DOH asks LGUs for help to hire 95-K more contact tracers

Published May 27, 2020, 7:56 PM

The Department of Health (DOH) said it is looking for at least 95,000 more contact tracers amid the country’s fight against COVID-19.

“Ito pong 95,000 na sinasabi… amin pong hihingin ang tulong ng ating mga local government units (LGUs) para makahanap po tayo nitong ating mga contact tracers na ito (The 95,000 that was mentioned, we are asking the help of our local government units to look for contact tracers],” Health Undersecretary Dr. Maria Rosario Vergeire said.

The country currently has 38,000 contact tracers. Based on the set standard, there should be one contact tracer per 800 people in the population.

The Health official said they have given proposals to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) regarding the qualifications of applicants “when they hire.”

“This includes being an allied medical professional such as a nurse or at least a graduate or an undergraduate of an allied medical course,” Vergeire said.

“We have also suggested the following competencies to include data gathering, being able to interview cases and close contacts to gather data on travel history and conduct health assessment, and advocating public health because they need to provide health education messages as well,” she added.

Vergeire said the DILG may also consider tapping “barangay health workers and social workers in support of our national response against COVID-19.”

SOURCE: https://news.mb.com.ph/2020/05/27/doh-asks-lgus-for-help-to-hire-95-k-more-contact-tracers/