowering them to take charge of their health and their families’ futures.

Help us continue this work for the women who need it most. 💜 rootsofhealth.org/donate

15/10/2025

🌿 We’re Hiring: Finance Director!

Roots of Health is looking for a Finance Director to lead our financial strategy and and help shape the future or our organization.

If you’re a values-driven finance professional who wants to strengthen health and equity, join us.

As Finance Director, you’ll oversee financial planning, compliance, and risk management, and guide a dedicated team ensuring every peso supports our mission of promoting s*xual and reproductive health as a human right in the Philippines.

📍Full-time with two months probation, preferably based in Puerto Princesa City, but we welcome applicants who wish to work remotely.
💼 Leadership role with competitive pay and benefits

📄 Apply now and help drive impact through sound financial stewardship. Click here for full job description and application guidelines: https://rootsofhealth.org/job-opening-financedirector/