REP. ANGELICA NATASHA CO
BHW Party-list | Member for the Minority, Health,
Economic Affairs, and 12 other Committees
Author, Barangay Health and Wellness Reform Act (House Bill 3985)
One of House authors, Crushing COVID-19 Act (House Bill 6865)
09177292437 | https://www.facebook.com/BHWPhilippinesOfficial/
Mabuti pa nga po kung mga naka-PPE suits na Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) kasi mas kilala nila at palagay sa kanila ang kanilang mga kabarangay
LEAD ROLE IN COVID-19 PATIENT SEARCH MUST BE WITH LGU HEALTH CARE WORKERS WHILE PNP IS FOR SUPPORT ONLY
The LGU quarantine teams and barangay health workers, not the police, should take the lead in searching for, screening, and bring COVID-19 patients to isolation facilities.
The health care frontliners, not the police, have the specific training and expertise for that role.
Only when police intervention is needed should the police enter the scene to pacify anyone who needs to be calmed down. Let the health care workers call for the police when the police are needed.
The role of the PNP in this situation is on crowd control, peacekeeping, and support to the health care frontliners. The lead role is not theirs to perform because that is not their mandate.
As such, the police should not bring their firearms when they accompany the health care frontliners on these COVID-19 patient search missions.
Neither should they bring with them any armored vehicles and water cannons.
Batons, face shields, and face masks are the proper gear the police should have when they join the LGU health personnel on the COVID-19 search ops.
Hindi po bala, baril, o police action ang makapapatay sa coronavirus. Sabon, rubbing alcohol, at physical distancing ang mga mabisang panlaban sa COVID-19.
Sa pagbabahay-bahay ng BHWs, kailangang bigyan sila ng personal protective equipment (PPEs). Dapat rin silang mabakunahan ng anti-flu vaccines para sa kanilang proteksyon bago humarap sa mga posibleng pasyente.
Hanggang ngayon po ay wala pa ring hazard pay na natatanggap ang maraming BHWs. Kailangang maresolba muna ito bago sila isabak sa panibagong hamon. (END)
