The World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific Region chose the city government of Baguio as its pilot local government unit in the conduct of an After-Action Review (AAR) of the coronavirus disease pandemic response.
The WHO funded three days of seminar-workshop for the employees of LGU Baguio on Sept. 10-12, 2024 in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur with the participation of national line agencies such as the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Department of Education, the Baguio City Police Office and medical officers or representatives from the municipalities of La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba and Tublay or the BLISTT members.
Rowena Capistrano, Senior Technical Coordinator for Emergencies, explained the was a qualitative review of actions conducted by the city government in response to the Covid pandemic that led to the identification of best practices and areas for improvement.
“Our goal is to develop a Pandemic Preparedness and Response Plan for Baguio City through an analysis of what worked well and what worked less well, and why, during the actual implementation of COVID-19 response plans,” Capistrano said.
The WHO uses 13 pillars of response from country-level coordination, planning and monitoring to public health and social measure that are also covered in the six response clusters of the Department of Health Philippines namely: Prevent, Detect, Isolation and Quarantine, Treat, Reintegration and Vaccination (PDITRV).
Among the best practices identified during the workshop were the use of digital technology in PDITRV; implementation of border controls; mobility restrictions and minimum public health protocols; zonal lockdowns; triaging; contact tracing; use of community leaders as vaccination champions; and collaboration with the private sector, volunteer initiatives and national line agency partnerships among others.
On the challenges, the need to enhance the city’s risk and crisis communications plan was identified for unified and clear information dissemination communication (IEC) procedure; address discrimination and stigma against frontliners and patients; and upgrading of health equipment and technologies.
The need for improved healthcare staffing and capacity training for frontline workers was likewise pointed to avoid manpower fatigue in the face of another pandemic.
Also needed in the city is to improve the sourcing and supply of raw materials needed for oxygen and personal protective equipment (PPEs) as well as the need to prioritize the development of infrastructures for treatment, isolation and quarantine; improved laboratories and testing facilities among others.
Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong identified foresight and people partnership as among the best actions by the LGU during the covid pandemic which led to early declaration of cases and the gradual implementation of lockdowns as well as early enactment of health protocols including the readiness of tools and technologies needed from detection of the virus, isolation and treatment of patients, reintegration and vaccination procedures among others.
Result of the review will guide the LGU in the preparation of the pandemic preparedness plan to serve as a blueprint for response operations to health emergencies in the future. ** JM Samidan
