Description of the project: Since 2007, Manila Doctors Hospital (MDH) has run a comprehensive set of initiatives targeted at reducing its environmental footprint and capacitating isolated communities on disaster response and climate adaptation. The hospital has served over 6,000 beneficiaries with medical and surgical missions focusing on maternal care, performs free reproductive health surgery and delivers disaster response support based on consulted decisions. The program is funded by the income generated from recyclables. The communities are now self-reliant in the delivery of primary health care and recycling, with a scheme to replicate MDH’s recycling processes at household level.

Climate impact: The program is managed by the hospital’s ENVI Committee and the CSR office, involving investments in energy saving equipment and solar energy, reducing plastic and hazardous waste, enacting strict procurement rules for environmentally friendly materials, etc. This has saved a total of 10.33 tons of carbon emissions. The recyclables program also supports MDH’s efforts to preserve the last forest park in Manila, where the hospital operates.

Gender impact: GREEN rebellion targets vulnerable populations that are affected by climate change, and focuses on maternal healthcare, as well as sexual reproductive healthcare. 78% of their beneficiaries are women and youths. MDH’s gender program, fostering male involvement, has also created specific, rewarding roles for women as community health leaders, healthcare workers and river warriors, strengthening their status in their communities.

Scalability / replicability: This projects builds on the appropriation of initiatives by the hospital’s management and staff as well as by the beneficiary communities, as they take ownership over their health and response to disaster. It relies on sustainable income from the recyclables program (USD 102,400 since 2006). Documented implementation guidelines make this program easily replicable for other hospitals and easily adjustable for non-healthcare  institutions. MDH is already sharing its experience with other practitioners in the country.