One medical crisis can wipe out any progress made in the fight against poverty. Beyond the cost of the crisis itself, these emergencies cause loss of work and school, high-interest debts, isolation, and stigma. This is why ICM’s three-pronged community health care strategy is an integral part of our holistic program.
Our Three-Pronged
Strategy
Like all of our programs, ICM’s health care strategy takes a holistic approach to community health. We understand that health affects people and communities in profound ways that directly impact their ability to break the cycle of poverty. Our three-pronged approach covers the following areas:
– Primary health education and screening
– Treatment for common medical issues
– Medical Mercy Program for serious medical issues
See our research
Read our research about what life is like on less than 50 cents per day.
Results of ICM’s
CHCs and Medical
Mercy Fund
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Number of active CHCs
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Number of tasks completed in prior month by CHCs
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Malnourished children cured
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People served by CHCs
Cumulative impact as of 2026-04-06
Primary health
education and
health screenings
This first prong of our public health strategy focuses on teaching communities about health issues and includes the following:
- Sanitation, family health, diet, disease prevention
- Daily healthy practices for the whole family
- Education to improve overall family well-being
- Health screenings to detect common health issues among the poor
ICM empowers Transform families to increase
health-promoting practices, improving nutrition,
hygiene habits, and family care.
Medical treatment for health issues
The second prong concentrates on providing medical treatment for common health care and nutrition issues among the poor in the Philippines. These issues include:
- Diagnosis and treatment of common health issues like malnutrition
- Tuberculosis, and parasites
- Pregnancy care -General medical care for those who need it
During Transform, ICM screens and treats for
common health issues, treating thousands of people every batch.
Medical Mercy Program
The third prong of our strategy provides for those with the most serious health care needs, and includes:
- Treatment, surgical costs, and personalized follow-up care for those
with serious medical issues
- Assistance with doctor visits and medical testing
- Emotional and social support
ICM walks with patients from screening through surgery
to recovery, with patient advocacy, encouragement, and
physical support throughout.
Community Health Champions— Dedicated Advocates Supporting Families
ICM serves people in remote communities in the Philippines and beyond. When members of these communities suffer from poor health and lack proper medical care, it can prevent them from engaging in productive activities, such as going to school or earning a daily wage. This makes it even more difficult to break the cycle of poverty. Yet many health issues are preventable with the right education and guidance on how to access available services.
Community Health Champions (CHCs) are volunteers from the community. ICM trains these dedicated volunteers to help their neighbors prevent illness and treat medical needs. CHCs act as patient advocates, informal educators and counselors, and outreach workers. When they discover health concerns, they encourage their neighbors to seek access to local healthcare, and walk beside them through the process.
Guided by scalable, low-cost mobile technology, CHCs deliver individualized patient care. This technology also gives ICM medical staff real-time visibility for oversight.
CHCs bring healthcare to the doorstep of the poorest, most remote areas in the country
Health is a fundamental human right. Sadly, for millions of Filipinos living in extreme poverty, this is simply not the case. According to the Department of Health, half of Filipinos do not have access to primary health care.
Sustaining health, sustaining hope
CJ’s family cramps up in a worn-out house ravaged by Typhoon Odette in 2021. His father, Carmelo, faces immense challenges in providing for their family of six, as his income from fishing is not enough.
Working to eradicate Tuberculosis in the Philippines
ICM’s partnership with the Global Fund and PBSP is screening 100,000 people every year to proactively find and treat people with Tuberculosis (TB).
Now They See
What would you do if you have been living with a genetic condition that took away your and even your children’s sight, then learned that it could be cured by an eye surgery procedure that you know you couldn’t afford? Would you give up hope?
You can give the gift of health to children in the Philippines!
Consider your support
Please partner with ICM today to bring help, hope, and change