NORFI A Negros Occidental Rehabilitation Foundation, Inc.

The Case History

 Started in 1981

ORGANIZATIONAL BACKGROUND

As a small group convened by Mrs. Julieta Benedicto Chairperson of the National Commission Concerning Disabled Persons The group consisted of: Representatives from the Negros Occidental Provincial Governors Office Bacolod City Mayors Office Volunteers from the business sector and civic organizations Philanthropists The provincial government donated a building and a lot

for the foundations operations.

ORGANIZATIONAL BACKGROUND
Registered as a non-stock, non-profit

organization in Bacolod City in 1982 Mission Vision

To provide comprehensive rehabilitation services to

improve the quality of life of indigent persons with disabilities with a vision of a fully participating person with disability in the day-to-day activities of his/her house, neighborhood, community, and country.

COMUNITY-BASED REHABILITATION (CBR) PROGRAM

Piloted in 1981 and institutionalized in 1982

To decentralize the delivery of essential rehabilitation

services to the barangay, village or community level; lower the costs of rehabilitation; and widen the coverage of services for the disabled population. Started with 1,598 PWDs in 18 villages in Bacolod 53 volunteer workers were trained to become local supervisors (LSs)

ORGANIZATIONAL BACKGROUND
In 1982, Negros Occidental Rehabilitation Center

(NORC) was established by NORFI. In 1988, the World Health Organization (WHO) recognized the achievements of NORFI.
Made the organization its collaborating center for

the Western Pacific Region

Five years after the implementation of its CBR

program from 53 LSs serving 18 communities in 1981 to 126 LSs working in 71 areas in 1985.

 Fifteen years after NORFI was established, Mr.

Luis Sarrosa became its President. In 2001, Gov. Joseph Maraon pushed for the adoption of CBR by all municipalities and cities in the province. Beginning in 2002, Christoffel Blindenmission provided financial support to NORFI
Increase in funding enabled NORFI to expand its

services and areas of coverage

BEYOND REHABILITATION SERVICES

NORFI became a training ground for the Physical

and Occupational Therapy students on many universities here and abroad. In 1996, Norfi formed a partnership with Haagse Hoge School
Human Kinetic Technology students complete their

3-month internship at NORFI Students were tasked to design, produce, field test, and modify projects related to the rehabilitation of PWDs

 In 1996, NORFI started a project that aimed to

extend basic maternal and child health services to the marginalized while also providing livelihood opportunities for midwives.
In cooperation with the John Snow Research and

Training Institute and the United States Agency for International Development, the project had grown 20 Well-Family Midwife Clinics by 2010, operating in Negros Occidental and Western Visayas.

 In 2002, NORFI established its orthotic /

prosthetic workshop in partnership with Handicap International.

Engaged in the production of appropriate technical

assistive devices for PWDs Patients learn how to use their devices properly in the workshop. Designed, manufactured, and repaired prosthesis, orthosis, wheelchairs, canes for the blind, crutches, and special chairs for children with cerebral palsy, among others.

PARTNERING FOR SUSTAINABILITY

The Provincial and Local Government Units
The city or municipal government Paid for the medication necessary for the treatment of their constituents Paid for the salaries of the LGU-based social workers and health officers. Provided the infrastructure for the rehabilitation centers The provincial government Provided the funds for NORFIs overhead expenses and staff salaries Other government agencies DSWD, DOH Provided assistance to the CBR by way of personnel (therapists), education, training, and livelihood programs

 Institutional Partners
John Snow-USAID and WHO Ceased financial support to NORFI since 1996 Christoffel Blidenmission Provided subsidy to the poor in form of free medicines and transportation as well as aids for the physically, visually, and hearing impaird Helped NORFI train personnel, monitor projects, conduct study sessions, and handle group therapy programs

 Stitching Liliane Fonds Provided personalized, small-scale, and direct aid covering in medical, schooling, medicines, special appliances, pre and post-operative care and supplies, and supplemental feeding, among others. Multi-Sectoral Alliance for Development (MUAD-

Negros) and the Associated Council for Coordinated Development (ACCORD)

Helped NORFI in its referral system and the training of its

staff

Association of Disabled Persons

 Individuals Volunteer doctors In 2010, NORFI had 12 volunteer doctors with different areas of specialization Rehabilitated patients Non-medical volunteers

LEADERSHIP and GOVERNANCE

For Mr. Sarrosa, transparency was key to

sustaining the support of NORFI partners.

He said, I have always believed in transparency

aside from the annual reports required by some donors, we also submit terminal reports to the LGUs, even if they do not require us to do so. We make sure that every cent is accounted for.

NORFI Today
Aside from expanding geographically, NORFI had

expanded its services to include ENT, orthotics, pediatrics, prostate cancer treatment, child developmental programs, ophthalmic service, mental health care (2007), breast cancer treatment (2008), and leprosy treatment (2009).

 According to Mr. Sarrosa, the next step for

NORFI was to institutionalize government participation in the program by having the incumbents concretize their agreement in an ordinance. No private entity must own the program.

 NORFI took pride in being able to help the sick

recover and in helping rehabilitate the disabled, thereby making them productive members of society. NORFI took pride also about having helped the PWDs overcome the social stigma attached to patients like them.