In commemoration of the celebration of “World Health Worker Week,” grateful appreciation is given by NNC Calabarzon to all the nutrition stakeholders in the region, including the BNSs of Region IV-A who are also sacrificing and dedicating their lives in the forefront in the battle against Covid-19.
According to the President of the Federation of Barangay Nutrition Scholar in Region IV-A (FBNS-4A), Ms. Milagros Valera, “Besides delivery of nutrition services, the BNS are also assigned to assist in COVID- 19 vaccination roll outs, checkpoints, and demographic collection for distribution of Social Amelioration Program.”
Most the BNSs are also members of “Barangay Health Emergency Response Team” (BHERT) composed of barangay captains, barangay councilors, tanod, and barangay health workers (BHW).
These BNSs as members of the BHERT are tasked to assist in the following: monitoring of COVID-19 positive individuals, PUI, and PUM at the isolation facility; contact tracing; coordination with barangay/city/health office regarding needs of the patients; delivery of food pack to isolated patients; and providing nutrition education in barangays. These duties were echoed by Ms. Jocelyn Francisa, a BNS and a member of BHERT in Bacoor City.
Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, there is endless delivery of nutrition services through provincial/city/municipal/barangay nutrition committees including the BNSs. Their roles are so vital in ensuring the nutritional well-being of all Filipinos.
The above initiatives are not only timely but essential, because even though vaccines are readily available, COVID-19 cases continue to rise, resulting to overwork of Filipino health workers.
In a recent statement, the World Health Organization (WHO) called out on all policy makers to listen to health workers and address their needs and concerns. Attention to our pandemic heroes becomes even more prominent with the converging annual celebration of the “World Health Worker Week” (April 5 to 9) and “World Health Day” (April 7).
In addition, a press release from DOH last October emphasized that the DILG will be collaborating with different agencies to intensify the initiatives of BHERT in ensuring access to public health care system for all Filipinos.
We at NNC, therefore, salute all co-health workers who are part of the public health system. Providing the right benefits for them is crucial in that they could serve better during this health crisis.
By: Darrenz William M. Mateos
