Barangay health volunteer

Last updated

Barangay health volunteers, also known as barangay health workers, are health care providers in the Philippines. They undergo a basic training program under an accredited government or non-government organization, and render primary care services in the community. They provide services such as first aid, maternal, neonatal, and child health, and community-based interventions including immunization clinics for barangays. [1]

Contents

History

With the decentralization of healthcare through the 1991 Local Government Code, the responsibility of delivery of primary health services were transferred from the central government to locally elected provincial, city, and municipal governments. Health services were previously funded and managed by the Department of Health but were transferred to the local governments after the devolution of the healthcare system. [2]

Training and practice

Barangay Health Workers are accredited to function as such by the local health board in accordance with the guidelines promulgated by the Philippines Department of Health, as defined in Sec. 3 of Republic Act No. 7883. [3] This act, also known as "Barangay Health Workers' Benefits and Incentives Act of 1995", recognizes the need for primary health care and organizes health workers to promote health empowerment. [4]

Barangay health workers are a type of community health workers and act as health advocates and educators within their communities. [5] They live in the communities they serve and receive about five weeks of training, ranging from administering immunizations, weighing children, birthing services, etc. They provide information, education and motivation services for primary health care, maternal and child health, child rights, family planning and nutrition. [6]

On average, each Volunteer is expected to work with around 20 families in their community. [1] However the scarcity of trained individuals has narrowed down the number of volunteers, especially in some remote areas, where now one or two volunteers service an entire barangay.

Research

Research by Fe Espino at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine on dengue prevention in the Philippines shows how community trust of the BHV is vital to the success of behavior change programs. In 2010, the number of dengue cases in the Philippines rose from 37,101 in 2006 to 118,868. Dengue fever is caused by a virus transmitted by mosquitoes which are born in still water. Due to water shortages, households are forced to store water throughout the year. Espino’s research team engaged the local Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) to introduce a household water container management system to control dengue in 2 communities in "Masagana City" in Metro Manila.

In both village ‘A’ and ‘B’, BHWs were trained to teach households to inspect water containers for immature mosquitoes. An instructional guide was provided along with a container management checklist, collected during monthly visits. The team also provided a video of dengue control techniques. Village A, however, encountered many problems and there was a poor response to the program. In Village B participants reported not only that the visits made residents more aware of dengue control, but they were more inclined to take action. Although behaviour change results have not yet been reported, it appears the difference is that the BHWs in Village B were more active and more trusted by the community. This shows that when engaging change agents, it’s important to understand both how the community feels about them and how they feel about their community. [7]

Limitations

Despite the efforts of barangay health volunteers, they are constrained within the political leadership of local government units. [8] There is a perception that barangay health stations provide low-quality health services and have low-client satisfaction. With funding limitations, barangay health stations struggle with lack of medicines supplies, long wait times, declines in quality of facility infrastructure, and lack of proper training and staffing. [9] The rural poor are the most susceptible to poor sanitation, malnutrition, and lack of hygiene efforts. [10] These communities that depend heavily on barangay health services are affected by political, social, and economic decisions made by local authorities . [11]

Volunteers may often be limited in knowledge due to new advances in medicine and lack of proper training. Training is crucial for barangay health workers to improve their health knowledge and competency and provide the best quality care.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marikina</span> Highly urbanized city in Metro Manila, Philippines

Marikina, officially the City of Marikina, is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the National Capital Region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 456,159 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Valenzuela, Metro Manila</span> Highly urbanized city in Metro Manila, Philippines

Valenzuela, officially the City of Valenzuela, is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the National Capital Region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 714,978 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dulag, Leyte</span> Municipality in Leyte, Philippines

Dulag, officially the Municipality of Dulag, is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Leyte, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 48,992 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cauayan, Negros Occidental</span> Municipality in Negros Occidental, Philippines

Cauayan, officially the Municipality of Cauayan, is a 1st class municipality and the most populous municipality in the province of Negros Occidental, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 108,480 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pandan, Antique</span> Municipality in Antique, Philippines

Pandan, officially the Municipality of Pandan, is a 4th class municipality in the province of Antique, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 35,965 people. Making it 7th most populous municipality in the province of Antique.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ubay, Bohol</span> Municipality in Bohol, Philippines

Ubay, officially the Municipality of Ubay, is a fast growing 1st class municipality in the province of Bohol, Philippines. Based on the 2020 Philippine Statistics Authority census, it has a population of 81,799 people which is projected to grow to 100,000 in 2030.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cabanglasan</span> Municipality in Bukidnon, Philippines

Cabanglasan, officially the Municipality of Cabanglasan, is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Bukidnon, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 36,286 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santa Rosa, Nueva Ecija</span> Municipality in Nueva Ecija, Philippines

Santa Rosa, officially the Municipality of Santa Rosa is a 1st class municipality in the province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 75,649 people.

Juan Martin Flavier was a Filipino physician and politician. He served as the Secretary of Health under President Fidel V. Ramos from 1992 to 1995, and was later elected to the Senate, serving from 1995 to 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002</span>

Signed into effect on 12 June 2002, the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002, (PHSBPRA) was signed by the President, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Street children in the Philippines</span>

Street children in the Philippines was first seen in the 1980s, and is estimated to be 250,000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Health in the Philippines</span> Overview of health in the Philippines

In response to the Millennium Development Goals' focus on maternal and child health, the Philippines began the National Demographic and Health Survey in 1968 to assess the effectiveness of public health programs in the country.

