The Silent Heroes of Bocaue: A Phenomenology of Barangay Health Workers in Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

As cliché as it may sound, health is indeed wealth. Now that everyone faces this global pandemic, well-being matters most to people. Since 1991, the Department of Health handed over primary health services to the LGUs. The barangay health centers handle primary health care. Each center has trained volunteers called Barangay Health Workers or BHWs. The study aimed to delve into the lived experiences of BHWs during the pandemic, specifically, it sought to answer the following questions: What is the reason why they chose to be BHWs? What adjustments did they make when the pandemic came? What drives them to continue working? How can they handle their personal life and duties as BHWs? How do they manage their work amid the pandemic? The study is done with a qualitative-phenomenological approach. To gather the needed data, the researchers employed purposive sampling to find participants interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. The interviews were transcribed into words and significant statements were extracted. Then, these significant meanings are clustered to create emergent themes. The themes that emerged from the interviews were: Justification for Becoming BHWs, From the Height of the Pandemic Into The New Normal, Work-Life Balance: Family or Work?, and Challenges Brought by the Work and Line of Duty. The statements are then categorized into themes after an analysis. After the analyses, the researchers came up with the following conclusions: 1) There are various reasons why the informants chose to be BHWs, including the benefits, work flexibility, knowledge and experiences, and service to the community. 2) During the pandemic, most informants adjusted in almost all aspects of their work such as the protocols and work hours. 3) Most BHWs lost time with their families. 4) The BHWs experienced numerous challenges in all aspects of their work such as financial, mental, and physical.