Roots of Health

Roots of Health We envision a Philippines where everyone exercises their sexual and reproductive health and rights free from stigma and discrimination.

21/07/2025

In celebration of National Disability Rights Week we joined the movement to champion inclusive healthcare in Palawan.

We provided free health services, reproductive health education, and person-centered counseling to empower people with disabilities in making informed choices about their bodies and futures.

Because access to healthcare is a right — not a privilege. 💙✨

🌸Meet Maritess—the cutest uterus with the biggest mission!🌸She’s leading the way for reproductive health, and she’d love...
20/07/2025

🌸Meet Maritess—the cutest uterus with the biggest mission!🌸

She’s leading the way for reproductive health, and she’d love for you to join our movement!

Every t-shirt sold helps fund access to life-saving info and care for young people and families. When we support gender equity and reproductive rights, we create a healthier, more empowered future of all!

Wear your support. Spark conversations. Be a part of the change. 🛒

Grab your Marites shirt today:
https://mylilyofthevalley.com/products/marites-the-matris-cotton-tee-black
https://mylilyofthevalley.com/products/marites-the-matris-cotton-tee-white

On June 15 & 16, we were honored to host Deputy Ambassador Geir Michalsen and Second Secretary Maria Jensen of The Royal...
18/07/2025

On June 15 & 16, we were honored to host Deputy Ambassador Geir Michalsen and Second Secretary Maria Jensen of The Royal Norwegian Embassy in Manila as they learned more about our expanding work in adolescent reproductive health and HIV prevention.

We’re grateful to the Norwegian Embassy for being our longstanding partner. With their continued support, our youth clinic has reached more young people with reproductive health services and education, curbing teen pregnancies.

With the Philippines also facing one of the world’s fastest-growing HIV rates, our efforts are more vital than ever.
We’re proud to have partners like Tandikan Puerto Princesa Inc., COPE, and the Ospital ng Palawan - Red Top Center who have been co-leading our efforts. They also shared their valuable experiences with the officials.

Thank you to the Norway Embassy for believing in our mission! 🙌

Who says trainings can’t be rowdy and fun? 🥳💃Shoutout to the amazing barangay health workers of Sison Surigao del Norte ...
16/07/2025

Who says trainings can’t be rowdy and fun? 🥳💃

Shoutout to the amazing barangay health workers of Sison Surigao del Norte who brought the energy to our most lively Training of Trainers yet! 💥

BHWs may work quietly behind the scenes, but they’re crucial in making sure young people get the judgment-free, adolescent-friendly care they deserve. We’re thrilled to stand with them in the fight against teen pregnancy. ❤️‍🩹👩‍⚕️👨‍⚕️

Read more about Roots of Health's expansion work in Mindanao here: https://rootsofhealth.org/this-palawan-org-slashed-teen-pregnancy-now-its-helping-surigao-del-norte-do-the-same/

Support our work here: https://rootsofhealth.org/donate/

We’re expanding beyond Palawan and empowering health workers in Mindanao! 👩‍⚕️👨‍⚕️💪Roots of Health just got back from Su...
15/07/2025

We’re expanding beyond Palawan and empowering health workers in Mindanao! 👩‍⚕️👨‍⚕️💪

Roots of Health just got back from Surigao del Norte, where we partnered with brave and committed local leaders who are choosing to face teen pregnancy head-on—not ignore it, not sweep it under the rug.

Special thanks to Councilor Karissa Fetalvero-Paronia, Chairperson of the Committee on Health, whose bold leadership and long-standing commitment to young people made this possible. By inviting us to Sison, she’s proving that compassionate, evidence-based action can—and must—start at the local level.

From July 8–10, we trained 18 staff from the Sison Primary Care Facility, including Rural Health Unit personnel, municipal nurses, HRH staff, and social workers, on how to provide youth-friendly, non-judgmental care. Simultaneous sessions were also held for barangay health workers (more on that in our next post!).

This is the first wave of our work outside Palawan—and it’s just the beginning.

💚 Help us reach more communities with the care and education young people deserve.

Support our work and donate today: rootsofhealth.org/donate

🌿 We’re thrilled to be part of something beautiful! Through the kindness of Puerto Princesa's tourism sector — especiall...
13/07/2025

🌿 We’re thrilled to be part of something beautiful! Through the kindness of Puerto Princesa's tourism sector — especially the amazing Underground River team 🌊 — we’re able to support more youth in the community. 💚

When tourism gives back, everyone wins.
Let’s keep the energy flowing — support local, support health! 🙌✨

Donate now: https://rootsofhealth.org/donate/

We’ve come this far because of you. 💚Over the past year, your support helped us reach farther than ever before. We brou...
12/07/2025

We’ve come this far because of you. 💚

Over the past year, your support helped us reach farther than ever before. We brought reproductive health education and care to Indigenous communities, people with disabilities , people deprived of liberty and people in extreme poverty.

