Barangay response workers to get pocket guide for COVID-19 case monitoring

DILG, DOH officials present pocket guides to help BHERT in handling COVID-19 cases in their respective communities. Screenshot from DILG Facebook live

MANILA, Philippines — Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams (BHERT) will receive pocket guides to help them improve their response in coronavirus disease cases in communities, the Department of Health (DOH) said Friday.

“This pocket guide aims to equip our frontliners on the ground with actionable information that is easily accessible to them when they most need it. Aside from clarification of the roles of BHERT and signs, symptoms of COVID-19, community-level action points are also included,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said during the launching of BHERTs pocket guide at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

Vergeire said the guide will also teach BHERT on “when to refer a patient to a hospital, how to conduct case investigation, and proper conduct of contact tracing.”

The health official also noted that the health department will provide updates about COVID-19 developments for BHERT “based on the newest evidence from the scientific community.”

Barangay response teams also support the Local Epidemiology and Surveillance Units and Contact Tracing Teams in tracking COVID-19 patients.

The teams are also tasked to visit houses, trace cases, and oversee the transfer of residents with COVID-19 symptoms to isolation facilities.

BHERT benefits

Village officials will also receive financial aid and other benefits for their help in curbing the further transmission of coronavirus disease among their constituents, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said.

“Kasama na din sa mga suportang inyong [BHERT] matatanggap ay COVID-19 special risk allowance bilang dagdag ng hazard pay at iba pang benepisyo bilang pasasalamat sa boluntaryong serbisyo,” Año said in a speech during the launch.

(Included in their benefits are COVID-19 special risk allowance, hazard pay and others.)

“Kabilang sa benepisyong ito ay  ang subsistence allowance, training, education at career enrichment programs, civil service eligibility, at free legal services, consultation services sa Public Assistance Office at access to loan na hangaring paganain ang inyong sitwasyon,” he added.

(Also included are subsistence allowance, training, education, career enrichment programs, civil service eligibility and free legal services, consultation services and loans.)

Año said there are more than 40,000 BHERT assisting the COVID-19 efforts nationwide.

JPV