SAN JOSE, Antique (PIA) - -  The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) here recently conducted a capacity training program for contract tracers  (CT) to strengthen their knowledge and skills on their work amid the increasing cases of COVID-19 in the province.

DILG-Antique Information Officer Judy Mae M. Sajo said that the 64 contact tracers who were hired by the DILG attended the orientation through a virtual platform.

According to DILG Antique Provincial Director Cherryl Tacda, the activity is a response to the CT’s need for a capacity development
program based on the training needs assessment conducted in February 2021.

The training also hopes to sustain contact tracing in the LGUs and break the chain of transmission, particularly with the reported entry
of the new variant in the country.

Part of their roles and responsibilities is to conduct active surveillance activities and advocate for the implementation of mandatory physical distancing measures at an individual level, and ensure public minimum health standards must be implemented at all times,” Tacda added.

Jerald Ray Tung, a registered nurse at Angel Salazar Memorial General Hospital, discussed the topic on calculating infectious period and the importance of stopping the transmission, contact tracing technology and data management, infectious period, and diagnosing COVID-19 established DOH protocols.

Tung also put emphasis on how to handle complex cases or incidents, and how to safely and effectively conduct case interviews, profiling, and perform an initial public health risk assessment of COVID-19 cases and their identified close contacts.

Tacda hopes the activity will fill the knowledge gap of the contact tracers and improve their performance which will eventually slow down or stop the spread of the virus.  (JBG/PSM/PIA-ANTIQUE/DILG)