Together, we trained more frontline health workers and empowered youth leaders, strengthened public health systems, improved public health data, and shaped policies that protect health and rights. 💪🏽

But our work – and our commitment — are far from over.

As we step into new communities and face rising challenges, we need you with us.
Every donation powers life-changing reproductive health information and services for young people and underserved communities across the Philippines.

👉🏽 Read the impact you made in our 2024 Annual Report: https://bit.ly/roh-ar-2024

👉🏽 Make a difference today: https://rootsofhealth.org/donate

Let’s keep going – together 🙌🏽

🌍✨ World Population Day 2025: Empowering Youth to Build the Families They WantAt Roots of Health, we believe every young...
11/07/2025

🌍✨ World Population Day 2025: Empowering Youth to Build the Families They Want

At Roots of Health, we believe every young person deserves the knowledge and support to make informed choices about their future. ❤️ That's why we've reached over 96,000 young Filipinos with Comprehensive Sexuality Education. ✨

Today, we reaffirm our commitment to providing inclusive, accessible, and compassionate reproductive health services, ensuring that all individuals have the opportunity to shape their own destinies. 🌱

We’ve come a long way — and we’re not done yet.We’re proud to share our 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 that features the year’s mile...
09/07/2025

We’ve come a long way — and we’re not done yet.

We’re proud to share our 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 that features the year’s milestones and insights from 15 years of listening, learning, and evolving with purpose.

From serving a few dozen women in 2009 to reaching millions with reproductive health services and education in 2024, the report showcases the impact of a bold, systems-based approach to health and rights in Palawan.

It’s a story of community trust, government collaboration, and courageous work in places where it was most needed.

Read how we’ve helped drive a 𝟔𝟎% 𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐩 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐲; trained thousands of health workers, teachers, and students; built innovative tools like the I CHOOSE platform for youth; and how we’ve begun to bring our programs nationwide.

You’ve helped shape our impact thus far. Let’s continue to write the next chapters together!

👇Read the 2024 Annual Report 👇
https://bit.ly/roh-ar-2024

Touchdown, Surigao del Norte! 🌴✈️We’re bringing the Roots of Health mission beyond Palawan! 💪🏽 Yesterday, our expansion ...
08/07/2025

Touchdown, Surigao del Norte! 🌴✈️

We’re bringing the Roots of Health mission beyond Palawan! 💪🏽 Yesterday, our expansion team met with the Governor Robert Lyndon Barbers to kickstart our partnership in strengthening inclusive reproductive health services and education across the province.

We also sat down with the Provincial Health Office to explore how we can work together to enhance clinical care and train public school teachers to deliver youth-friendly, rights-based sexuality education.

In the town of Sison, we were warmly welcomed by local officials as we geared up to hold workshops for frontline health workers this week. ❤️‍🔥

We’re just getting started and we need your support. Help us bring life-saving education and care to more communities across the Philippines.
👉🏽 Donate today: rootsofhealth.org/donate

Ongoing workshops with the Roots of Health team, in partnership with Sison on the Rise, have officially begun in Surigao...
08/07/2025

Ongoing workshops with the Roots of Health team, in partnership with Sison on the Rise, have officially begun in Surigao del Norte!

Barangay Health Workers, Nutrition Scholars, HRH personnel, and nurses from the LGU of Sison, are actively participating in the Youth-Friendly Service Delivery Training of Trainers (TOT) and the Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH) Advocacy Orientation.

We're happy to be part of the Teenage Pregnancy Reduction Drive Project that empowers teens, engages parents, and unites stakeholders towards a healthier community!



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Puerto Princesa

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Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm
Saturday 8am - 5pm

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Information + Access = Change

Roots of Health was established in 2009 by Dr. Susan Evangelista and her daughter, Amina Evangelista Swanepoel. Susan was teaching at Palawan State University in Puerto Princesa and was concerned about unplanned pregnancies and the lack of reproductive health knowledge among her students. Amina had just completed a double Masters Degree in International Affairs and Public Health at Columbia University in New York City.

The two women felt that together they could share reproductive health lessons with women and young people in marginalized communities, thereby improving health and the general quality of life in this very poor province of the Philippines. Shortly after starting the program, women asked them for clinical services and Ami and Susan realized that health knowledge needed to be matched with easily available and free clinical services. Thus began the Roots of Health approach of coupling education with services.