THE City Government of Bacolod has reactivated the Barangay Health Emergency Response Team (Bhert) in 61 villages in the city.
Executive Assistant Jose Maria Vargas, head of cluster of Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (DRRMO), said Monday, February 17, that Bherts were reactivated last week to monitor the possible entry of coronavirus disease or Covid-19.
He said they held the Bherts' orientation Monday at the Bacolod Government Center with the barangay officials and representatives, so they will know how to monitor and handle Covid-19 cases within their barangays.
"We demonstrate how to use the personal protective equipment (PPE), face masks, and gloves, among others. They should know how to use these to handle the persons under monitoring within their barangays," he added.
Vargas noted they already purchased a total of 1,000 sets of PPE, gloves, alcohol and face masks.
Dr. Grace Tan, spokesperson of Bacolod City Inter-Agency Task Force against novel coronavirus, earlier said that Bacolod City has no admitted persons under investigation (PUI) for Covid-19, but there are five persons under monitoring (PUM) in the city as of February 13.
The five PUMs are in home quarantine.
"These are the people who had a history of travel in the identified countries with Covid-19 so they are under monitoring," Tan said.
Eight PUIs were earlier discharged from the city's hospitals after they were tested negative for Covid-19.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia said all the barangays are required to have their own Bhert.
"Bhert concept was started when we had other problems before like Sars and Mers-Cov," he said.
He added that they earlier held a meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte and it was emphasized to them to address the Covid-19.
Leonardia also lauded the participation of the barangay officials for the Bherts' orientation at BGC.
"We will continue the seminar for our Bherts who will monitor the PUM within their barangays," Leonardia said.
The mayor also appealed to the public not to spread fake news about Covid-19.