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Published: 30 July 2014

2012 Regional Health Profile Bases for Research Proposal

            An update on the 2012 Regional Health Profile was shared by Dr. Aurora Daluro of  Department of Health, Region V during the 5^th Regional Health Research Coordinating Council on ------ 2014 at the Bicol University, Legazpi City.

The health profile presented consisted of the: 1) Population, 2) Health facilities, 3) Crude death rate, 4) Crude birth rate, 5) Infant mortality rate, 6) Under five mortality rate, 7) Leading causes of infant mortality, 8) Fully immunized child, 9) Maternal mortality, 10) Leading causes of maternal mortality, 11) Leading causes of morbidity, 12) Leading causes of mortality, 13) House hold with access to improved / safe water supply, and 14) Sanitary toilets.

            Looking at the data the 2012 health profile it showed that for the Catanduanes has the highest crude death rate (7.08)  and crude birth rate (33.35); Naga City has the highest Infant Mortality Rate (15.89) higher by .84% in 20017-2011 and Under5 Mortality Rate (20.75).

The data on fully immunized Child, (target is > 95%) and Infant Mortality Rate /1000 live births, only Naga City has achieved 96.07% of fully immunized children which had exceeded the target of 95%. Iriga City is 14.09 % below the target, however it has the highest % increase of 13.61%.

Also significant is that Camarines  Sur achieved 60% fully immunized children in 2012 which  had deteriorated to Negative 14.16%.

Looking further at the columns under the Infant Mortality Rate, Naga City exceeded the target for immunization, however the IMR went up from15.05 to 15.89. In Iriga City, the achievement in immunization shows a significant decrease in the mortality rate from 13.5 to 5.15/1000 live births. On an overall the Bicol Region neither reached the target; The Region had tripped to negative 5.67%. There is a dire need to look into the  reasons for the said performance, considering that the vaccines  are given for free by the DOH.

          On the Maternal side, the target in 2015 for  Maternal Mortality rate is 52/100,000 live births. The performance shows that Camarines Norte (46.78), Naga (51.24) & Legazpi City (51.81) achieved the target with Cam. Norte having the highest achievement. The lowest achiever is  Catanduanes, whose MMR is 150. With the implementation of the Basic Emergency Obstetrical and Newborn Care (BEMONC), researchers are encouraged to investigate the reasons behind the results. The data presented can be  used by researchers in coming up with research proposals to be submitted to the consortium for funding.

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Published: 30 July 2014

Application for 2015 DOST-SEI Science and Technology

(S&T) Scholarship is on

            “Make S&T Your Future, Be a DOST Scholar!” This is the new slogan for the 2015 Department of Science and Technology - Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) scholarships.

            In line with the S&T education thrust, DOST encourages the youth especially those graduating students from public and private high schools this coming March/April 2015. Specifically, they should belong to the top five percent (5%) of the regular high school graduating class or have high aptitude in Science and Mathematics and are willing to pursue fields of study in Science, Mathematics and Engineering. Great opportunities await our S&T scholars who will later become the country’s future achievers as scientists, engineers, researchers, teachers and others. As a government investment amounting to more or less Four Hundred Thousand Pesos (P400,000) for each scholar-graduate depending on the scholarship classification as full, partial or special, his/her enormous contribution in nation building after a period of four (4) or five (5) academic years, matters most.

            For one to aspire for the S&T scholarship has to apply and comply with the requirements, take and pass the examination and enroll for authorized Bachelor of Science degrees in recognized state/private universities and colleges in the country. There are two (2) study placements: RA 7687 (for poor, talented and deserving students and Merit Scholarships (for those having gainfully employed parents).

            The scholarship requirements/items to be submitted are:

·         DOST-SEI Information Sheet (Form A)

·         Household Information Questionnaire (Form B)

·         Certificate of Good Moral Character (Form C)

·         Certification that applicant belongs to upper 5% of graduating class (Form D1); or

·         Certification that applicant belongs to the graduating class of DOST-SEI identified or DepEd recognized science high school (Form D2)

·         Statement of applicant that he/she has not taken any undergraduate units or post secondary course (Form E)

·         Statement of parent that applicant has no pending application as immigrant to any other county (Form F)

·         Cetificate of Residency (Form G)

·         Two (2) recent “1x1” pictures

·         Photocopy of Birth Certificate

·         Parent/s 2013 Income Tax Return/W2/Employment Contract for OFW/BIR Certificate of Exemption from Filing of ITR/Barangay Certificate of Indigency

·         Electric bill for three (3) consecutive months in 2014

Note: Application for Merit Scholarship does not require the Certificate of Residency (Form G), Parent/s 2013 ITR/OFW Employment Contract/BIR Cert. of Exemption from ITR Filing/Brgy. Cert. of Indigency and Electric bill for three (3) consecutive months in 2014.

