The Department of Health (DOH) – Ilocos Region conducted a 5-day Capacity Building for Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) of Pangasinan as Health Education and Promotion Officers (HEPOs) on the Ground highlighting the seven (7) Priority Areas defined in DOH’s Health Promotion Framework Strategy from August 28, 2023 to September 1, 2023 in Bolinao, Pangasinan.
The training, which was attended by 78 BHW federation presidents, provided insights and guidance on their new role as barangay HEPOs and how they will develop activities and programs for the implementation of the seven priority areas including nutrition and physical activity, environmental health, immunization, substance use, mental health, sexual and reproductive health, and violence and injury prevention at the community level.
“Our BHWs will be spearheading the implementation of these programs in their respective communities and it is important that they understand their new role as Health Promotion Officers (HEPOs),” assistant regional director Rodolfo Antonio Albornoz stated.
“Kailangang pagtibayin ang kakayahan at kaalaman ng ating mga BHWs bilang health care service providers, educators at community organizers upang lubos pang mapagbuti ang pagtataguyod ng kalusugan, maiwasan ang mga health risk factors at makamit ang kalusugan ng mga mamayan na kanilang nasasakupan,” Albornoz added.
“Under the UHC Law, the Health Promotion Framework Strategy (HPFS) serves as a roadmap for all health promotion policies, programs and activities at the national, regional, and local levels. At dito sa roadmap na ito, isa sa mga action areas para ma-localize ang implementasyon ng HPFS sa mga LGUs ay ang pag-designate ng mga BHWs bilang on-the-ground HEPOs.”
There are currently 13,700 BHWs in the province of Pangasinan who will be implementing and promoting the programs in the communities.
Dr. Cheryl Buhong, head of the Regional Health Promotion Unit said that ‘Health for All’ begins with health promotion.
“After the training, we are expecting that every participant shall be able to impart their new knowledge and skills to their members kasama na dito ang pagkilala sa mga social determinants of health, pagpapaunlad ng kanilang interpersonal communication and counseling skills at social and behavioral change communication skills, risk communication, at social listening skills,” Buhong said.
“This training will also help them to work collaboratively with other primary care provider networks within the municipality to ensure the effective implementation of health promotion policies, programs, and activities at the barangay level.”
BHWs will be conducting health promotion activities based on the DOH Community Health Promotion Playbook Volume 1 including diet and exercise, environmental health, immunization, substance use, mental health, sexual and reproductive health, and violence and injury prevention.
Skills, applied knowledge and a good attitude are essential to BHWs to complete their jobs effectively and efficiently, and President Ferdinand ‘Bong-Bong’ Marcos is currently pushing for the passage of the Magna Carta for BHWs, one of the priority bills of his administration, to uplift their conditions and provide them with more benefits and incentives. NLMonitor
