Monica,
barangay health worker

“I’ve been a Barangay Health Worker [BHW] for seven years. I’m also the president of BHWs in Tumana.

We start our duty from eight in the morning, then we go home quarter to five. We divide ourselves into groups. In an area, we visit as a group to call the attention of the mothers. Then we bring along a radio that plays the patak-polio jingle.

What’s important is that the parents in the area know us. There are some mothers who say 'I don’t like it because we don’t know you.' But if they know us, they say: 'Oh it’s you, yes, we will allow our children to be immunized!' We are the ones assigned in their area, so it's important that we are being recognized as the BHWs in the area.

What we like most is when the mothers come to us and they themselves accompany their children for the polio immunization.

There are some parents who don’t want their children to be immunized but in the end, we were able to encourage them to agree. We explain to them that if they will not allow their children to be immunized, their children may be infected with diseases. They can have polio, they can also die. And that the vaccines are given through drops and there’s no overdose.

It’s a big deal for us when the mothers are thanking us. Their gratitude to us, those people who say, “Ma’am, thank you for helping in the polio immunization. Thank you for doing the rounds.” That’s rewarding for us.

My message to other BHWs is that since this is our work, let’s do it fully. It’s a joy for us if we can give all children protection against polio.”

"Their gratitude to us, those people who say, “Ma’am, thank you for helping in the polio immunization. Thank you for doing the rounds.” That’s rewarding for us."
- Monica