Health workers are people who provide significant contributions to improve the health status of the community and the world. They make up the global health workforce who knows what is best for a resilient health system against natural hazards and disease outbreaks.

April 5-9 is World Health Worker Week to honor the efforts of our valiant health workers who continue to serve, improve and save lives especially during our war against COVID-19 pandemic and other crisis. This year’s theme “Listen to Health Workers” calls on global leaders, donors and policymakers to take specific actions to ensure persistent support, protection and motivation to health workers. Here are some policy recommendations to value our health workers not just this week but all throughout the year:

• Amplify health workers’ voices, share their stories, and act on their recommendations.
• Prioritize health workers to receive a COVID-19 vaccine and recruit and train the health workers needed to deliver the vaccine to all people.
• Make personal protective equipment available, as well as needed testing and treatments, for every health worker, including community health workers.
• Provide fair play for all frontline health workers, including community health workers.
• Address the barriers women health workers face, and open up opportunities for leadership and professional advancement.

We all have a role to ensure safe health care delivery at all times. Caring for our health workers is absolutely necessary to have a functioning health system and society as well. 

source: WHO

Ruby Ann Laurito, NO I/Annalita Mae Flores, NO III