ILOILO City – In the remote and underserved indigenous and rural low-income communities of Western Visayas, access to healthcare has long been a challenge. But through the Atipan+ Project, and University of San Agustin, a digital health initiative, medical consultations and essential healthcare services are now reaching those who need them most.
The project, whose name is inspired by the Hiligaynon word “atipan” (meaning “to take care of”) and the Ati communities it serves, is currently funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC, Canada), and other foreign agencies.
The initiative provides free teleconsultations, training for community health workers, and distribution of medications and health kits across 15 Indigenous and rural communities in Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental.
Expanding Reach Through Telemedicine
Prof. John Paul Petrola, director of the Center for Heritage and Indigenous Cultures (CHIC) at the University of San Agustin-Iloilo, highlighted the project’s reach and expansion plans.
“We are all over Western Visayas, serving the Ati tribes in Aklan, Antique, Iloilo, and Capiz, as well as the Panay Bukidnon community in Tapaz. We are also expanding into Janiuay, Guimbal, and additional areas in Negros Occidental this year,” Petrola said.
Aside from Indigenous settlements, the project also assists marginalized rural communities, such as those displaced by Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in Estancia, Iloilo, sugarcane farmers in Passi, and agrarian communities in Barbaza, Antique.
Technology and Infrastructure for Telehealth
Dr. Romulo de Castro, Project Lead and Balik Scientist, emphasized the importance of infrastructure and community involvement in making telehealth work.
“Electricity and internet connectivity are essential, so we assessed the availability of signals in these areas,” de Castro explained. “When the internet is unreliable, we use satellite connections like Starlink to ensure consultations continue.”
The project operates with three key teams:
1. Community team – led by Petrola for local coordination.
2. Healthcare team – composed of doctors and medical professionals.
3. Infrastructure team – ensuring digital tools function effectively.
To enable teleconsultations, smartphones, tablets, and data plans were distributed to health coordinators in each community. When internet connectivity is a challenge, medical records are documented manually first before being entered into the system once the connection stabilizes.
Bridging Indigenous Knowledge and Modern Medicine
Dr. Pia Regina Fatima Zamora-Rico, a former telehealth coordinator, highlighted the need for cultural sensitivity training for doctors working with Indigenous communities.
“We trained doctors on Indigenous health practices, gender sensitivity, and data privacy. Many patients initially turn to traditional herbal medicine, and we respect that. Our role is to provide medical support when needed without imposing Western medicine,” Zamora-Rico explained.
Leonisa Lumangyao, an Indigenous leader from the Dakalan Communities, expressed gratitude for the project.
“During the pandemic, we struggled to afford medicines and transportation to health centers. Atipan+ brought healthcare directly to us,” Lumangyao shared. “Now, even our remote communities receive medical support, and I have learned to help others as a health coordinator.”
Mental Health and Future Innovations
Recognizing the mental health struggles of Indigenous communities, the project has partnered with Dr. Charibel E. Escandelor, a psychiatrist from Bacolod, to provide remote mental health consultations.
To address the lack of mental health professionals, the project is also developing an AI-powered tool that can assist in detecting depression and anxiety through speech analysis.
“The AI is already being used in Canada, but we are training it to recognize Hiligaynon speech patterns to improve accuracy for local communities,” de Castro said. “This AI won’t replace doctors but will act as a triage system to identify patients needing urgent psychiatric care.”
Call for Government and Community Support
For Atipan+ to be sustainable, local government support is crucial. Petrola stressed the need for ambulance services, access to laboratories, financial aid for patients, and improved internet connectivity.
“Telehealth has not only provided medical care but has also connected Indigenous communities in ways they never experienced before,” he said.
With ongoing expansion plans and innovations, the Atipan+ Project is proving that healthcare is possible even in the most remote communities—one teleconsultation at a time./PN
