Social Innovation in Health Initiative - Philippines

🎉 Congratulations to SIHI Sweden on a successful conference!

Held on 8–9 December at Uppsala University, the SIHI Sweden Conference convened 60 participants from 11 countries with the theme “Advancing Equity in Social Innovation in Health.” The event reinforced SIHI’s shared commitment to improving access to care and reducing health inequities.

Our SIHI Program Lead, Dr. Meredith del Pilar-Labarda, delivered the keynote presentation, emphasising that equity must never be an afterthought in social innovation. Instead, it should be the guiding design principle for innovation, research, and scaling for impact.

Across two dynamic days of presentations, workshops, a poster walk, and meaningful interactions, participants also took part in a collective reflection session to identify concrete next steps for embedding equity more mindfully in their work.

We look forward to continuing this shared work to advance equity in social innovation in health.

Centre for Health and Sustainability



UP Manila for the SDGs | SDGs supported:

SGD 3: Good Health and Well-being
SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

AID Foundation, Inc.'s “Holistic Water Systems for Pumping Water Uphill” project in the Philippines demonstrates how community-led, low-cost engineering solutions can improve access to safe water in remote areas.

By improving water security, the initiative supports better health outcomes and reduces the burden on families, especially women and children.

Read the full case study here: https://bit.ly/444mo2a



SDGs supported:

SDG 3: Good health and well-being
SDG 6: Clean water and sanitation
SDG 9: Industry, innovation, and infrastructure

UP Manila for the SDGs

Highlights of the recently conducted patient journey mapping training with Social Innovation in Health Initiative - Philippines

𝗔𝗛𝗙 𝗢𝗥𝗚𝗔𝗡𝗜𝗭𝗘𝗦 𝗣𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗝𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗡𝗘𝗬 𝗠𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗣 𝗧𝗢 𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗚𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗡 𝗛𝗜𝗩 𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗧𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡

Metro Manila - AHF Philippines, in partnership with Social Innovation in Health Initiative (SIHI) Philippines, conducted a two-day Patient Journey Mapping Workshop on November 5–6, 2025. The activity utilized Human-Centered Design in Health, a creative approach to problem solving that considers human factors and context to improve healthcare delivery.

The workshop aimed to identify critical drop-off points in the HIV care continuum, diagnose root causes of Lost to Follow-up (LTFU), and co-create targeted interventions to improve patient retention and support the Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U) strategy.

AHF Philippines continues to champion patient-centered HIV services and innovative approaches to ensure no one is left behind in the journey to viral suppression.

Dr. Jana Deborah Mier-Alpaño, Co-Lead of the Social Innovation in Health Initiative - Philippines, on how to prevent burnout within teams during the HPP Leadership Session last June:

"Advocate for others and for yourselves. Understand if they [team members] have support systems, and for yourself, know your support system and if it’s functional."

Her words remind us that true leadership goes beyond achieving results. It is also about ensuring that our teams, and we ourselves, are supported, cared for, and able to thrive.

We would like to congratulate the Quezon Provincial Health Office for their initiative in creating an avenue for their local stakeholders to engage in discussions on health research! 🎉👏
With their first health research forum themed “Mainstreaming Research in Public Health,” the SIHI Philippines Co-Lead for Strategy and Operations, Dr. Jana Deborah Mier-Alpaño did a guest lecture for "Introduction to Research on Social Innovations in Health".