            Application forms are available and upon completion can be filed at DOST-SEI, 2^nd Level Science Heritage Bldg., DOST Compound, General Santos Avenue, Bicutan, Taguig City, Metro Manila; DOST Regional Offices, Provincial S&T Centers (PSTCs) or Office of the Congress Representative and Senator. It can be downloaded at the website, www.dost.gov.ph and www.science-scholarship.ph.

            The students, their parents/guardians or any representatives may file the scholarship applications at the said offices. Secondary school registrars/in-charge are encouraged to file their students’ scholarship applications by group/batch. Deadline for submission of application is on 22 August 2014. The examination is set on 21 September 2014 (1^st Batch, 7:00 a.m. - 12:00nn and 2^nd Batch, 1:00 – 6:00p.m. in designated testing centers. The test permits shall be mailed/ delivered to the applicant/s or school principal for distribution to the applicants. In case of non-receipt within the week before the examination, the examinees are advised to visit DOST Region V, Regional Center Site, Rawis, Legazpi City, telephone numbers Trunklines: (052) 482-1050; ORD Telefax: (052) 482-0534(BAYANTEL); (052) 742-0911 (PLDT); Scholarship Telefax: (052) 482-0745; and Technical Telefax: (052) 482-0910 or Provincial S&T Center (PSTC) nearest them, (Dr. P.O. Lucena/C.L. Gillego, DOST V).

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Published: 30 July 2014

DOH - Regional Nutrition Council/DOST – NUTRICOMNET jointly spearhead Nutrition Month Regional Launching this July 2014

            The member-institutions of the Department of Health - Regional Nutrition Council (DOH-RNC) and the Department of Science and Technology - Nutrition Communicators Network (DOST-NURTICOMNET) headed by Dr. Gloria G. Balboa, Regional Director, DOH and Dir. Tomas B. Briñas, Regional Director, DOST V, respectively jointly spearheaded the regional launching for this year’s Nutrition Month (NM) Celebration. Its theme is “Kalamidad Paghandaan: Gutom at Malnutrisyon agapan!”

            During the planning session for the conduct of this activity, the province of Camarines Sur was highly recommended as its venue with DOST’s initiative called “Science for Safer Communities (S4SC) conducted last 19-20 May 2014 in said province. S4SC, an IEC Campaign highlighted DOST’s Projects NOAH (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards), DINA (Disaster Information for Nationwide Awareness) and DREAM (Disaster Risk and Exposure Assessment for Mitigation) featuring Science-based solutions, e.g. high resolution hazard maps, early warning system and others.

            In complementing S4SC, RNC and NUTRICOMNET conducted the NM Regional Launch centered on “Nutrition in Emergencies”. This is a component of DRRM whose main concern is to prepare the vulnerable groups especially the women (pregnant and lactating mothers), children, Senior Citizens, Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and others. Increase in malnourished cases is an offshoot of a disaster. It should also be prioritized to prevent rapid deterioration since malnutrition particularly on infant and young children already affects Bicol’s regional standing together with other problems on livelihood/employment, etc., above all, poverty is the root cause.

            Held on July 2014 at the Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges (CSPC), the priority areas/municipalities in Camarines Sur are: Nabua, Balatan, Buhi, Baao, Pili and Iriga City with two hundred (200) local chief executives, barangay officials, health workers and nutrition scholars, and CSPC Food Technology students in attendance.  Ex-Mayor Atty. Simbulan, the husband of Mayor Delia Simbulan, now the Administrator of Nabua gave the welcome remarks and cited that it was the first time in Nabua for this activity.

            The Bicol River Basin traverses over the Province of Camarines Norte and Sur, and Albay with forty three municipalities (identified barangays in said priority municipalities are mostly flooded due to overflow/heavy rains).

