Two major communication programs designed and implemented by the Center for Health Solutions and Innovations Philippines, Inc. (CHSI Philippines, Inc.) for different development partners earned nine trophies at the 52nd Anvil Awards of the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP).
U4U, a campaign on the prevention of teen pregnancy, received five Gold Anvil Awards, and “Goodbye, Dumi! Hello, Healthy!”, a communication campaign on water, sanitation and hygiene, got two Gold Anvil Awards and two Silver Anvil Awards.
“We dedicate this recognition to the men, women, boys and girls whom we have reached with critical messages for their health and development,” said CHSI Philippines managing director Dr. Carmina Aquino.
Last year, U4U was named the 2015 Grand Anvil winner, the highest recognition conferred on any communication campaign. This year, U4U received awards for demonstrating excellence in the scale up of a program and the use of various communication tools. With initial funding from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), “U4U” has become the flagship project of the Commission on Population (POPCOM) under its Adolescent Health and Youth Development (AHYD) program.
UNFPA country representative Mr. Klaus Beck received the awards with POPCOM, CHSI Philippines and PageOne, a public relations agency that has been instrumental in bringing the messages of U4U through various online platforms.
“Indeed, U4U has exceeded our expectations. Yet, like an adolescent, U4U has many promising years ahead. We are working with our partners to make the U4U an essential component of the country’s comprehensive sexuality education program in secondary schools,” Beck said.
“Since its launch in 2014, U4U has attracted the support of local governments. 70 percent of U4U funding is now shouldered by local governments,” said POPCOM executive director Dr. Juan Antonio Perez.
U4U has reached over six million young people through engaging content in Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Nearly 100,000 teens have participated in interactive U4U Teen Trail events where participants learn about ways to prevent teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.
“Goodbye, Dumi” won two Gold Anvil trophies for excellence in the use of communication tools, namely a community theater performed by local children and a health class module facilitated by barangay health workers. Two Silver Awards were conferred on the campaign for its implementation in host communities and for its sustained programming.
With funding from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), “Goodbye, Dumi” was
implemented in the Province of Masbate in support of the Phased Approach to Total Sanitation (PhATS) strategy. Since its kick-off in October 2015, the campaign has helped increase the access of households in 20 barangays from 34% to 85% in only six months. Thirteen of these 20 villages have been declared as Zero Open Defecation (ZOD) villages, where the practice of open defecation has been reportedly eliminated.
UNICEF country representative Lotta Sylwander received the awards, together with CHSI Philippines and PageOne. “These Awards are a testament to the kind of work that UNICEF has helped innovate with our partners for Filipino children,” Sylwander said.
The Anvil Awards recognize communication programs that have delivered measurable impact. The 52nd Anvil Awards recognized 80 companies and organizations for their exemplary work in communication.
