A Variety of Outreach and Follow-Up Workers Play An Important Role in Philippine Church's Program

Abstract

3 programs to implement family planning have been set up by the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC), an indigenous Christian sect with 4fmillion adherents in the Philippines. The Vigilante program began in 1975 with 34 specially trained nurses and paraprofessionals stationed in parish churches to recruit family planning acceptors, follow-up women with complaints, and treat minor complaints. Major problems are sent to medical centers. Between August 1975-September 1976 Vigilantes recruited 36,621 new clients, including almost 500 sterilization referrals. About 1/2 the new clients chose condoms, 1/3 the pill. These nurses also inserted IUDs. Pill Counselors also engage in motivational work. They are not stationed at an individual church but are in neighborhoods where they are needed. 4 special workers have been trained to recruit vasectomy acceptors. All 4 are young unmarried women but they have had good success. In 1975-1976 they recruited almost 1000 vasectomy acceptors and 350 minilaparotomy acceptors in addition to supplying 300 men and women with condoms and pills. Because 1 of their hardest jobs is convincing men that sterilization will not affect their sexual powers they have been nicknamed "machismo wreckers." Saturation teams are trained groups of 9 persons each which concentrate on a small area at a time. Before they begin the area is surveyed by a field coordinator who calls on the local leader and seeks local assistance. When the team leaves, it leaves additional supplies with this leader and these supplies are replenished from time to time. INC chapels also carry supplies. In addition to family planning, INC sponsors programs to assist young people and farmers, and has nutrition education, low-cost housing, and health care programs.