Empowering healthy families with education, resources and emergency care

Community Health

In the Philippines and beyond, ICM is an NGO that provides vital health education, resources, ongoing follow-up and emergency intervention for hundreds of thousands of families living in ultra-poverty.

One medical crisis can wipe out any progress made in the fight against poverty. Beyond the cost of the crisis itself, these emergencies cause loss of work and school, high-interest debts, isolation, and stigma. This is why ICM’s three-pronged community health care strategy is an integral part of our holistic program.

“I am so thankful! I have always hoped that someone would be kind enough to help my daughter. After her surgery, I was so excited to bring her home and show everyone. The people here all welcomed her.”

Rodel Father

“Thank you for all the help. I am blessed to have the ICM staff regularly checking on Mike-mike to see how he is doing—these are the people who truly care!”

Maryrose Mother

“It took years for my prayers to be answered. But now I have witnessed how amazing God is in our life.”

Gloria Medical Fund Recipient

“At first, I was doubtful if the program was even real. Until ICM contacted me and informed me that I already have a schedule for my operation. All my doubts disappeared!”

Mercy Medical Fund Recipient

Our Three-Pronged Strategy

Like all of our programs, ICM’s health care strategy takes a holistic approach to community health. We understand that health affects people and communities in profound ways that directly impact their ability to break the cycle of poverty. Our three-pronged approach covers the following areas:
– Primary health education and screening
– Treatment for common medical issues
– Medical Mercy Program for serious medical issues

See our research

Read our research about what life is like on less than 50 cents per day.

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Results of ICM’s CHCs and Medical Mercy Fund

1,428

Number of active CHCs

6,692

Number of tasks completed
in prior month by CHCs

16,604

Malnourished children cured

150,056

People served by CHCs

Cumulative impact as of 2025-12-01

Primary health education and health screenings

This first prong of our public health strategy focuses on teaching communities about health issues and includes the following:

Sanitation, family health, diet, disease prevention
Daily healthy practices for the whole family
Education to improve overall family well-being
Health screenings to detect common health issues among the poor

ICM empowers Transform families to increase
health-promoting practices, improving nutrition,
hygiene habits, and family care.

Medical treatment for health issues

The second prong concentrates on providing medical treatment for common health care and nutrition issues among the poor in the Philippines. These issues include:

Diagnosis and treatment of common health issues like malnutrition
Tuberculosis, and parasites
Pregnancy care -General medical care for those who need it

During Transform, ICM screens and treats for
common health issues, treating thousands of people every batch.

Medical Mercy Program

The third prong of our strategy provides for those with the most serious health care needs, and includes:

Treatment, surgical costs, and personalized follow-up care for those
with serious medical issues
Assistance with doctor visits and medical testing
Emotional and social support

ICM walks with patients from screening through surgery
to recovery, with patient advocacy, encouragement, and
physical support throughout.

Community Health Champions— Dedicated Advocates Supporting Families

ICM serves people in remote communities in the Philippines and beyond. When members of these communities suffer from poor health and lack proper medical care, it can prevent them from engaging in productive activities, such as going to school or earning a daily wage. This makes it even more difficult to break the cycle of poverty. Yet many health issues are preventable with the right education and guidance on how to access available services.

Community Health Champions (CHCs) are volunteers from the community. ICM trains these dedicated volunteers to help their neighbors prevent illness and treat medical needs. CHCs act as patient advocates, informal educators and counselors, and outreach workers. When they discover health concerns, they encourage their neighbors to seek access to local healthcare, and walk beside them through the process.

Guided by scalable, low-cost mobile technology, CHCs deliver individualized patient care. This technology also gives ICM medical staff real-time visibility for oversight.

CHCs bring healthcare to the doorstep of the poorest, most remote areas in the country

Health is a fundamental human right. Sadly, for millions of Filipinos living in extreme poverty, this is simply not the case. According to the Department of Health, half of Filipinos do not have access to primary health care.

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Sustaining health, sustaining hope

CJ’s family cramps up in a worn-out house ravaged by Typhoon Odette in 2021. His father, Carmelo, faces immense challenges in providing for their family of six, as his income from fishing is not enough.

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Working to eradicate Tuberculosis in the Philippines

ICM’s partnership with the Global Fund and PBSP is screening 100,000 people every year to proactively find and treat people with Tuberculosis (TB).

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Now They See

What would you do if you have been living with a genetic condition that took away your and even your children’s sight, then learned that it could be cured by an eye surgery procedure that you know you couldn’t afford? Would you give up hope?

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Featured

Meet our CEO

ICM combines the best practices of the business and academic worlds with the passion and heart of a Christian nonprofit. Hear from ICM’s CEO, David Sutherland, as he explains how he helped scale ICM from a start-up nonprofit to an effective world-class charity.

Thank you from ICM in Bohol

See the challenges and transformation from the incredible team on the island of Bohol.

30 years of ICM

How do we measure transformation? Your generosity has fuelled unbelievable change over the last 30 years.

The reality of living in ultra poverty

Can you imagine living on $0.50 per day? David Sutherland explains one family’s income and expenses live from ICM’s Hong Kong banquet.

Evangeline Update 2022

Heroic, brave, and full of hope, Evangeline’s story shows how the stakes are for families in ultra-poverty.

You can give the gift of health to children in the Philippines!

Consider your support

Please partner with ICM today to bring help, hope and change.

Donate Now

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