DKT Philippines Foundation Launches First-Ever Family Planning Floating Clinic in the Philippines

For some communities, getting healthcare isn't as simple as heading to the nearest clinic. Sometimes, the nearest clinic is a boat ride away. Which is exactly why DKT Philippines Foundation is taking one on the road, or more accurately, on the water.

The non-profit organization powered by TRUST launched the Philippines' first-ever family planning floating clinic on August 20 at BangkaPro, the vessel's builder, in Taguig City. Developed with the Ministry of Health in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), the clinic is part of DKT's Service Outreach and Distribution Extension (SODEX) Program. 

Starting September, the floating clinic will make its way to communities in Tawi-Tawi, Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, and Maguindanao del Sur. 

On board, residents can access free family planning services, from consultations and counseling to long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) such as intrauterine devices (IUDs) and two-rod implants. Temporary options including pills, injectables, and condoms will also be available.

It's a pretty straightforward idea: instead of making people travel long distances to get care, bring the care closer to them.

"For more than three decades, DKT Philippines Foundation has worked to remove barriers to family planning through innovation and strong partnerships. The SODEX Floating Clinic is another important step in that mission, allowing us to bring more communities better access to family planning products and services of their choice," said Denise van Dijk, Chair of the Board of DKT Philippines Foundation, Inc. and President and CEO of DKT Health, Inc.

The floating clinic is the newest addition to DKT Philippines Foundation's SODEX Program, which already provides free family planning services through partner healthcare facilities and the country's first family planning mobile clinic. Together, the initiatives are designed to reach communities that may otherwise have limited access to reproductive healthcare.

At the launch, Director II, Technical Services, Dr. Ahmad-Fawadz Israel represented Dr. Kadil “Jojo” M. Sinolinding Jr., Minister of the Ministry of Health-BARMM, and shared the Minister's message on improving healthcare access across Bangsamoro communities.

"Many communities across BARMM continue to face significant challenges in accessing healthcare because of distance and geography. The SODEX Floating Clinic allows us to bring family planning information and services directly to our people instead of expecting them to travel long distances for care. This public-private partnership strengthens our commitment to making quality reproductive healthcare more accessible and responsive to the needs of Bangsamoro communities,” Dr. Sinolinding Jr. said in his message.

Program Manager for National Family Planning Dr. Hardy Dumawing also joined the event on behalf of the Department of Health (DOH), which emphasized that family planning is an essential part of Universal Health Care. Bringing these services closer to the last mile can help improve access and health outcomes while supporting the country's sustainable development goals.

For DKT Philippines Foundation, the floating clinic is another way of putting that commitment into practice. Since 1991, the Foundation has worked on family planning and reproductive health through education, advocacy, and partnerships. Powered by TRUST, it reinvests proceeds from TRUST product sales into free family planning services and outreach programs for vulnerable, remote, and underserved communities.

"Every community faces different challenges in accessing healthcare, and our outreach programs are designed to respond to those realities. Our work goes beyond providing services—we continuously look for ways to deliver care that is more accessible, responsive, and sustainable for the communities we serve," said Loida Almendares, Director of Programs of DKT Philippines Foundation, Inc.