Department of Health (DOH) – MIMAROPA (Oriental/Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan) Regional Director Eduardo C. Janairo wants Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) to be placed in the mainstream of the health system in order for the health department to achieved its goal of providing everyone in the community the health service they deserved.
“We have been speaking of their unselfish acts and providing them recognitions but the BHWs deserve more that words and commemoratives. They need more support in exchange of their noble and selfless regular undertakings in the local community,” Regional Director Eduardo C. Janairo stated during his speech at the 2107 Barangay Health Worker’s Summit held from November 7-10, 2017.
“In order for the health department to provide more health benefits and double its effort in the delivery of primary health care, BHWs must be given full support training on the utilization of medical tools and diagnostic instruments including provision of stethoscope, ventilator, blood testing kits which will help them in the diagnosis, prevention, monitoring, treatment and alleviation of diseases in the community,” he added.
DOH defines a BHW as a person who has undergone training programs under any accredited government and non-government organization and who voluntarily renders primary health care services in the community after having been accredited to function as such by the local health board in accordance with the guidelines promulgated by the health department
According to Janairo, BHWs receive meager allowance or sometimes non-at all depending on the budget of the municipality. “They have the biggest responsibility in providing health care services to the public, especially among poor families.”
“Aside from giving primary care, they perform health education classes, prepare and organize community health events in their local communities. They are also in the frontline of providing maternal, newborn and child health care,” Director Janairo emphasized.
“We should give them what they deserve like better allowances and more benefits, so that we can have more individuals who would want to serve as BHWs especially in the far-flung barangays,” he stressed.
The 2017 BHWs Summit was attended by regional members from MIMAROPA, National Capital Region and the Southern Luzon Cluster. The focus of the summit was the guarantee and assurance health services and packages and ensuring access through a functional service delivery network that will be implemented in every community. –Marinduquenews.com