Barangay health emergency response teams train in Benguet

The municipal government of Mankayan of this province conducted continuous trainings for the members of the barangay health emergency response teams (BHERTs) in the municipality to ensure the proper handling of suspected Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) cases pursuant to established health protocols to prevent the spread of the deadly virus, especially during the onset of the rainy season.

Mayor Frenzel A. Ayong said the municipal disaster risk reduction and management office (MDRRMO) and the municipal health office (MHO) which are the municipal government offices in charge of the said barangay-based trainings are now making the rounds in the town’s 12 barangays to train the BHERTs members to ensure their awareness on the execution of the proper health protocols to COVID cases.

He pointed out the municipal government wants the BHERTs members to be properly equipped in handling suspected COVID cases because with the onset of the rainy season, there will be people who will contract simple cough, colds and fever which are the rainy day illnesses and that the same could be misinterpreted as possible COVID suspects that may result to the discrimination of the said residents.

“ We are elated on the overwhelming response of the people in the barangays interested in participating in the said training because they want to be well informed on how to handle possible COVID suspects and put to practice established health protocols to prevent the spread of the deadly virus once there will be confirmed cases in the municipality. We do not want people having simple fever, cough and colds to be discriminated by people in the barangay, thus the municipal government decided to pursue such training for interested barangay health emergency response team members,” Mayor Ayong stressed.

The municipal chief executive added the municipal government had also been receiving positive responses from the initial 5 barangays where the training had been conducted, thus, the coverage area of the training will be expanded to have the widest possible sharing of established health protocols and allow peoples to learn how to effectively and efficiently handle suspected or confirmed COVID cases to prevent panic in the areas where the said incidents are reported.

According to him, Mankayan remains to be COVID-free because of the vigilance and cooperation of the residents to the prescribed guidelines and policies governing the implementation of the extended Luzonwide enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

He noted that from the proposed 20 to 30 participants of the training in each of the barangays, the number of participants usually double, a clear indication that many people want to be know important information and participate in the activities being undertaken to ensure that suspected COVID cases are given the appropriate attention prior to their being turned over to the health facilities designated to handle COVID patients. (Content reposted from HeraldExpress)

Photo:  Benguet Provincial Capitol, PIA