The Visayas Primary Healthcare Services, Inc. (VPHCS) held an orientation on the project on community-based COVID-19 response for members of the Association of Barangay Councils of San Remigio on August 28, 2020 at the Social Hall of the Municipal Hall.
The meeting was facilitated by project staff Lora Manigos, Edgar Gahisan, Petty Orbeta de Castro, Crescenciana Labitad, and field worker Jerhald Agcang.
An overview of the project was discussed with all 27 barangay captains or their representatives who were present. Ms. Manigos opened the meeting with a gentle reminder about following the basic health protocols, followed by a prayer led by the Barangay Punta barangay captain. The barangay captains then introduced themselves and Ms. Manigos introduced the VPHCS to them and the team. Ms. Labitad then discussed about the project objectives and activities. Mr. Gahisan followed with the planning of the schedules and the barangays to be trained
by the VPHCS and the RTI International. Mr. Agcang took charge of the registration, collection of the consent to pictures forms, and documentation.
Although the municipality has few reported cases of COVID-19, they agreed it was urgent and necessary to delay, contain and mitigate the effects of the disease through capacity-building activities. For the BHERTs trainings, it was agreed to train 100 members of the BHERTs from 20 barangays with five participants from each barangay, instead of 80 as provided for in the grant agreement for 10 barangays. The schedules for the BHERTs trainings were set, as follows, Sept. 14, 15 for two batches with 25 participants per batch, and on September 16, 17 for another two batches with 25 participants per batch. The trainings will be held at the Cultural Center of San Remegio. The remaining seven barangays will be trained by the RTI International, according to Provincial Technical Officer Keannu Arnoco who was present during the activity.
Notices will be given to the barangay captains through their ABC secretary at least a week from the trainings.
The meeting also scheduled October 1, 2020 for the training for 35 barangay health workers (BHWs) and barangay nutrition scholars (BNS). The training is on Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), and gender-based violence (GBV).
