International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume V, Issue VII, July 2021 | ISSN 2454–6186

Accounts of Barangay Health Workers in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas in the New Normal

Rose Angelie A. Abelardo¹, Khalifa B. Bustamante²,
Jhon Terence O. Cabanes³, Ricardo G. Diana⁴, Sanny Grande⁵, Ronel G. Dagohoy^6
1–⁵Students, Bachelor of Public Administration, Davao del Norte State College
⁶Program Chairperson, Bachelor of Public Administration at Institute of Leadership, Entrepreneurship and Good Governance, Davao del Norte State College

Abstract – This study explored the experiences of Barangay Health Workers (BHW) in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA) amidst this new normal. This study used the Qualitative phenomenological method of research. This study was conducted in the selected GIDA barangays in Panabo City, Davao Del Norte, Philippines. It has seven (7) participants through purposive sampling, who are the BHWs among the selected barangays with one (1) year and above work experience. The researchers used a validated interview guide questionnaire. The results have revealed that barangay health workers in the new normal experience huge adjustments in rendering healthcare services during the pandemic. Also, the results exposed that barangay health workers experience deficiency of transportation and primary health care medicines and equipment. Moreover, the results disclosed that barangay health workers aspire to gain more importance, such as additional compensation and having complete medical healthcare equipment on their respective barangays.

Keywords – Barangay Health Workers, Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas, New Normal, Phenomenology, Philippines

I. INTRODUCTION

1.1. Rationale

Nowadays, Barangay Health Workers (BHW) have become gradually unrecognized and unacknowledged as an effective and efficient intervention to increase community-based health services, particularly in remote areas. This mainly resulted from the Alma-Ata Declaration (1978) in the International Conference on Primary Health Care (PHC) on which Health Workers identified as essential to PHC to attain its vital target of addressing unequal and inadequate health care [26]. As one of the healthcare providers in the community, Barangay Health Workers (BHW) becomes one of the vital parts of the health care system in the Philippines as their essential role is to provide health education and primary health care services (e.g., maternal and child health, first aid, environmental health) and link clients to health facilities [29]. They are also the primary source of information in the rural areas or disadvantaged places far from the health care stations. Thus, their inestimable and invaluable importance in our society cannot be equated to such compensations or an