Likhaan Center for Women's Health Inc.

Likhaan Center for Women's Health Inc (Likhaan) is a non-stock, non-profit Philippine NGO, founded in 1995 to achieve the right to health, particularly reproductive health, of women and youth in poor and marginalized communities. Likhaan was envisioned to be a "venue for creating alternative pathways for women." Likhaan believes in human rights, equality and justice and the power of citizens to transform their communities, especially as these apply to women. Our mission is to help women and poor communities harness their resources, and to engage the government and other stakeholders to transform unjust and inequitable situations. Our long-term goal is for women and their fa... read more Likhaan Center for Women's Health Inc (Likhaan) is a non-stock, non-profit Philippine NGO, founded in 1995 to achieve the right to health, particularly reproductive health, of women and youth in poor and marginalized communities. Likhaan was envisioned to be a "venue for creating alternative pathways for women." Likhaan believes in human rights, equality and justice and the power of citizens to transform their communities, especially as these apply to women. Our mission is to help women and poor communities harness their resources, and to engage the government and other stakeholders to transform unjust and inequitable situations. Our long-term goal is for women and their families and communities to fully enjoy their right to health, particularly their right to sexual and reproductive health. With nearly three decades of dedication and work, Likhaan has been able to advance and fulfill women's needs for sexual and reproductive rights and health services through our three core programs: community-based clinics; community organizing, education and mobilization; and advocacy. Likhaan currently maintains nine community-based women's clinics which provide integrated reproductive health (RH) including family planning (FP) services, where our trained clinicians provide patient-centered, gender-sensitive, and respectful care. Our clinicians work closely with our women and youth organizers, which enables us to link women in need of services to our clinics. Our organizers are trained in community organizing and education. Our services and organizing efforts are based in the poorest areas of Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, and Eastern Samar. Likhaan also provides information, education, and training on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), as well as policy advocacy with key national government agencies - Department of Health (DOH), Department of Education (DepEd) Philippine Health Insurance (PhilHealth), Commission on Population and Development (CPD) and Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to ensure that policies and programs benefit women and youth. Likhaan is one of the leaders of the Reproductive Health Advocacy Network (RHAN) that advocated for more than 12 years for the passage of the RH law. After the RH law was passed in 2012, Likhaan sits as one of the CSO representatives in the National Implementation Team of the RH law. As an organization, Likhaan practices feminist and democratic participation among its 76 staff. Various levels of communications encourage staff to openly participate in decision-making processes.