Public Servant to Health Champion: Empowering Community Leaders to Become Stewards of Health

The COVID-19 global health crisis and its compounding effects continue to affect economies and people’s lives especially in poor and marginalized communities of Mindanao. Sultan sa Barongis or SSB remains to be among the poorest municipalities of Maguindanao relentlessly exposed to armed conflict, natural disasters, and now, issues of health and sanitation aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Response to these recurring crisis and emergencies means continuous efforts throughout the year to address the heightened vulnerability of these communities.

Ronnie Utto Mastura, 48, is a proud public servant of Barangay Barurao in SSB. As the Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer (BDRRMO), he took it upon himself to gather all information about COVID-19 through seminars and trainings which he would then disseminate through what he calls the “Loudspeaker Campaign.” He partnered with the military based in SSB for mobility while making announcements around the Barangay using a megaphone. He understood the value of life- saving information in terms of COVID-19 prevention and preached about proper hand washing, physical distancing and proper nutrition even among his neighbors.

His role as the BDRRMO at the initial outbreak of COVID-19 shifted when Locally Stranded Individuals (LSIs) started returning to SSB. LSIs were coming home either by air or land travel, and locals returning through the latter were not compliant with the same health and quarantine protocols imposed upon the former. This caused unrest and concern in the community. Whenever there is news or hearsay about returning locals, community members would then easily identify them and refer to Ronnie for confirmation. Ronnie would visit the concerned LSIs to check if they had undergone health protocols implemented by the LGU and would immediately transport them to the Isolation Center at Maguindanao Hospital if found otherwise.

He was very much involved with the coordination of LSIs that his family worried about their health and safety. He, too, admitted that he started getting scared of possible infection because of the nature of his work. Incidentally, the Hygiene and Behavior Change Coalition (HBCC) has begun conducting seminars and trainings in SSB to identify Community Leaders who would take part in the Mum’s Magic Hands (MMH) program. With its flagship trainings on COVID-19 prevention and management, Ronnie did not hesitate to join the MMH program and later on became one of the MMH Champions.

While he found a great connection between his post as BDRRMO and his newfound role as an MMH Champion, Ronnie realized the gaps and misconceptions about what he already knew about COVID-19. Information dissemination was inadequate without showing community members the best ways to practice prevention though proper health and hygiene. He was also oblivious of the intensifying stigma in his community in the beginning but now understood that it is possible to manage the stigma as well as develop the confidence that they can indeed prevent and manage the spread of infectious diseases.

“Pwede pa lang hindi ka mahawa dyan. Kung nag-iingat ka, kung malinis ka.” [We learned that it is possible to avoid infection. If you are careful, if you maintain proper hygiene.]

Seminars challenging gender norms also moved him to become more mindful and involved with care work, and see the development of his family more long-term.

“Dati rati ‘yan hindi natin naiisip. Naiisip natin yung pagpaplano ng pamilya pero ‘yung iniisip mo lang paano makatapos. Pero wala doon sa kondisyon na mula sa pag-aalaga ng bata hanggang sa pagpapaganda ng ugali.” [Before HBCC, we don’t think about family planning. We think about it only up to the point of helping our children finish their education, but not in terms of character development.]

During the MMH Graduation, the HBCC through IDEALS, Inc. was able to turn-over a set of portable communication equipment to Barangay Barurao including a new megaphone, two (2) microphones and a rechargeable sound system. With this, Ronnie is invigorated to continue teaching COVID-19 prevention and management by including it as “mini” training sessions during community activities and disaster
response efforts.

Ronnie also plans to upgrade his loudspeaker campaign by using the portable sound system and conducting trainings in the different sitio of Barurao. He aims to re-echo the sessions based on the modules and involve especially those who were unable to attend the MMH program. ###

This story is written by Yani Royulada and is part of the UNILEVER/DFID Hygiene Behaviour Change Coalition (HBCC) Project implemented by Oxfam, Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM), United Youth of the Philippines – Women (UnYPhil-Women), and Initiatives for Dialogue and Empowerment through Alternative Legal Services (IDEALS, Inc.) in Maguindanao.