DOH-2 hires 439 registered nurses for RNHeals

By Thelma C. Bicarme, Oliver T. Baccay, and Erwin M. Agana

Monday 13th of February 2012

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Feb. 13 (PIA) -- Some 493 registered nurses (RNs) will be hired for the third batch of the Registered Nurses Health Enhancement and Local Services (RNHeals) program of the Department of Health (DOH) Region 2 to deliver health care services in the far flung areas.

Sandra Sangab, head of the human resources department, said the project aims to improve the delivery of health care and social services in all areas in the region, especially in the hard-to-reach areas.

The additional number of hired nurses augments the first batch of 475 nurses and the second batch 566, with an overall 1, 552 nurses hired for the RNHeals in Cagayan Valley. The first and second batches were already deployed in different towns in the region.

“This program also aims to create a pool of registered nurses with enhanced clinical and preventive health management competencies for the national and local public and private sector,” Sangab stated.

She further explained that RNHeals program aims to increase nurses’ employability and augment the nursing workforce in rural and underserved communities, and health facilities through competency-based learning and deployment activities.

She further added that one of their key roles is to act as supervisors or mentors to the community health team organized by the LGUs where they will be deployed.

The qualifiers are set to undergo orientation briefing before their deployment in March to serve in their respective areas of assignment. Each shall receive a stipend of P8, 000 per month, with group insurance and PhilHealth benefits while the LGUs are mandated to give additional allowance of P2, 000 each as their counterpart.

Sangab believes that through the deployment of nurses in the barrios, health services will be easily accessed by the communities and the prevalence of health risks will be prevented. (TCB/OTB/EMA-PIA 2)