In celebration of the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife, the UP College of Nursing (UPCN) conducted four webinars to highlight current issues on COVID-19 and the roles of nurses and other health workers. The webinars brought together nurses, public health practitioners, and local government personnel to share their ideas, insights, and experiences. 

On June 8, UPCN welcomed 320 participants from different parts of the country and the world to the first webinar that tackled the critical action areas for nurses in the COVID-19 public health response. Speakers who are experts from different disciplines articulated on the nurses’ essential role in this pandemic. Special Adviser to the COVID-19 National Task Force Dr. Anthony Leachon spoke about public health approaches to flatten the curve and provided directions for actions at the country level. He was joined by other key persons: Dr. Mona Bahouth, Johns Hopkins University; Ms. Nini Jurado, Philippine Nurses Association of America; Dr. Fely Marilyn Lorenzo, Commission on Higher Education Technical Committee on Nursing Education; Dr. Rosie de Leon, Philippine Nurses Association; Dr. Mary Grace Lacanaria, Association of Deans of the Philippine Colleges of Nursing; Dr. Glenda Arquiza, Professional Regulation Commission Board of Nursing; Dr. Erlinda Palaganas, PNA Cordillera Autonomous Region; Ms. Cecilia G. Peña, PGH Deputy Director for Nursing; and Asst. Prof. Maria Angela Mabale, UPCN Mental Health Nursing faculty. 

During this webinar, the panelists concurred that nurses are vital in managing health crises. And in the COVID-19 outbreak, nurses in the frontlines constantly demonstrate their commitment, competence, and compassion as they continue to fight for their patients’ lives while risking their own.

The second webinar held on June 16 was the 40th JVS Lecture Series on Nursing and Related Disciplines, jointly organized with the UP College of Nursing Alumni Association, Inc. It was a tribute to UPCN Founding Dean Julita Villaruel Sotejo on her 112th birthday anniversary and was attended by 215 participants from the Philippines, Europe, Middle East, and US. The speaker, Dr. Fely Marilyn E. Lorenzo, a UPCN alumna, discussed the state of Philippine nursing. She was joined by PRC Board of Nursing Chair Dr. Glenda Arquiza, Undersecretary for Health Dr. Roger Tong-an, OIC Assistant Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment Dr. Ma. Teresita S. Cucueco, and Director Gerald Janda of the Department of Budget and Management. The webinar was an opportunity for nurses to participate in a high level discourse on the key issues facing the profession amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and the significant role of nurses in implementing the universal health coverage and primary health care. 

The third webinar held on June 19 focused on the COVID-19 interventions in the university setting and was joined by 172 participants from different parts of the country and the US. The resource person was Brigette Lao, a former UPCN faculty now based at the University of California Irvine. She emphasized the need for partnerships among dormitory personnel, university employees, and health services department to protect the health and well-being of the university population. 

For the last webinar, the COVID-19 prevention and control initiatives with local government units was organized with the UP Resilience Institute and joined by 244 participants and officials from various provinces in the Philippines who shared their successful implementation of public health response to COVID-19.

Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong described the testing, contact tracing, isolation, and managing of cases in the city; Libmanan, Camarines Sur Mayor Bernard Brioso discussed their efforts in food security and economic recovery; Assistant Provincial Health Officer Dr. Liland Estacion shared the experiences of the Integrated Provincial Health Office in Negros Oriental; UPCN Asst Prof Peter James Abad showed the LGU-Academe-DOH Partnership in conducting Contact Tracing training; and Director of Research Dr. Kristoffer B. Berse delved on the experience of the UP Resilience Institute which showcased cooperation and governance in the COVID-19 response. 

Alexandra Belle Bernal | Published in Healthscape Special COVID-19 Issue No. 11