Deliver Maternal Health Care in Dulag

Here in Leyte, the memory of Typhoon Yolanda still lingers. More than a decade has passed, yet families remain in recovery. When the storm destroyed homes and health facilities, many mothers lost their lives simply because there was nowhere safe to give birth. Even now, the Philippines—one of the most climate-vulnerable nations on Earth—faces typhoons, floods, and extreme weather that make motherhood more dangerous for women in rural communities.

Against this backdrop, the Dulag clinic has become a sanctuary. In 2024:

• 282 babies entered the world safely

• 2,040 prenatal checkups gave mothers the gift of reassurance

• 564 postpartum visits protected women’s health after birth

• 282 breastfeeding supports gave newborns the best start in life

• 3,027 bottles of prenatal vitamins helped mothers grow stronger

• Plus meals for mothers, neonatal checkups, and home visits that extend care beyond the clinic walls

This is more than healthcare—it is community building. Our midwives offer not only skilled birth services but also pap smears, family planning, community health training, and a feeding program for stunted children and their mothers. Every instance of care, every visit, says to these women: You are not alone.

And yet, many mothers still must walk long distances or take risky journeys while in labor. That is why we are preparing to build simple stay-huts at the clinic. These safe shelters will allow mothers from remote barangays to rest before and after birth. Without them, some women might return too soon to heavy work, risking complications such as placental detachment or fetal distress. With your help, we can make sure no mother has to face that danger.

At Bahay Arugaan ni Maria, we see every mother and baby as a blessing. Each birth is a reminder of resilience, of community, of love surviving in the face of storms and hardship.

From our hearts to yours, thank you for standing with the mothers and babies of the Philippines. 

With deep gratitude and love,
Ibu Robin and the Bumi Wadah Team

According to the UN's Reproductive Health Agency (UNFPA), 2,400 women and girls die in the Philippines annually from preventable causes during pregnancy and childbirth. UNFPA calls midwives "trusted first responders within their communites," as they help to make their communities stronger and more resilient, especially after a disaster. Midwives can provide 90% of health services, from maternal and reproductive health all the way up to adolescent health care. Professional, trained midwives have a huge impact in the Philippines and across Asia-Pacific, a region which has a shortfall of 200,000 midwives, according to UNFPA.

Thanks to your support, Bumi Sehat’s Dulag maternal health and birth clinic is saving lives in a region where safe, compassionate maternal care is urgently needed. Dulag, in Leyte, is still recovering from the long-term impacts of Typhoon Yolanda and decades of underinvestment in rural health. Many families live far from medical care, and young women—especially teenage mothers—face serious risks in pregnancy.

We're almost half way to our funding goal. Remaining funding will go toward completing temporary stay-huts for women from remote barangays, so they don’t have to travel in labor or return home too soon after giving birth. This is especially vital in cases where a mother might otherwise continue heavy work late in pregnancy, risking complications like placental detachment or fetal distress.

At Bahay Arugaan ni Maria, the Bumi Sehat team provides not only clinical care, but dignity, education, and ongoing support. Your donations—no matter the amount—make that possible. Thank you for standing with mothers and babies in Dulag.

Thanks for your continued support of this project

Love and Blessings, 

Ibu Robin and Team Bumi Wadah