THE Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) area has always been included in the Department of Health’s (DOH) list of regions with the most number of Covid-19 cases and number of daily new cases, so the DOH-Calabarzon has intensified efforts to combat the infection in anticipation of a surge during and after the holidays.
According to Regional Director Eduardo C. Janairo, the regional office has distributed BIDA Solusyon Campaign IEC materials to Barangay Health Workers (BHWs), including washable face masks, alcohol, brochures and posters containing information on new normal or rules on the minimum health standards against Covid-19.
Its objective is to spread the word about the minimum health standards to follow and to practice the four steps to a Covid-free life which includes—B-Bawal Walang Mask, I-Isanitize ang mga Kamay, Iwas Hawak sa mga Bagay, D-Dumistansya ng isang metro, and A-Alamin ang Totoong Impormasyon.
As of December 22, the DOH situation report showed that the top regions by active cases are:
National Capital Region (NCR) with 7,487, Calabarzon (3,909), Central Luzon (2,251) Davao region (1,767) Cordillera Administrative Region or CAR (1,261), Eastern Visayas (981), Western Visayas (933),Cagayan Valley (924), Northern Mindanao (691), and Central Visayas (567).
Top regions by new cases are: NCR (578), Calabarzon (300), Davao region (178), Eastern Visayas (128), Central Luzon (124) CAR (109), Caraga Administrative Region (52), Western Visayas (42), Ilocos region (40), and Cagayan Valley (32).
BHWs’ role
Janairo also acknowledged the BHWs in the BIDA Campaign.
“You are very important in our health-care system because you are dealing in the community level. You can be assured that our regional office will work alongside with you and we will give the support that your barangay will be needing,” Janairo said, partly in Filipino.
The DOH-Calabarzon together with the local government officials of the municipality of Tanza conducted a “BIDA Solusyon sa Covid-19 Campaign” in Barangay Bagtas, Tanza, Cavite last week, as part of the strategy for behavioral change to mitigate the spread of Covid-19.
The BHWs conducted house-to-house distribution and promotion of the BIDA campaign to 41 barangays covering 53,692 households in Tanza, Cavite.
“We need these informations and we need to practice them for us to be safe not only from Covid-19 but other diseases,”Janairo said, stressing that the support of barangay officials and municipal officials is also needed to stop the spread of the virus in the community.
According to the December 22, 2020 DOH-Calabarzon Covid-19 tracker, there are 78 cases recorded in Barangay Bagtas, Tanza with 26 active cases and 1 death.
The promotion and distribution of BIDA Solusyon IEC Materials began in November 24, 2020, with a total of 53 health facilities and offices visited to date which includes 17 in Cavite, 17 in Rizal, 8 in Quezon and 11 in Laguna.