HEALTH SUMMIT. Pampanga Governor Dennis Pineda (left) asks barangay health workers in the province to help in the fight against the 2019-nCoV during a health summit at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in the City of San Fernando on Wednesday (Feb. 5, 2020). The event aimed to strengthen community preparedness against the novel coronavirus through proper education and information dissemination. (Photo by Marna Dagumboy-del Rosario)
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga -- Governor Dennis Pineda on Wednesday urged the 3,608 barangay health workers here (BHWs) to help prevent the entry of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) into the province.
Pineda made the call during a health summit dubbed as “Strengthening Community Preparedness Against Novel Coronavirus Through Proper Education and Information Dissemination”.
The event held at Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center here was spearheaded by the Provincial Disaster Risk and Reduction Management (PDRRMO), in cooperation with the Department of Health-Region 3 (DOH-3).
Pineda called on the BHWs in the province to be more vigilant, particularly when there are visitors and returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who have travel history to China within the last 14 days in their respective areas.
He also advised the BHWs to immediately report to the Municipal Health Office (MHO) once they find any suspected nCoV case so he or she could be given the proper intervention as a person under investigation or PUI.
“Napakahalaga po na alam niyo ang gagawin niyo dahil kayo po ang number one line of defense namin sa barangay. Kayo po ang inaasahan naming maging responsible for disseminating the right information and monitoring in case may kababayan tayo from affected countries (It is very important for you to know what to do because you are our No. 1 line of defense in the villages. That is why we are expecting you to become responsible in disseminating the right information and monitoring in case we have provincemates from affected countries),” Delta said.
Meanwhile, Dr. Maria Eloisa Vidar, Infectious Diseases cluster head of DOH’s Central Luzon Center for Health and Development (CLCHD), asked BHWs to advise residents in their communities to practice frequent and proper handwashing; proper cough etiquette; avoid unprotected contact with farm or wild animals; ensure that food is well-cooked, and maintain a healthy lifestyle to enhance the body’s immune system against diseases.
She asked the BHWs not to panic and to instead give the right information to residents of their community.
During the summit, Vidar presented the updates, transmission, signs and symptoms and diagnosis of the nCoV virus.
She also discussed personal protective measures. (PNA)
