Midwives turned entrepreneurs

Ten years ago, Purita Dantes kept two jobs and took home P2,000 a month.

Today, she earns that amount in half a day as a midwife-entrepreneur of the Well-Family Midwife Clinics.

WFMC was jointly put up in 1997 by JSI Research and Training Institute, Inc., a Boston-based non-government organization specializing in technical assistance to public health programs, and the United States Agency for International Development under Project TANGO (Technical Assistance for the Conduct of Integrated Family Planning and Maternal Health Services by Philippine NGO).

"TANGO aims to build a network of franchisee-type service delivery facilities consistent with the themes of entrepreneurship, ownership and empowerment and combining business and social development concepts. This objective is realized through the WFMC," said JSI resident adviser Ester Dasmarinas.

Equity

The equity put in by a WFMC franchisee is equivalent to the cost for construction or renovation of the clinic to be opened. JSI helps out by doing feasibility and marketing appraisals on a prospective clinic’s location as well as provides the clinic with the necessary equipment and instruments including a delivery table, the WFMC signage and marketing promotional materials. Nine NGO-partners provide financial and psychological back up, both in good and bad times, for the midwife-entrepreneur.

"I shelled out P80,000, a part of which I borrowed from my sister and part of which came from my own savings. Aside from the renovation, the money went to buy tables and chairs , beds and other essential clinic facilities," said Dantes, who opened her Bagong Silang clinic in November 2000.

Equally as important as the equity is the willingness of the midwife applicant to adhere to WFMC standards.

"We adhere to strict standards in choosing our clinic managers. We believe these standards set the brand of our network of midwife-run clinics that has only the best in quality and safe FP/MCH services for the public," said Dasmarinas.

The accepted midwife-entrepreneur undergoes rigid training in three areas: quality assurance, business development and marketing and promotions. The first two weeks upon opening shop are spent getting to know the people of the community and introducing her new clinic. Discounted services are part of the program’s marketing and promotional strategy.

A WFMC clinic provides FP/MCH services, check ups, counseling on contraception, pregnancy tests, minor gynecological services such pap smears, and basic health services within the competence of the midwife like pre- and post-natal care, normal spontaneous delivery and immunization. The clinic also provides blood pressure and weight-taking as well as wound dressing and first aid.

Depending on the location of the clinic, the midwife entrepreneur can earn a monthly income of between P25,000 and P250,000.

Prosperity

These days, Dantes is a picture of a hardworking businesswoman. Her clinic usually services 15 to 20 patients a day, generating an income of P5,000 at the end of day. Business is so good that she now employs other midwives.

Although her clinic is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Dantes is on call round the clock, especially for deliveries.

"Patients say that my clinic offers the best health care service in the community. They feel that my staff takes care of their needs. They also notice that my clinic is very clean and the equipment are state-of-the-art," she said.

To ensure that the 200 WFMC franchises meet standards, each facility is regularly monitored by JSI. The list of back-up physicians and referral hospital in case of medical emergencies submitted by the midwife-entrepreneurs are also checked.

"Only by giving quality service can we sustain the current network of clinics and the future clinics to come," said Dasmarinas.