Communities in Malabon and Caloocan are now better protected against dengue and leptospirosis following the successful completion of the Sustainable Health Interventions for Eradicating Leptospirosis and Dengue (SHIELD) project by Pru Life UK in partnership with CARE Philippines.
Supported by Prudence Foundation, the community investment arm of Prudential plc, the initiative was designed to address climate‑sensitive health risks in flood‑prone urban areas, the SHIELD Project strengthened local health systems, enhanced community preparedness, and empowered residents to take proactive action against climate-sensitive diseases.
Through a PhP10M grant from the Climate and Health Resilience Fund (CHRF), the initiative brought together local governments, barangay health workers (BHWs), and community partners to address health risks associated with dengue and leptospirosis in vulnerable communities.
Implemented in the cities of Malabon and Caloocan, two National Capital Region (NCR) cities that frequently experience severe flooding, the SHIELD project worked closely with city health offices and barangay-level responders to strengthen disease prevention efforts, promote public health awareness, and improve community preparedness during periods of flooding and heightened health risks.
Over the course of the project, SHIELD delivered the following key interventions:
- Close to 200 BHWs trained and mobilised, strengthening frontline capacity for dengue and leptospirosis prevention and response,
- 18,800 community members directly reached by trained BHWs through cascading education sessions and door-to-door campaigns,
- 1,000 community leaders and residents taught safer hygiene and sanitation practices through water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) training sessions,
- Community clean‑up drives across seven (7) barangays conducted, reducing environmental risks that contribute to disease transmission, and
- Information, education, and communication (IEC) materials and hygiene kits distributed, supporting households and reinforcing key health messages at the community level.
These activities strengthened the capacity of local health workers to educate residents, identify early warning signs of disease, and help communities act quickly to prevent outbreaks.
The programme concluded with a culminating event which highlighted key milestones and outcomes of the partnership and the shared commitments made by stakeholders and beneficiaries to continue supporting their communities, ensuring that the progress made and the skills developed would be sustained beyond the project’s conclusion.
“In every barangay, there is someone families turn to first when a child has a fever or floodwaters begin to rise. Through the SHIELD Project, we have walked alongside these barangay health workers in Malabon and Caloocan, strengthening their skills, confidence, and capacity to protect their neighbours from threats like leptospirosis and dengue.
Together with Pru Life UK and our local government partners, we are not just delivering a project, we are investing in the people who hold communities together. When we equip local health workers, we strengthen the entire community. And long after the project ends, their knowledge, care, and leadership will continue to safeguard families where it matters most right at home,” said Reiza Dejito, Country Director of CARE Philippines.
Pru Life UK highlighted that partnerships such as SHIELD demonstrate the value of collaboration in strengthening climate and health resilience.
“As we conclude the SHIELD Project, we see this as a foundation for deeper partnerships to address the growing climate–health nexus,” said Atty. Calvin Kohchet‑Chua, Pru Life UK’s Senior Vice President and Chief Legal, Government Relations, and Sustainability Officer.
“Strengthening community health systems through SHIELD supports our broader climate and health advocacy, which recognizes financial security as a critical climate adaptation measure that helps families manage health shocks and build long‑term resilience,” Atty. Kohchet-Chua added.
Pru Life UK continues to support initiatives that promote health resilience in a time of climate change and help Filipino communities build safer and healthier futures.