Gawad Kalusugan USA
	GK Heals, GK Nourishes, GK Safeguards
	A Dignified and Clean Environment Leads to Health Gawad Kalusugan, the GK Health program, aims to implement a new culture of health consciousness by first changing the slum environment that breeds poor physical well-being and disease. Second is to change the slum behavior by restoring the dignity of the poor and consequently making them more aware of standard health practices such as hygiene, nutrition and preventive health care. GK Health aims to promote and implement the following 7-point health agenda in all Gawad Kalinga communities:
GK Heals	1. Fight Tuberculosis Program The Fight TB Program complements the adult anti-TB program of the Department of Health. Using WHO-approved methods, GK Health will diagnose and target children infected with TB and will extend the care to their affected parents with the assistance of the local government. This approach is aimed at addressing the TB problem directly through clear and effective public-private partnerships. 2. Eliminate Water-borne Diseases through Safe Water Supply The elimination of water-borne diseases aims to decrease the incidence of gastrointestinal and skin diseases through the provision of safe water supply and proper waste disposal systems in GK sites.
GK Nourishes	3. Promote Nutrition This program promotes proper nutrition through adequate training for mothers and education of children. Resource speakers from nutrition schools give lectures on how to prepare nutritionally balanced food on a shoestring budget. 4. Complement the Government’s Immunization Program This program seeks to enhance the government’s immunization program by providing health workers with the tools to produce accurate records in order to provide timely and appropriate vaccinations for the children through information technology.
GK Safeguards	5. Responsible Parenthood – Natural Family Planning Couples are educated on the value of having a family and raising them well and are taught proven techniques in natural family planning for spacing. 6. Universal Health Insurance Through this program, private partners are encouraged to provide health insurance for a poor family for one year. The family is then trained to save to continue their insurance for the second and subsequent years. GK Health, in coordination with local government units, Philhealth and Gawad Kabuhayan, will also be conducting lectures on the value of contributing to a national health insurance system. 7. Dental Care This program provides proper dental care in the GK sites. Volunteer participation of dentists and dental hygienists are sought. Health volunteers are trained on dental record keeping.
	Empowering Local Leaders to Promote Health True to the values of bayanihan and sustainability that Gawad Kalinga promotes, the GK Health program empowers community leaders to manage their health needs through capability building. GK Health focuses on training local leaders (neighborhood and government) in health programs and practices that will benefit the whole community such as proper nutrition, sanitation, disease prevention and first aid. The leaders are also partnered with medical schools and associations to provide basic medical and dental services such as free consultations, immunizations, circumcision, and nutrition programs.
	Engaging Corporations to Build Healthy Communities and a Healthy Nation Our dream of building healthy, empowered communities that have access to basic medical services cannot be achieved without the help of the private sector. WYETH, PFIZER, GLAXO SMITH KLINE and UNILAB, four of the industry leaders in the field of pharmaceuticals and medical services have been some of the first corporations to partner with GK Health to promote health in our Gawad Kalinga communities. They have committed their resources to help implement GK Health’s 7-point agenda nationwide.
	Towards a Culture of Health Consciousness and Healthy Communities Capacity Building Program for Primary Health Care Build a health center/clinic in Gawad Kalinga site Provide volunteers as a resource speaker on health topics Provide resources for meetings (logistics, snacks, etc.) Provide information and communication materials on health topics Provide training for health workers in GK sites Health Service Delivery and Local Health Systems Development Devote one half day a month for free consultation in the community Provide technical expertise in improving health systems in the community Provide resources for TB screening and/or treatment Feed one malnourished child one healthy meal per day for one year Insure one poor family for one year with Philhealth Health Information Systems Provide computers and/or printers for the community health center Provide office supplies and presentation materials such as white boards, projectors, etc.