Nurses under the RNHeals continue to provide health care to needy communities

By Analiza S. Macatangay

Friday 17th of February 2012

NAGA CITY, Feb. 17 (PIA) -- Exactly a year on February 14 after the orientation of the first batch of RN (Registered Nurse) Heals recipients here in Camarines Sur, 288 graduated from their clinical and community health services at Regent Hotel, here.

The graduates received a Certificate of Deployment and Competency after serving their turns in various hospitals and rural health units located in various parts of the province.

The graduates are now part of a pool of competent nurses who will soon comprise the growing number of health professionals now deployed in various parts of the country to back up President Benigno Aquino’s Universal Health Care or Kalusugang Pangkalahatan (KP) program.

It endeavors to bring health services closer to the needy communities, particularly for those who are living in the poor outskirts of the region.

Its realization was made possible through the Registered Nurses for Health Enhancement and Local Service project, fondly dubbed as RN Heals – a health undertaking by the Department of Health (DOH) in close alliance with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

Dr. Arnie Carandang, DOH Camarines Sur Provincial Health Team Leader, said that the training and exposure of the nurses who became part of the RNHeals - First Batch will give them greater edge in terms of employability and eventual absorption in health care offices and hospitals having undergone extensive learning and development during the duration of their experience.

“These nurses were deployed on a 50/50 scheme, a rotation from clinical health service, exposing them to the community and providing them clinical experience by deploying them to the Bicol Medical Center (BMC). This closing ceremony is actually the start of their new journey in pursuing their services in another stage – perhaps in a much bigger scheme and we all sincerely wish them well ,” Carandang added.

Dr. Nestor Santiago, DOH Regional Director for Bicol, who graced the said occasion also thanked all their partner agencies for their cooperation and challenged the RNs to fulfill PNoy’s call for an improved health care service.

“Our President has directed the DOH to spearhead its campaign to pursue the government’s Universal Health Care Program, particularly in the reduction of child mortality and the improvement of maternal health and other related services. It is in our hands to make these things happen.”

Santiago also addressed his challenge to the coming batches of RN Heals. The second batch comprised of more than 318 registered nurses, was dispatched last November and were deployed at BMC and at the Bicol Sanitarium, while the upcoming Batch 3, composed of 297 registered nurses, will start their community service in various rural health units in Camarines Sur and will have their exposure in community health services starting March this year.

The nurses will receive a monthly allowance of P8,000 from the DOH while the municipalities where they will be assigned were tasked to ensure their safety. If the LGU is financially capable, they can provide an additional stipend to the worker in addition to their monthly allowance. The workers’ deployment is also covered by a group insurance through PhilHealth and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS). (MAL/LSM-PIA Camarines Sur)