Meet my Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) at Brgy. Don Francisco : Defining their roles and qualities and how much help they contributed to the Community

What you see on my photo below are my barangay health workers who have always been cooperative and collaborative at work. they are uniquely hardworking and kind. They always make my working environment at ease.

That's me together with my 3 Barangay Health Workers during our BHW Monthly Meeting. Starting from the left ,Ate Ann. At the middle,Elenita with Dodong her only child and lastly, Ate Vilma, the eldest of them all.

The formal look

Wacky!!

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The roles and contribution of BHW's in the attainment of the Department of Health thrusts under the Kalusugang Pangkalahatan (KP) framework cannot overlooked. They are mandated to perform different tasks, depending on the need of members of their household (HH) catchment areas, and the existing health demand of the entire community as well.

ROLES OF A BHW:

1. An advocate of current health programs, projects and activities to improve access and use of health services.
2. An **educator ** who will advise and counsel the community.
3. A disseminator to maintain regular communication between local professional health workers and their catchment household.
4. A linker to facilitate access to or association of the community with relevant network of health and non-health service providers within or outside their catchment areas.
5. A record keeper to maintain updated lists/records of health data, health activities/events in the community.
   
   

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Becoming a BHW is not an easy role most especially if confronted with uncooperative members of the community on the different promotive and preventive aspects of illnesses or diseases.

It is thus also essential that the BHW clearly understands the general qualities that any community health volunteer should have which include the following:

1. Teachable- openness to learn new things and to accept feedback/mistakes for further improvement
2. Team player- cooperate and work harmoniously with other team members
3. Diligent and dedicated to work- preseverance in doing his/her job despite difficulties, setbacks and lack of financial support
4. Kind, sensitive and considerate to others

Here are the documented activities of my BHW's.

Feeding! .. eat ..eat... eat..

Giving of Vitamin A supplementation to children

During Smoking Cessation Lecture.. Ate Vilma is on standby speaker

Learning on how to nebulize

Sputum Smearing