In the Philippines, local government is divided into three levels: provinces and independent cities, component cities and municipalities, and barangays, all of which are collectively known as local government units (LGUs). In some area, above provinces and independent chartered cities, is an autonomous region, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao is an example. In towns and some cities they remit their revenue to national government and goes back in a form of IRA. Below barangays in some cities and municipalities are sitios and puroks. All of these, with the exception of sitios and puroks, elect their own executives and legislatures. Sitios and puroks are often but not necessarily led by an elected barangay councilor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Community health worker</span>

A community health extension worker (CHEW) are specially trained professional who provides promotive, preventive, curative And rehabilitative health activities and services to people where they live and work. Community health extension worker are trained in the college of health technologies.community health extension (CHEW) is different from CHW( community health work) required no formal education he is chosen by the community or organizations to provide basic health and medical care within their community, and is capable of providing preventive, promotional and rehabilitation care to that community. Other terms for this type of health care provider include lay health worker, village health worker, community health aide, community health promoter, and health advisor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rex Gatchalian</span> Secretary of Social Welfare and Development

Rexlon Ting Gatchalian is a Filipino politician serving as the 28th Secretary of Social Welfare and Development since 2023. He previously served as the district representative and Mayor of Valenzuela, Philippines. He is the brother of politicians Win Gatchalian and Wes Gatchalian.

The Kababaihan Gabay ng Bayan - KAGABAY, means "women supporting the country" in Filipino. KAGABAY is a non-government, non-profit, social development organization. It was set up to address poverty reduction through the social, political and economic empowerment of women in urban poor and resettlement communities. With its motto: “Kababaihan Para Sa Kababaihan", KAGABAY aims to contribute to the achievement of the country’s Millennium Development Goals through the empowerment of women that will enable them to address the multi‐faceted dimensions of poverty within their communities.

Mental health in the Philippines is a survey of the status of psychological, psychiatric, and emotional health care in the Philippines from both past and present programs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abortion in Kenya</span> Termination of pregnancy in Kenya

Abortion in Kenya is prohibited with the exception of certain circumstances including danger to the life and health of the expectant mother, and rape. Unsafe abortions are a major cause of deaths and health complications for women in Kenya.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ang Probinsyano Party-list</span> Political party in Philippines

The Alyansa ng mga Mamamayang Probinsyano, also known as the Ang Probinsyano Party-list (APPL) is political organization which has party-list representation in the House of Representatives of the Philippines as of the 18th Congress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bacolod City Council</span>

The Bacolod City Council is the legislature of Bacolod City, Philippines. The legislative body is composed of 14 councilors, with 12 councilors elected from Bacolod's at-large district and two elected from the ranks of barangay (neighborhood) chairmen and the Sangguniang Kabataan. The council's presiding officer is the vice-mayor, elected by the city at-large. The council creates laws and ordinances applicable within the jurisdiction of Bacolod City, although the Mayor of Bacolod can veto proposed bills, the council can override the veto with a two-thirds supermajority.

References

  1. 1 2 Red Cross. Philippines: Health. Archived May 12, 2012, at the Wayback Machine Accessed November 8, 2011.
  2. ↑ Lakshminarayanan, Rama (May 2003). "Decentralisation and its implications for reproductive health: the Philippines experience". Reproductive Health Matters. 11 (21): 96–107. doi: 10.1016/s0968-8080(03)02168-2 . ISSN   0968-8080. PMID   12800707.
  3. ↑ Philippines Department of Health. Archived January 22, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ↑ "Republic Act 7883 | Philippine Commission on Women". pcw.gov.ph. Archived from the original on February 6, 2018. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
  5. ↑ Inobaya, Marianette T.; Chau, Thao N.; Ng, Shu-Kay; MacDougall, Colin; Olveda, Remigio M.; Tallo, Veronica L.; Landicho, Jhoys M.; Malacad, Carol M.; Aligato, Mila F. (January 2018). "Mass drug administration and the sustainable control of schistosomiasis: Community health workers are vital for global elimination efforts". International Journal of Infectious Diseases. 66: 14–21. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2017.10.023 . hdl: 10072/364305 . ISSN   1878-3511. PMID   29128644.
  6. ↑ Basics Support for Institutionalizing Child Survival Project. Newborn Health in the Philippines. Arlington, Virginia, June 2004. Accessed November 8, 2011.
  7. ↑ Goodwin, Nicholas (July 2, 2014). "Change agents make residents feel safer about dengue fever in the Philippines". Tulodo. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  8. ↑ Espino, Fe; Marco, Jesusa; Salazar, Nelia P.; Salazar, Ferdinand; Mendoza, Ysadora; Velazco, Aldwin (December 2012). "Community-based dengue vector control: experiences in behavior change in Metropolitan Manila, Philippines". Pathogens and Global Health. 106 (8): 455–461. doi:10.1179/2047773212Y.0000000061. PMC   3541901 . PMID   23318237.
  9. ↑ World Bank (2001). Filipino Report Card on Pro-poor Services. Washington DC: East Asia and the Pacific Region Report Number 22181 – PH, Environment and Social Development Sector Unit.
  10. ↑ Ross, Allen G. P.; Olveda, Remigio M.; McManus, Donald P.; Harn, Donald A.; Chy, Delia; Li, Yuesheng; Tallo, Veronica; Ng, Shu-Kay (January 2017). "Risk factors for human helminthiases in rural Philippines". International Journal of Infectious Diseases. 54: 150–155. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2016.09.025 . hdl: 10072/142863 . ISSN   1878-3511. PMID   27717859.
  11. ↑ Azfar, Omar; Gurgur, Tugrul (July 1, 2008). "Does corruption affect health outcomes in the Philippines?". Economics of Governance. 9 (3): 197–244. doi:10.1007/s10101-006-0031-y. ISSN   1435-6104.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.