[In photo: (L-R) RMC Director Dr. Maria Rica Lumage, DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss, Deputy Head of MASHAV Ambassador Irit Savion]
The governments of Israel and the Philippines launched on June 18 the ISHA Women’s Health Initiative, a pioneering project that establishes a One-Stop-Shop Women’s Health and Wellness Center.
Inspired by the Hebrew word “ISHA,” meaning “WOMAN,” the ISHA Project is initiated through the partnership of the Embassy of Israel in Manila, MASHAV – Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation, Department of Health (DOH), Rizal Medical Center (RMC), and supported by the Makati Medical Center Foundation (MMCF).
The partnership was formalized through a communique signed and released by the four parties at Rizal Medical Center in Pasig City.
“This initiative is not just about healthcare—it’s about dignity, access, and opportunity for every Filipina,” Israeli Ambasssador to the Philipipines Ilan Fluss said.
The center will provide comprehensive, life-stage healthcare for women, from preconception and reproductive health to postnatal care, mental wellness, and menopause management.
It will also include a dedicated unit for the care of women and children affected by gender-based violence, offering medical, psychological, and forensic support in a safe and compassionate environment.
Aside from Ambassador Fluss, the project launch was also attended by Deputy Head of MASHAV Ambassador Irit Savion, Secretary of Health Dr. Herbosa, and Medical Center Chief of RMC Dr. Lumague. Also present were Dr. Victor Gisbert, President of the Makati Medical Center Foundation; Ms. Marge Macasaet-Barro, Executive Director of the Foundation; and Deputy Ambassador Ester Buzgan.
Describing it as a deeply meaningful collaboration, Ambassador Savion said, “The ISHA Project is a landmark in the longstanding partnership between Israel and the Philippines. MASHAV was established the same year as Israel’s first embassy in Manila, and this initiative reflects our deep commitment to supporting the Filipino people. We hope to see this center standing on its feet very soon.”
[Visiting Israeli senior OB/GYN specialists from the Lis Maternity Hospital at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center/Ichilov—Dr. Ronit Almog (right), Head of “Ichilov Aid,” and Dr. Ran Nagar (left), Ultrasound Specialist (left)—are leading the project and sharing the expertise and knowledge of Israel’s top women’s hospital.]
As the first dedicated center of its kind in Rizal Medical Center’s 84-year history, the ISHA Project is seen to mark a milestone in public health, international cooperation, and gender equality.
