Some 150 barangay health workers (BHWs) in Valenzuela City completed on Monday, Jan. 29, the Barangay Health Service National Certification II (NC 11) training of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
The health workers underwent sessions to enhance their services to the city residents.
The conferment of the certificates of completion to the health workers was held at the Valenzuela Auditorium.
According to the city government, the training aims to enhance the knowledge and skills of BHWs in terms of local management in the field of health services of the BHW. It was spearheaded by the City Health Office in partnership with TESDA.
The BHWs were part of the five batches who have undergone extensive training, lectures, and demonstration from October to December last year.
They were trained on applying basic first aid, community development framework, implementing health promotion and community interventions, and immediate response to emergency situations, among others.
The participants were then assessed by TESDA staff, and were gauged if they are eligible for the certification.
Valenzuela City Mayor Weslie “Wes” Gatchalian said he is proud as all of the BHWs passed the TESDA assessment.
He added that the Alternative Learning System (ALS) Building in Barangay Parada was renovated so that it can be used as a school for barangay health workers not just in Valenzuela but in the country.
“Ang training po ay nakatulong po sa amin upang ma-boost po ang aming confidence, lalo na po ‘pag nag-e-area kami… Kaya nagpapasalamat po kami kay Mayor Wes dahil binigyan po kami ng ganitong magandang programa (The training helped us boost our confidence, especially when we are in the area... So we are grateful to Mayor Wes for giving us such a good program)," said Ms. Heidie Yongco, a BHW in Barangay Cooloong for 10 years.
The City Health Office also recognized the BHWS who rendered 10, 15, and 20 years of service in their respective villages for their loyalty.
The city government said that their area have 31 BHWs who also graduated from the same course in 2023. The initiative was in partnership with the Synergeia Foundation and Johnson and Johnson.
The city government through its City Health Office are now preparing for the next batches of BHW trainees that will undergo the TESDA course to cover all the 328 barangay health workers in the city.
Present during the event were Vice Mayor Lorie Natividad-Borja, City Health Officer Dr. Marthony Basco, BHW medical coordinator Dr. Michael Joseph Co, and City Barangay Nutrition Workers (BNWs).