The first batch of Community Health Workers graduated in Guimba, Nueva Ecija on Saturday, June 8.Fourteen Community Health Workers (CHWs) from Barangays Naglabrahan, Casongsong, three other villages in Guimba, Nueva Ecija successfully completed their Basic Health Skills Training conducted by the Nueva Ecija-Community Based Health Program (NE-CBHP). Amidst the daily toil and various challenges posed by the pandemic, the CHWs completed the training which began in August 2022. The graduation ceremony, attended by the relatives of the graduates, other CHW trainees, the barangay secretary of Naglabrahan, Dr. Eleanor Jara and staff of CHD, and a representative from People’s Solidarity & Educational Tours Inc. (PSET), was held in Brgy. Naglabrahan.
NE-CBHP gave the opening remarks and thanked the graduates for their effort and hard work to complete their training. Differences in their educational background, social and economic status did not hinder the enthusiasm and perseverance of the CHWs as most of the graduates were farm workers and did not finish their education because of their poor economic situation. Their knowledge and skills in vital signs taking, diagnosing minor ailments and other basic health skills can now help to serve their families and communities. Most importantly, the CHWs are helping set-up the building blocks of an alternative health care system that will serve the people and bridge the gaps within a neglected public health system.
The Barangay Secretary of Brgy. Naglabrahan gave a short message and thanked NE-CBHP and the Council for Health and Development (CHD) for launching the program in their barangay which will empower the people.
Dr. Eleanor Jara, Executive Director of CHD, congratulated the graduates and gave an inspirational message. She told the graduates they are now part of CBHP’s 50-year history and use their new-found skills to help those in need of health services. “Sa 50 taon ng community-based health programs, isa na kayo sa mahigit na 10,000 mangagawang pangkalusugan na nabigyan ng kasanayan upang makapaglingkod sa inyong sariling kababayan sa inyong mga komunidad.” (In 50 years of community-based health programs, you are now one of more than 10,000 health workers who have been trained to serve your own people in your communities.)
For the closing, one of the CHW graduates gave a short message thanked their trainers and NE-CBHP for giving them basic health skills and hoped more people become interested in CBHP and become CHWs.
The NE-CBHP and CHWs also received First Aid Kits from People’s Solidarity & Educational Tours Inc. (PSET) in partnership with CHD as part of their program “Empowering Community-Based Health Programs (CBHPs) Amid the Pandemic” which is supported by the Waldensian Church of Italy’s Otto Per Mille program. These first aid kits will greatly help the CHWs to serve their communities.
The Council for Health and Development congratulates the CHW graduates of NE-CBHP and look forward to their solidarity and contribution in advancing a free, comprehensive, and progressive health care system campaign for the people. (COUNCIL FOR HEATH AND DEVELOPMENT FACEBOOK PAGE)
