A total of 124 members of the Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams (BHERTs) of Bogo City had a training “Strengthening BHERTs capacity during COVID-19 pandemic” on September 21 to 25, 2020.
The trainings are part of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) ReachHealth Project administered by the RTI International to provide technical assistance to the Local Government Units (LGUs) of Bogo City, Tabuelan, San Remigio and Medellin, in the implementation of various capacity-building activities to support community-based COVID-19 response to delay, contain the transmission of COVID-19, and mitigate the effects of the pandemic in their localities.
The trainings were organized by the Visayas Primary Healthcare Services, Inc. (VPHCS) which implements the COVID-19 response project.
On September 21 and 22, one batch consisted of the BHERTs from Barangays Sambag, San Vicente, Santo Rosario, Polambato, Libertad, Lourdes, and Pandan. On September 24 and 25, another batch consisted of BHERTs from Barangays Anonang Norte, Binabag, Siocon, La Purisima Concepcion, Carbon and Marangog. The training for the third batch on September 24 and 25 consisted of BHERTs from Barangays Banban, Don Pedro Rodriguez, Malingin, Lapaz, Odlot and Anonang Sur.
The participants were mostly barangay health workers and barangay nutrition scholars. There were also nurses, midwives, barangay captains and barangay tanods.
The training for each batch lasted for two days. The topics for the first day covered the following, namely; basic information about COVID-19, policies regarding BHERTs, composition of BHERT, roles and functions of BHERT, forms to be filled up by the BHERTs regarding contacts, guidelines in conducting home visits for BHERTs, infection prevention and control (IPC), and risk communication and community engagement (RCCE). The topics for the second day covered gender-based violence, adolescents concerns and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).
The resource persons and facilitators for the three batches included Lora Manigos, Crescenciana Labitad, Lucila Carreon, Armel Pontillas, Irish Grace Ramirez, Erlinda Posadas, Edgar Gahisan, Jerhald Agcang and Lourdes Geolin. They are all staff members of the VPHCS.
The VPHCS coordinated with the Association of Barangay Councils led by its president, Emma Jagdon and the office of the mayor to organize the activities.
The trainings were conducted in the Bogo City Sports Complex, Bogo City Hall covered court and the Ma. Lina Catering Services.
