SimbaKalusugan brings care to parish communities

interaksyon.philstar.com · Feb 19, 2026 · Collected from GDELT

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From left, Fr. Dan Cancino, executive secretary of the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Health Care; Bishop Reynaldo Evangelista, commission chairman; and Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa attend the launch of “SimbaKalusugan” in the Diocese of Imus on Feb. 14, 2026. (CBCP News)SPONSORED ARTICLESThe bishops’ healthcare ministry arm has recently launched “SimbaKalusugan”, a groundbreaking program that brings healthcare directly into parish communities.Bishop Reynaldo Evangelista, chairman of the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Health Care (ECHC), led the launch at Imus Cathedral in Cavite on Feb. 14, emphasizing the Church’s role in holistic community care.Unveiled during the 34th World Day of the Sick, the program gathered sick community members, volunteers, healthcare professionals, and participants from Metro Manila and nearby Calabarzon provinces.The initiative is conducted in partnership with Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, local hospitals, and healthcare networks, aiming to make essential medical services more accessible nationwide.“This represents more than just a healthcare initiative—it embodies the Gospel’s call to serve the suffering and marginalized,” said Camillian Fr. Dan Cancino, ECHC executive secretary.The program’s name combines the Filipino words “Simbahan” (Church) and “kalusugan” (health), reflecting its vision to transform parishes into centers for physical, emotional, and spiritual care.Following the cathedral celebration, a medical mission at Imus Catholic School offered free consultations, medicine, dental services, chest X-rays, HIV screening, counseling, and education on chronic illnesses and mental health.“These weren’t just medical services—they were acts of mercy, dignity restored, and hope renewed for individuals who often face barriers to basic healthcare,” Cancino said.SimbaKalusugan builds on community-based healthcare efforts across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, showing that parish-centered initiatives can adapt to local needs while fostering compassion.“SimbaKalusugan transforms parishes from Sunday gathering places into seven-day-a-week hubs of healing and hope,” Cancino said, highlighting how the program empowers both clergy and laity in serving the sick.In an era dominated by impersonal, technology-driven medicine, he said the initiative emphasizes humanized care, treating patients as whole persons rather than merely addressing symptoms.The program also addresses what Cancino calls the “throwaway culture” that often neglects the elderly, sick, and disabled, making healthcare an inclusive right rather than a privilege.By bringing medical services to familiar and sacred parish grounds, the initiative reduces barriers such as distance, cost, transportation, and fear that prevent access to care in underserved areas.“Healthcare is not a privilege for the wealthy—it is a fundamental human right for all,” Cancino said. The program promotes a “therapeutic covenant” between doctors, patients, families, and faith communities.