For Imel, a 60-year-old barangay official in Infanta, Quezon, serving the community has always been rooted in care and commitment. As the chairperson of the Committee on Health, she works to ensure that families, especially parents and children, receive the health information and services they need to stay safe and well.
She has served her community for 30 years, with her commitment to supporting families and promoting children’s well-being continuing to grow through her work in the barangay.
For Imel, community service means being present among the people she serves. Rather than waiting for residents to visit the barangay hall, she regularly conducts visits around different zones to check on households and listen to the concerns of community members.
“People appreciate it when they see us in their community. Even if we don’t bring anything, they are happy when we ask how they are doing,” she said.
Through these interactions, Imel often identifies health concerns that might otherwise have gone unnoticed. Many residents hesitate to visit the health center due to financial constraints or lack of awareness about the importance of early consultation. For children, this delay can mean that illnesses are not addressed early.
Recognizing these challenges, Save the Children supported efforts to strengthen community health systems in the barangay.
Through community awareness and behavior change initiatives and community-based disease surveillance activities, Imel and two other community volunteers attended training sessions that improved their knowledge and confidence in discussing health issues and encouraging families to seek care.
The program also promoted a more community-driven approach to disease surveillance, where multiple community members—including purok (zone) leaders, barangay health workers, and volunteers—work together to identify and report potential health concerns.
Before these initiatives, health monitoring was mainly led by barangay health workers and barangay nutrition scholars. With increased community involvement, more members now help observe and report possible symptoms.
“Now it feels lighter because more people are involved,” Imel said.
Imel recalled a dengue outbreak in the past, when the barangay worked closely with health workers and community members to conduct clean-up drives, identify mosquito breeding areas, and raise awareness about prevention.
With improved awareness and stronger coordination, community members are now more proactive in reporting health concerns and seeking help.
“Parents are able to reflect on what they learn from our campaigns and understand that when their child experiences a situation like this, it is important to report it immediately,” she said.
As a result, families are more proactive in reporting symptoms and seeking care. Before the introduction of community-based surveillance, health concerns were primarily reported by barangay health workers, and many cases at the household level were not immediately captured.
With increased awareness and participation from volunteers and community leaders, more cases are now being identified and reported earlier, allowing children to receive timely care and preventing illnesses from worsening.
Despite challenges, Imel remains committed. She believes that true leadership comes from listening and responding with patience and understanding.