Last March 2023, our hospital celebrated World Social Work Day 2023 where we appreciated the role of the medical social worker in "Respecting Diversity through Joint Social Action". Checking the DOH Health Calendar 2023, I realized that we celebrate World Health Worker Week from April 3-7, 2023 with the theme INVEST IN HEALTH WORKERS.
In our hospital, our Wellness and Occupational Health Clinic provides annual diagnostic tests for employees free of charge, for early detection of diseases to prevent catastrophic illnesses. There is also the Shape Up Live Long program, a collaboration between Wellness Clinic, Nutrition and Dietetics, Rehabilitation Medicine and Psychiatry to assist obese employees who need to lose weight and improve their metabolic health.
T1. What advocacies and programs show investment in health workers?
The World Health Organization (WHO) points out that
"progress towards universal health coverage (UHC) requires strong health systems and health workers who are educated and empowered to provide the health services that meet population health needs."
The COVID-19 pandemic response spotlighted the unique skills and compassionate service of Filipino nurses in ICUs, emergency rooms, wards and immunization activities in foreign hospitals, giving momentum once again to the Philippine "brain drain" phenomenon pushing the migration of highly skilled health workers from the country to greener pastures abroad.
T2. What incentives can the government offer for healthcare workforce retention?
Employees work better if their work is appreciated. So it's nice to let health workers know how their work impacts health service delivery.
T3. What message do you want to send to the health workers in your locality?
