By Glen S. Ramos
ILOCOS Region Assistant Regional Director Rodolfo Antonio M. Albornoz announced the recent issuance of a joint memorandum circular (JMC) by the DOH and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) ensuring the security of tenure for Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) at the opening of the “Roll-Out Orientation on the Updated BHW Manual” held in Dagupan City, Pangasinan on September 19, 2023.
“Ang isang napaka-importanteng provision nito ay ang protection of BHWs against termination without due process. Kaya huwag napo kayong mag-alinlangan na kayo ay tatanggalin o mapapalitan sakaling magbago man ang liderato ng mga lokal na opisyal sa inyong mga barangay sa darating na eleksyon,” Albornoz stated.
“The JMC ensures job security and also guarantees the uninterrupted delivery of essential primary care services in every barangay, in line with the government’s commitment to achieving universal health coverage because BHWs who have undergone proper training and skills development will continue with their work unhampered,” he added.
The circular also provides that “voluntary basic health services” rendered by a BHW shall be retained, “unless otherwise, their performance is unsatisfactory as deliberated within the local health board.”
The JMC 2023-001 was signed by DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa and DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos, Jr. on August 24, 2023. It will help enforce the provisions of Republic Act 7883, also known as the BHW Incentives and Benefits Act of 1995, and the Universal Health Care Act.
The 40 Dagupan City BHW federation presidents who attended the 3-day orientation activity from September 19-21, 2023, applauded the two agencies’ efforts to protect and safeguard their well-being.
Meanwhile, Regional BHW Coordinator Ma. Lourdes P. Ducusin said that all BHWs in the region will have their own copies of the updated manuals and will soon be undergoing the same orientation activity to update their skills and competencies to enable them to provide more primary care services in their barangays.
“Our BHWs need constant updates to enhance their core competencies and we encourage them to continue attending seminars and training to update and improve their knowledge, skills, and attitude, which can eventually improve their self-confidence and performance in providing healthcare services.”
“Mahalaga na ang ating mga BHWs ay may kakayahan na maitaguyod ang kanilang tungkulin bilang tagapangalaga ng kalusugan ng kanilang barangay. They are the most important members of our health team, because they are at the forefront of healthcare delivery,” Ducusin emphasized.
The 2022 Updated BHW Reference Manual on Health Services and Policies contains topics on the roles of BHWs, relevant policies on BHS, self-management and workplace innovation skills, occupational safety and health, service quality, infection prevention and control, first aid and herbal medicines, community DRRM, primary care services, priority areas on health promotion and corresponding health programs, monitoring of health status, profiling and masterlisting and maintenance of BHS.
