POPCOM urges LGUs to mobilize volunteer local tracers
Published Jun 6, 2020 12:00 am
By Gabriela Baron
The Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM) is urging local government units (LGUs) to mobilize volunteer barangay-based contact-tracing teams to address the influx of COVID-19 positive repatriates.
(POPCOM)
“City and municipal mayors should prioritize the organization of local contact-tracing teams based on the Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) 2020-01 of POPCOM, the National Economic and Development Authority, Department of Health (DOH) and Department of the Interior and Local Government issued on April 30, which prioritizes barangays where coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19)-positive individuals reside,” commented POPCOM Executive Director Dr. Juan A. Perez III, co-signatory to the JMC, said in a news release.
Based on the JMC, mayors with COVID-19 stricken constituents can mobilize the 200,000-strong barangay health workers across the Philippines, about 10,000 population volunteers nationwide, the barangay police officers or "tanods," and other local volunteers to conduct contact tracing.
Perez added that LGUs without such units can request their provincial governors, regional officers of DOH, and POPCOM for technical assistance.
“Contact-tracing teams should be mobilized in barangays without confirmed cases but with suspect cases, since they are the kind which may eventually turn positive,” he said.
No time to wait for hiring
Perez calls on LGUs to not wait for the hiring of professional or untrained contact tracers.
“Health and population volunteers can do the job, and, as anticipated in the JMC, with support for the hazardous work they do, and through appropriate logistical support from national agencies and local governments," Perez said.
Suspect cases are those with early signs of COVID-19, such as fever, influenza-like illness, or with respiratory distress. Symptoms can be detected by the contact-tracing teams, under the supervision of local health officers.
After testing, the POPCOM chief explained suspects would then be classified as "probable cases." Suspects and probable cases should be under quarantine until the test is returned.
Positive cases, meanwhile, will be under health monitoring, depending on the severity of the patient's condition. Negative cases can be removed from quarantine orders.
Perez said that barangay health and population volunteers can regularly visit every house in their barangay to deliver health messages and services.
"With the onset of community quarantines since March, these volunteers have been delivering contraceptives to family planning clients who cannot leave their homes," the Undersecretary reiterated.
(POPCOM)
“City and municipal mayors should prioritize the organization of local contact-tracing teams based on the Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) 2020-01 of POPCOM, the National Economic and Development Authority, Department of Health (DOH) and Department of the Interior and Local Government issued on April 30, which prioritizes barangays where coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19)-positive individuals reside,” commented POPCOM Executive Director Dr. Juan A. Perez III, co-signatory to the JMC, said in a news release.
Based on the JMC, mayors with COVID-19 stricken constituents can mobilize the 200,000-strong barangay health workers across the Philippines, about 10,000 population volunteers nationwide, the barangay police officers or "tanods," and other local volunteers to conduct contact tracing.
Perez added that LGUs without such units can request their provincial governors, regional officers of DOH, and POPCOM for technical assistance.
“Contact-tracing teams should be mobilized in barangays without confirmed cases but with suspect cases, since they are the kind which may eventually turn positive,” he said.
No time to wait for hiring
Perez calls on LGUs to not wait for the hiring of professional or untrained contact tracers.
“Health and population volunteers can do the job, and, as anticipated in the JMC, with support for the hazardous work they do, and through appropriate logistical support from national agencies and local governments," Perez said.
Suspect cases are those with early signs of COVID-19, such as fever, influenza-like illness, or with respiratory distress. Symptoms can be detected by the contact-tracing teams, under the supervision of local health officers.
After testing, the POPCOM chief explained suspects would then be classified as "probable cases." Suspects and probable cases should be under quarantine until the test is returned.
Positive cases, meanwhile, will be under health monitoring, depending on the severity of the patient's condition. Negative cases can be removed from quarantine orders.
Perez said that barangay health and population volunteers can regularly visit every house in their barangay to deliver health messages and services.
"With the onset of community quarantines since March, these volunteers have been delivering contraceptives to family planning clients who cannot leave their homes," the Undersecretary reiterated.