Department of Health-Mimaropa Regional Director Eduardo C. Janairo wants barangay health workers to be “placed in the mainstream of the health system” to achieve the agency’s goal of providing everyone in the community the health service they deserve.
“We have been speaking of their unselfish acts and providing them recognition, but the BHWs deserve more that words and commemoratives,” said Janairo.
“They need more support in exchange for their noble and selfless regular undertakings in the local community,” he added.
In order for the department to provide more health benefits and double its delivery of primary health care, Janairo said BHWs must be given full support training on the use of medical tools and diagnostic instruments, including the provision of stethoscopes, ventilator, and blood testing kits, which will help them in the diagnosis, prevention, monitoring, treatment and alleviation of diseases in the community.”
DoH defines a BHW as a person who has undergone training under any accredited government and non-government organization. He 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 department.
According to Janairo, BHWs receive meager allowance or sometimes none 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,” he said.
“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,” Janairo stressed.
“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 added.
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.