ANGELES CITY – Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. has allotted P1,000 communication allowance to 47 midwives – 44 permanent and three Contract of Service (COS) – who are also serving as contact tracers of COVID-19 patients — starting January 2021.
Mayor Lazatin appropriated P650,000 for communication expenses, which will be used for reaching out to people (contacts), through call or text, who have been exposed to COVID-19 and for providing health education and guidance to stop transmission of the disease.
“Napakalaki po ang gampanin ng mga midwives natin sa pag-mo-monitor sa kalagayan ng mga indibidwal na may kinalaman sa COVID-19. Sa kanila po nagsisimula ang unang responde,” Lazatin said.
The 47 midwives assigned at the six Rural Health Units (RHUs) and 28 sub-health centers throughout the 33 barangays are in the frontline services for communication and coordination with the patient for further assessment.
This is based on the protocol of the city government for reported COVID-19 patients, with the help of Angeles City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office manning the 24/7 COVID-19 hotlines.
The 24/7 COVID-19 hotlines were established last March 2020 to cater to the concerns and reports regarding COVID-19 cases.
“We should support our frontliners who have been in the service since COVID-19 hit the city. Maliit man itong halaga pero alam nating malaking tulong para sa kanilang trabaho,” Lazatin added.
It can be recalled that in January 2021, some 111 nurses assigned at the Rafael Lazatin Memorial Medical Center (RLMMC) – 19 permanent, 4 casual, and 88 Contract of Service (COS) status – have started to receive their P12,000 salary increase.
Mayor Lazatin in March 2020 also ordered the immediate computation and release of Special Risk Allowance (SRA) of health workers extracting COVID-19 patients, as well as hazard pay for health workers and frontliners physically reporting for work. Health workers were also provided temporary housing.