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A Milestone for Quezon Province!
Today, August 23, 2025, we successfully held the First Provincial Health Research Forum at Queen Margarette Hotel, Domoit, Lucena City.
This pioneering event gathered deans, teachers, research advisers, and students from the Colleges of Maryhill College, Sacred Heart College, Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation, Calayan Educational, Southern Luzon State University (SLSU), St. Augustine College, and Dalubhasaan ng Lungsod ng Lucena. Also present were representatives from the Quezon Provincial Hospital Networks (QPHNs), various Rural Health Units, CHD IV-A, PDOHO, Barangay Health Workers (BHWs), and other important stakeholders in health.
The forum became a meaningful venue for researchers to showcase their study findings, paving the way for stronger collaboration between the health sector and the academe, and for advancing evidence-based planning and policymaking in Quezon Province.
We were honored to have Dr. Darren H. Venturina, MPH, Head of the Research and Innovation Development Unit (RIDU) - CHD IV-A, Dr. Paulo Maria N. Pagkatipunan, Dean of the College of Medicine at SLSU, as our Keynote Speaker, who delivered an inspiring message. Our Guest Lecturer, Dr. Jana Deborah Mier-Alpano of the Social Innovation in Health Initiative–Philippines, also shared valuable insights on “Introduction to Research on Social Innovations in Health.”
A highlight of the event was the presentation of four research studies from various institutions, namely:
1. Ms. Riza May E. Robrigado and Mr. Adrian V. Rivera (Dalubhasaan ng Lungsod ng Lucena)
2. Lucky Jake M. Deocales, CPA, MBA (SLSU Graduate School),
3. Philip A. Alviola Ph. D (UP Los Banos, Laguna)
4. Jay Vincent J. Punzalan, RPh, MAHPS (UP College of Arts and Sciences, Manila)
Their work showcased the talent and commitment of emerging researchers in Quezon Province toward addressing pressing health concerns.
This milestone was spearheaded by the Quezon Provincial Health Office, under the leadership of Dr. Kristin Mae-Jean M. Villaseñor (PHO II), Dr. Kris Conrad M. Mangunay (PHO I, Chief of the Health Systems Support Division), and Ms. Viviann H. Recalde (Head, Planning and Research Unit).
With the theme: “Mainstreaming Research in Public Health,” this first-ever forum marked the beginning of a stronger partnership between research, innovation, and public health for the people of Quezon.

We would like to congratulate and proudly share the work of one of our first GCARSIH Winners, UPD PsycServ—Congratulations, Dr. Violeta Bautista, Dr. Divine Love Salvador, and the whole UPD PsycServ team for the successful event and launch of your new book, “Ang Ginhawa bilang Hangarin at Balangkas Sa Paglikha ng mga Mapagkalingang Unibersidad”! 🎉💚

Join us for the next about “Measuring What Matters: Social Impact Assessment for Meaningful Innovation” on 2 July 2025.

Organised with Social Innovation in Health Initiative - Philippines, this session aims to enrich the work of innovators, fostering reflective, inclusive, and equity-driven approaches to impact.

See you at 8:00 PM PH | 12:00 PM GMT. Register here: https://bit.ly/SIAInnovation

🌟 A heartfelt thank you to everyone who made the GCARSIH 2024 Training and Mentoring Program and Culminating Activity a success! 🌟

To the incredible GCARSIH 2024 finalists and participants—your dedication and creativity in advancing health through social innovation shone in your culminating pitch presentations and the Marketplace Activity.

We are grateful for all the efforts you've put into showcasing the work you do!

We are also deeply grateful to our mentors and resource persons for sharing their expertise and guidance throughout the program, and to Dr. Gideon Lasco for his inspiring keynote address during the GCARSIH Awarding Ceremonies.

We extend our sincere thanks to our partners and supporters— the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), University of the Philippines Manila, UP National Institutes of Health, Social Innovation in Health Initiative (SIHI) Philippines, and the SIHI Global Network—for making this initiative possible.

Special thanks to UP Manila's Information, Publication, and Public Affairs Office (IPPAO) for covering the event. Check out their full post here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1991mmpi5d/

We hope this gathering sparks the beginning of meaningful partnerships and becomes a springboard for more collaborations and support for social innovations in health in the Philippines💡🇵🇭

Until the next GCARSIH cycle! 🌺

"We choose this path every day
because we believe it is the right thing to do."

These powerful words from Dr. Meredith Labarda of SIHI Philippines set the tone for the GCARSIH 2024 Culminating Activity and Awarding Ceremonies. Our Managing Director, Dr. Venus Oliva Cloma-Rosales, reflects on this inspiring event, highlighting the transformative power of social innovations in health.

Discover how collective efforts are shaping a more compassionate and equitable healthcare landscape in the Philippines.

👉 Read the full article and see the photos here: https://101healthresearch.com/celebrating-purpose-and-innovation-reflections-from-gcarsih-2024/

🔹 Dr. Eva Maria Cutiongco-De la Paz, executive director, UP Manila National Institutes of Health, delivered a heartfelt closing remarks, reminding us that transformative change is possible through community-based solutions.

🔹 Dr. Eva Maria Cutiongco-De la Paz, executive director, UP Manila National Institutes of Health, delivered a heartfelt closing remarks, reminding us that transformative change is possible through community-based solutions.