Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija will help expand awareness of Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) programs by bringing accurate information on benefits and services closer to communities.
This followed the Social Health Insurance Education Series (SHInES) for BHWs, which also included Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS) and Barangay Population Officers, held in Santa Rosa, Nueva Ecija.
The three-day training aimed to equip community health frontliners with updated knowledge of the National Health Insurance Program, particularly the YAKAP and GAMOT initiatives, enabling them to serve as PhilHealth partners in grassroots information dissemination.
PhilHealth Social Health Insurance Academy Senior Manager Henry Almanon said BHWs are key partners for the agency in reaching communities because of their direct ties with residents.
He added that SHInES is being implemented nationwide as part of PhilHealth’s effort to strengthen its community-based health communication network.
Almanon emphasized the importance of capacitating BHWs with accurate information on PhilHealth services and coverage to help community members access available health benefits.
“We believe that they are the most effective communicators and PhilHealth champions and advocates,” he said, noting that BHWs’ close relationship with residents allows them to share health information effectively.
For BNS participant Crystel Soriano of Bakod Bayan, Cabanatuan City, the training helped her better understand the program and how she can help residents avail themselves of PhilHealth benefits.
“Malaking tulong po ito lalo na nalaman ko ang tungkol sa YAKAP, kung paano ma-provide, paano lumapit, at paano makakuha ng benefits mula sa PhilHealth,” Soriano said.
(This is a big help, especially since I learned about YAKAP, how it is provided, how to access it, and how to avail of PhilHealth benefits.)
Meanwhile, BHW Anabelle Cortez of San Josef Norte, Cabanatuan City, shared that the orientation strengthened her ability to answer community members’ questions about PhilHealth services.
“Kami po bilang mga BHW, parang kaibigan lang po ang turing nila sa amin, at bilang kaibigan nga po, madali po para sa kanila na tanungin kami,” Cortez said.
(As BHWs, they treat us like friends, and as friends, it is easy for them to approach and ask us questions.)
Furthermore, PhilHealth Social Insurance Officer Virginia Macapagal expressed appreciation to the city government of Cabanatuan and its partners for their support in the conduct of the training, stressing their role in facilitating the participation of selected BHW leaders in the activity.
The initiative aligns with the health priorities of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s administration, particularly strengthening universal health care and expanding nationwide access to health insurance services. (CLJD/MAECR, PIA Region 3-Nueva Ecija)