As the saying goes, “health is wealth.” Many people are slowly beginning to realize the truth behind this simple statement, especially when their health remains at risk due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the public turned to healthcare centers to improve their health or find solutions to known illnesses.
Yet, as beneficial as healthcare centers may be to communities all over the Philippines, not all of them have access to quality health service that promotes holistic wellness. This is the reason why SM Foundation (SMFI) launched its Health and Wellness Program back in 2001. Through this social good initiative, SMFI upgrades health centers in grassroot communities. They also complement this program with medical caravans which in turn provides quality healthcare to everyone, especially for the marginalized sector. Through the years, SMFI was able to renovate more than 170 health and wellness centers and served more than 1.1 million patients during its medical missions.
And now, through SMFI’s #CollabforSocialGood program, the organization recently partnered with UNIQLO and parent company Fast Retailing Co., Ltd to help build and improve seven health clinics across the country. UNIQLO believes in turning the power of clothing into a force of good in every step of development. From design and production, made with people of diverse backgrounds, working with energy and enthusiasm. This philosophy enables UNIQLO to extend the same spirit to customers and all stakeholders by working with them to aspire to a better society where we all thrive.
“It has been UNIQLO’s mission to develop ways to make the society better,” said Nakamura Masayoshi, UNIQLO Philippines Chief Operating Officer. “UNIQLO is grateful and honored to play a role in improving the health infrastructure in the country. Through our partnership efforts with SM, we hope to uplift the lives of Filipinos and ensure that everyone has access to primary medical care.”
“As a responsible corporate citizen, it is our duty to empower grassroots communities— giving them the opportunity to take hold of their own destiny, allowing them to move towards progress. And this includes empowering them to have healthy and productive lives,” said SM Foundation’s Executive Director for Health and wellness programs Connie Angeles.
Five of the seven health centers have already been turned over to their respective communities, namely: Montalban Infirmary Hospital last October 14, 2021; Barangka City Health Center last January 13, 2022; Brgy. Ugac Sur Health Center and Brgy. Bagay Health Center in Tuguegarao and District 2 Health Center in Cauayan, Isabela last January 20, 2022.
The two other health centers, Brgy. San Roque Health Station in Camarines Sur and Brgy. Bolo Health Center in Legazpi City, are set to be turned over early this year.
Angeles said that closing the health gap in grassroot communities is a vital concern, especially in building a genuinely free, fair, and equitable Philippines. The SM Foundation, along with partners like UNIQLO Philippines, hopes to provide communities access to medical care services, whenever and wherever they need it. Their main focus is on the improvement of government health facilities and hospitals to provide Filipinos from all over the country with quality and sufficient health services.
Some of the improvements made in these centers include the patients’ waiting lounges, reception areas, out-patient departments, wards for both sexes, pharmacies, emergency rooms, treatment areas, birthing facilities, laboratories, and mobile play cabinets for children. These developments are all also stocked with the necessary medical equipment to provide each community with the necessary healthcare service needed.
Supporting local frontliners
Health infrastructures aren’t the only things that helped in preserving Filipino health. Since the pandemic started, our medical frontliners gave their all to make sure that those of us who are sick are given the proper medical attention, while those who are healthy remain to be so.
Their bravery is also recognized by the SM Foundation and its partners. So when it came to establishing the health centers, the frontliners were among the people they dedicated it to.
According to Angeles, the medical frontliners must be supported by a strong medical infrastructure that secures the welfare of the patients and the communities that they serve.
“We hope that through this project with UNIQLO Philippines, we are able to provide our medical frontliners with a fully equipped medical infrastructure that will empower them to spread social good through health and wellness,” she said.
Due to the organization’s dedication to the Filipinos, SM Foundation, together with its partners like UNIQLO Philippines, embody the known Filipino value of bayanihan. They believe that working as a single entity yields lesser benefits than working as a team. Forming relevant partnerships through their multi-sector approach aided them immensely in realizing their corporate social responsibility programs. These partnerships resulted in bringing businesses, people, and organizations together who share the same goals that benefit communities in the Philippines.
Fulfilling their CSR
Established in 1983 by Henry Sy Sr. and Felicidad T. Sy, the SM Foundation has a mission based on its founding principle of people helping people. They are committed to supporting and empowering their host communities through education, healthcare, disaster response, farmer’s training, environment programs, and promoting inclusivity by caring for people with special needs.
Over the years, the organization has partnered with different companies and communities to fulfill its vision of creating opportunities for self-improvement and a sustainable environment for future generations.
It’s no secret that the Philippines still has a long way to go before it becomes a progressive and inclusive country. But with organizations like the SM Foundation and their partners like UNIQLO Philippines, achieving that goal is slowly turning into a reality.
