Atipan Project
Bringing digital health to underserved and vulnerable communities
The Story of Atipan Project
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Atipan Project is a digital health program in partnership with 10 underserved vulnerable indigenous and rural low-income communities in Western Visayas. It is currently funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) under the auspices of the Republic of Korea's e-Asia and Knowledge Partnership Fund (EAKPF).
Inspired by the Hiligaynon word atipan which means "to take care of" and the 7 Ati communities we are proud to be working with and for, we provide free medical teleconsultations, as well as technology and training for 23 community health workers, along with basic medication and health kits.
We stand on the foundation of a decade-long relationship of trust established by the University of San Agustin with each community. Led by its Center for Informatics and its expertise in Data Science, we apply an intersectional approach that is responsive to the urgent needs of our partner communities.
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We aim to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 and improve access to vital medical healthcare to underserved and vulnerable communities by: Capacitating our communities with infection prevention and control measures such as contact tracing and health protocols; Providing the means to conduct free telehealth consultation services for community members, especially the elderly and women; And employing, training, and empowering 23 community health coordinators and 1 community work assistant
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Compassionate and efficient solutions are at the core of all that we do at The Atipan Project. Achieving our goals requires a multi-disciplinary approach. We have doctors trained to work with each community, IT experts, Indigenous Community Development experts working side by side with Data Science experts.
Our doctors undergo cultural sensitivity training through our community and indigenous experts and are fluent in the lingua franca.
Our Health Coordinators (HC) onsite are trained in the use of informatics equipment and the electronic medical record (EMR), an app developed by our Center for Informatics team. Our HCs are trained to collaborate with our medical health experts: to communicate symptoms and physical examinations to the doctor. Being tasked with the vital health records, all are trained in ethics and data privacy. With our backbone relying heavily on technology, the Center for Informatics holds the fort to keep our systems running smoothly, while providing analysis of the real-time data needed in order to be responsive to community needs.
Our community and indigenous experts work hand-in-hand with our Health Coordinators in each community, assuring that the accomplishment of our goals always have care and ‘atipan’ at the center and ethics at the forefront.
When Arden ( HC) and I went to the Yolanda housing project, there was a mother who listed her child, niece/nephew and husband. She did not list others in their home because she said it might be troublesome as there were already many that she listed.
Sweetsil Palencia (Atipan-Yolanda Pabahay Health Coordinator)
We encounter a lack of trust of telehealth by some community members, poor internet signal, the sudden cancellation of consultations, and many others. Despite everything, I go on. I am still excited about what else telehealth can provide for my community and my personal growth. I want to be challenged by doing telehealth.
Ericka Villasor (Pantad, Igcalawagan, Antique Health Coordinator)
Sometimes in my experience as an HC, of course it feels good when we can provide a consult with a medical professional, but the feeling is different when you assist a patient who has almost nothing, then you feel sad that they have to look for money to buy medicine.
Ge-anne Berola (Atipan-Yolanda Pabahay Health Coordinator)
Watch Emily from Lanit Community about her experience on Atipan Project.
I'm truly grateful for the telehealth services and medicines provided by the Project. Getting treatment has become much more accessible for me, and I've noticed a real improvement in my overall health.
Emily (Lanit Community)
Atipan Awards
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Atipan Awards *
The Atipan telehealth project of the Center for Informatics - University of San Agustin won 3 awards today at the Asian Development Bank (ADB)’s CSO P2P Conference in: outstanding communications (reaching diverse stakeholders), innovation in implementation and community engagement (setting a significant benchmark for future collaborations with civil society organizations), and maximizing gender benefits (promoting women’s inclusion in decision-making). This was the most number of awards given, besting other CSOs from all over Asia and the world. Read further here.
Watch a lecture on Atipan (June 28, 2022) soon after we launched telehealth services in the communities. Dr. de Castro also discussed Atipan and the upcoming AI4PEP (TDP4) project in the live streaming program "Bago and lahat, mamamayan muna (September 5, 2023)." When Atipan was completed by November 2023, Dr. de Castro gave a lecture in February 2024 to the Western Visayas Health Research and Development Consortium on: The Atipan Project - A Digital Health Strategy Towards Universal Health Care (UHC). The Atipan Project continues as Atipan+ in the use of telehealth data for AI for Pandemic/Epidemic Preparedness (AI4PEP).
Case Studies
Workshop & Events
Explore Atipan’s past events; a collection built on passion, strengthened by community, and inspired by innovation.
Atipan on NEDA
2023-11-09
The Impacts of Atipan (telehealth) on Marginalized and Vulnerable Communities/Implications on Increasing Public Investment in Inclusive Quality Healthcare and Relevant Policy Recommendations
Dr. Pia Zamora, ATIPAN’s Telehealth Coordinator, presented the ATIPAN Project to stakeholders from the government, private industry, and the academe during the Regional Research Utilization Forum of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Region VI held last September 28, 2023.
Atipan Workshop (March)
2023-03-20
Atipan Workshop (November)
2023-11-09
Atipan Midterm Review
2022-12-12
Discussion of data and its importance to the community by Oliver Generalao and Jimuel Celeste. Watch the episode here.
Showcase of Fiesta at Guimaras featuring Cindy Dela Cruz. Watch the episode here.
An insight by Robbie Mondia towards GIDA and Technology. Watch the episode here.