Barangay Tibungco executives continuously face the challenge of the lack of personnel to support health programs of the government.
Tibungco Punong Barangay Merjade Calvo, along with other health workers of the said barangay, took part in the crafting of the implementing rules and regulations of the Universal Health Care Law by sharing their experiences during the forum held last week spearheaded by PhilHealth.
“Based on our experience in Barangay Tibungco, we really lack human resource in the medical professional, such as doctors, midwives, and nurses,” Calvo told TIMES.
There are only 21 barangay health workers (BHWs) and eight barangay nutrition scholars, and some health volunteer workers under the City Health Office, who cater to the needs of almost 50,000 constituents in the 26 puroks of the barangay.
Calvo also called on the Department of Health to train BHWs to help them reach the remote parts of their barangay.
“If only the Department of Health would capacitate our barangay health workers and authorize them to also administer vaccines then we could help address the gap,” said Calvo. “We also need to assure the public that basic vaccines and medicines are provided and we have to reach them.”
Calvo also hopes that the newly passed Universal Health Care law will address the needs of the barangay in terms of human resource. “I am hopeful that with the Universal Health Care law will be fully implemented to benefit Filipinos even up to the hinterlands,” Calvo said.
