Technical Assistance for the Development and Implementation of Standardized Barangay Health Worker Training for Integrated NCD Care

The World Health Organization (WHO) is seeking a qualified and competent institution or organization to provide technical assistance for the development, validation, and implementation of a standardized competency-based training package for Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) on integrated noncommunicable disease (NCD) prevention and control at the primary care and community levels. This initiative will support the implementation of the Healthy Hearts Programme Plus (HHP+) and Proteksyon Para sa Altapresyon (PPA) in alignment with the Philippine Package of Essential Noncommunicable Disease Interventions (PhilPEN) 2025, WHO HEARTS technical guidance, and broader national efforts toward Universal Health Care (UHC). The Philippines continues to face a growing burden of noncommunicable diseases, particularly cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, which remain among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality nationwide. While substantial progress has been made in strengthening facility-based NCD services through PhilPEN implementation and capacity-building of physicians and programme managers, achieving sustained population-level impact requires stronger community-based interventions and improved continuity of care. Barangay Health Workers serve as a critical bridge between households and the health system and play an essential role in risk identification, screening, health promotion, treatment adherence support, follow-up, and referral facilitation within primary care systems. Current implementation experience indicates variability in BHW competencies and training approaches across local government units, with existing training often focused on isolated technical tasks rather than integrated, person-centred NCD service delivery. Inconsistent training materials and limited standardization in practical competencies may constrain the effectiveness, quality, and scalability of community-based NCD programmes. These challenges underscore the need for a comprehensive, standardize