Agianan sa Pag-atiman: Establishment of BHS and EmT

Barangay Goaw is located around 8 km away from the center of the municipality, where the Rural Health Unit (RHU) and Liloy Integrated Health District Hospital (LIHDH) are situated. The distance from such facilities and the nonexistent health station in the community remain a major barrier in health access especially during emergencies where prompt treatment is imperative. The lack of organized referral system in the community resulted in delays, which eventually resulted to medical complications that could have been prevented when immediate assessment, diagnosis and management were done.

The Barangay Health Workers (BHW) and Barangay Tanod Emergency Response Team (BTERT) are trained individuals for first aid. They serve as responders for the barangay together with the Barangay Officials. In coordination with the Philippine Red Cross and Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (LDRRMF), they underwent various trainings on Basic Life Support and First Aid. However, knowledge alone is not enough; the lack of medical equipment and resources limited the help they can offer to those in need of emergency care.

 In the pursuit of increasing the documented emergency cases in the Barangay Health Station of Barangay Goaw to 80% of the recorded cases in the Rural Health Unit and Liloy Integrated Health District Hospital, resources for health emergency management should be readily available.

In order to meet the needs in emergency care, Emergency Tricycle (EmT) and Barangay Health Station were constructed. Also, supplies and equipment for the BHS were made available. 

    

The Emergency Tricycle (EmT) is the first of its kind in the country. To meet the pressing transport problems, a Habal-Habal Ambulance (Habalulance), renamed as Emergency Tricycle, was proposed to the Local Government Unit. It was agreed to be a pilot project of the medical students in coordination with the LGU. 

The Barangay Health Station was funded by the KALAHI-CIDSS and was fully functional starting January 2016. The center is manned by the Barangay Health Workers, midwife and Barangay Health Emergency Response Team. 

With the construction of the Barangay Health Station and procurement of medical equipment, the Barangay Health Workers and Barangay Health Emergency Response Team will be able to provide quality care services for their constituents. With the regular trainings they receive from reputable organizations, it is assured that their knowledge and skills in basic first aid management will improve the primary health care services in the community

Apart from the referral system during emergency cases, prenatal visits, immunization and medical consultations also improved. The equipped Barangay Health Station did not only provide a place for primary health care but also answered the problem on inadequate health access.