Profile, Problems and Needs of Barangay Health Emergency Response Team in Gamay, Northern Samar

This study assessed the profile, problems, and needs of barangay health emergency response team (BHERT) in Gamay, Northern Samar. Pure descriptive method of research was used to explain and determine the profile, problems, and needs of the BHERT in Gamay, Northern Samar. Using the self-formulated survey questionnaire, the researcher conducted a survey among BHERT members such as the barangay captain, barangay health worker and the barangay patrolman in their respective barangays as the respondents of this study. All in all, a total of 102 BHERT members became the target participants for this study among the eight (8) población barangays, to wit: Baybay, Burabud, Central, Libertad, Occidental I, Occidental II, Oriental I and Oriental II. The data gathered were analyzed using the different statistical procedures such as tally, frequency, percentage computation, and the mean. The following are the findings of the study: Majority of the BHERTS in Gamay, Northern Samar have ages 31-40 years old age bracket (49 respondents or 48 percent), 67 respondents or 66 percent are males; 61 respondents or 60 percent attained secondary level of education; 49 respondents or 48% are barangay officials; and, are 46 respondents or 45 percent already attended and were trained twice or more about the COVID-19; Personal protective equipment is the highest need of 100 respondents; while food allowance is the least need as perceived by 78 respondents which ranked 8th among the needs of the BHERTs; All the problems encountered and its degree of seriousness in terms of technical aspect (α=3.08); financial aspect (α=3.16); logistic aspect (α=2.82); health service (α=2.76); and emergency response aspect (α=2.73) is “serious†. Finally, the leading recommendation of the BHERTs is that the Barangay Health Emergency Response Team should have enough knowledge and training in the prevention of the COVID-19 pandemic; while the least recommendation is that the Barangay Health Emergency Response Team should mobilize the campaign on the prevention on COVID-19 in their responsibility areas.