Barangay health workers must be provided with 2-year formal health science training courses so they can qualify for civil service and get permanent employment status.
While thanking the Commission on Higher Education for allowing nursing courses to resume, Rep. Angelica Natasha Co, BHW Party List, asked CHED to design an associate in health science curriculum for BHWs so they can obtain civil service eligibility and job security.
I welcome the decision of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to lift the moratorium on nursing programs. This will indeed address the local and global needs for nurses.
Relatedly, I suggest that CHED look at offering different types of nursing courses aside from the BS Nursing (BSN) program leading to the Registered Nurse (RN) professional license. I make this suggestion because in other countries there are different kinds of nurses, not just RNs.
The wide gap in wages between nurses in government and nurses in the private sector must also be squarely addressed.
Free 2-year course in SUCs
I also express toCHED my long-term vision for barangay health workers which includes having a new generation of BHWs who are regular government employees.
A key component of this is gradually developing the qualification standards (QS) of which educational qualifications are essential. This is why I am asking the CHED, University of the Philippines, and the Department of Health to initiate soon the technical work on the details.
My working idea now is an Associate in Health Sciences two-year program to be piloted in some state universities and colleges which already have strong health professions programs.
When the two-year program is in place, I can then ask the Civil Service Commission and Department of Budget and Management to develop the QS, plantilla positions, and salary grade for BHWs who are graduates of the two-year course.
I also envision an emergency medical technician (EMT) track in the two-year course so the LGUs and barangays can have EMTs in their disaster response departments.
Free skills training, certification
For personal care specialists like manicurists, pedicurists, hairstylists, fitness trainers, barbers, and massage therapists, I believe a skills certification system would be best, so they have atraining diploma they can be proud of.
In the process, they become better at their careers and command higher wages because their apprenticeship-based learning will be strengthened.
I will exert best efforts to get funding for these programs so access to them is free or heavily subsidized.
Tags: #BHW, #CHED, #healthworkers, #2yearcourses