As the trend of COVID-19 cases continues to rise, Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams (BHERTs), various PNP and BFP personnel and LGU volunteers of the province participated in the “Enhancing COVID-19 Contact Tracing Work: Advanced Guide for Local Government and Contact Tracers” on July 21, 2021 via Zoom.
Facilitated by DILG Bataan, the online training provided the participants particularly the BHERTs and the barangay officials, an advanced guide and practical skills set in conducting case investigation, data management and analysis and to significantly implement effective contact tracing.
DOH Regional Epidemiologist Rosanna Rosell stated the developments on the COVID-19 situation which included the current status in Bataan and the province's COVID response and strategies. Critical updates on COVID-19, including new variants and its transmission were also presented.
PTCOL Armelina Manalo of PNP-CIDG likewise discussed and conducted a simulation exercise on Cognitive Interviewing. Two pairs of volunteers from the participants simulated a contact tracer-patient interview to perform what they have learned in the discussion which is building trust and rapport with a case to ensure cooperation during the interview.
A lecture-discussion via a recorded video presentation was also shown featuring the best practices of Baguio City to describe an LGU organized its contact tracing process.
This is series of provincial roll-outs in Region 3 is in support of the capacity development activities of the department and in scaling up the contact tracing efforts of the country.