DOH, UP develop courses to capacitate LGUs in COVID-19 contact tracing initiatives

CALOOCAN CITY, May 21 (PIA) – The Department of Health (DOH) and University of the Philippines College of Nursing have developed courses to capacitate local government units (LGUs) in implementing contact tracing for COVID-19 in the local areas.

“Para po sa ating local na pamahalaan at iba pang ahensiya na nais paigtingin ang kanilang contact tracing initiatives, meron pong available na courses na dinedevelop,” DOH Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire said in a virtual press briefing on Tuesday, May 19.

The COVID-19 contact tracing courses include the Basic Course and Training of Trainers.

The basic course is intended for LGUs to help them identify potential cases of COVID-19 and their close contacts, while the training for trainers is intended for national and regional epidemiologic and surveillance units on how to train LGUs in implementing COVID-19 contact tracing.

“Ang mga instructional videos at kurso na ‘contact tracing in communities’ ay available sa website ng UP College of Nursing,” Vergeire said.

The contact training courses can be accessed at upcn.vle.upm.edu.ph.

Together with World Health Organization (WHO), courses are made available to enhance the capacity of the local government units and agencies on contact tracing.

“Ang contact tracing ay ginagawa natin sa contacts ng mga kumpirmadong kaso ng COVID-19 upang mas mabilis at mas mabisa ang ating response,” Vergeire said.

Through contact tracing, individuals who are susceptible to the virus are immediately isolated to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our communities.

The DOH cited the importance of the local government units and the cooperation of the people in its contact tracing initiatives.

“Kung maganda ang leadership ng lokal na gobyerno, dapat lahat ng mamamayan ay susunod sa kung ano man ang dapat ipagutos na makakabuti sa bawat isa,” DOH Epidemiology Bureau OIC-Director Rio Magpantay said.

Magpantay cited that the true frontliners here are the citizens because they have the total involvement in these efforts.

As of May 19, DOH reported total of 12,942 confirmed case of COVID-19 with 387 deaths and 2,843 recoveries. (PIA-NCR)

Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)