            Other important topics discussed were the following:

·         2014 NM Theme:                 Ms. Arlene R. Reario

Nutrition Program Coordinator

NNC Bicol

·         Flood Forecasting:               Engr. Dan Ragudan

Hydrologist

BRFFWC-PAGASA

Camaligan, Camarines Sur

            With the recent Typhoon Glenda that directly hit the Provinces of Albay, Sorsogon, Camarines Norte and Sur, and Catanduanes last 15 July 2014, Nutrition in Emergencies should always be among the immediate concerns by LGUs, national government agencies and other stakeholders engaged in health and nutrition, and disaster preparedness. Nutrition in Emergencies is defined as the services that form part of emergency preparedness, response and recovery to prevent deterioration of nutrition status and death. The services can include nutritional assessment; infant and young child feeding promotion, protection and support; management of acute malnutrition, micronutrient supplementation and other food or non-food based interventions.

            Nutrition falls under the health cluster together with 1) Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), 2) Health, and 3) Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPS). NNC chairs the Nutrition Cluster together with DOH-Health Emergency Management Staff/ National Center for Disease Prevention and Control/ National Center for Health Facility Development/ National Center for Health Promotion/ Food and Drug Administration, DOST-Food and Nutrition Research Institute, DSWD-Disaster Risk Reduction Response Operations Office/ Council for the Welfare of Children, DILG, DTI, DepEd and CHED as members.

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Published: 30 July 2014

1^st BCHRD Regional Forum Winners to represent Bicol in 8^th PNHRS Week Celebration Student Research Competition; Governor Salceda highlights             “A Leader’s Science Toolkit for Disaster Preparedness: The Case of Albay”

The 8^th Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS) Week will be celebrated on 12-14 August 2014 at Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu, Cebu City. The four (4) key players in health Research and Development (R&D) namely the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the University of the Philippines together with the host, the Central Visayas Consortium for Health Research and Development (CVCHRD) has lined-up a series of plenary/parallel sessions and other events focusing on the theme “Research and Innovation in Health for Disaster and Emergency Health Management”.

            The PNHRS Week Celebration shall gather the various stakeholders in Health R&D to interact, to learn from each other, to share information and experiences, to voice their concern, to contribute research-based solutions to health problems, among others. Emphasis will also be given on the role of health research in disaster and emergency health management.  Key areas to be highlighted include Science for Disaster Preparedness and Actions, Use of Information and Communication Technology and Tools and Policies, Coordinating Mechanisms for Service Delivery, and Role of Social Media.

            Bicol’s regional winners during the 1^st Bicol Consortium for Health Research and Development (BCHRD) Regional Research Forum qualify in the Student Research Competition (Poster Exhibits Award).  Ellen Keith C. Barreda, Bicol University (BU), College of Science will showcase her study on the “Evaluation of the Anticonvulsant Activity of Jathropa cursas L. (Tubang-bakod) Methanolic Leaf Extract in                   Mus musculus”. Using the extract injected to laboratory mice has shown promising results at par or even better than the usual available convulsant drugs. Previous studies have proven Jathropa as a source of renewal energy.

            The other entry is the research on “Hypoglycemic Effect of Papaitan     (Tinospora crispa L. Mier) Extract on Diabetic and Normal Glycemic Male Albino Mice by Christine O. Arcueno and Mark T. Despabiladeras, BU College of Nursing. “Papaitan”, a local plant meaning bitter is a potential medicinal source for lowering blood sugar among diabetics.

            To be discussed by the country’s competent scientists, researchers, medical practitioners, media personality and experts on disaster preparedness and mitigation, and emergency health management and situations are the following topics/experiences.

·         Lessons from Typhoon Yolanda

·         Risk Communication on Typhoon, Rainfall and Storm Surges

Warning System: Post Assessment on Typhoon Yolanda

·         Immediate Effects of the Typhoon among Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Families in Leyte

·         Reporting from the Ground: A Reporter’s Firsthand Experience on the Effect on People, the Environment,  Delivery of Health and other Services

·         Bioterrorism

·         Climate Change

·         National Assessment of Health Research Capacity

·         Ethical Issues in Research in Disaster Areas

·         Individual and Community Responses to Disaster

·         Disaster Victim Identification and Super Typhoon Yolanda’s Dead

·         In the Eye of the Storm: Being a Victim and a Responder

·         The View from the Top: Development of a Community Awareness System in Preparation for Disasters

·         Organizing Response to Emergency and Health Care Delivery

·         Getting Your Research Published

·         Safeguarding People’s Health: Science for Disaster Management

·         Strategic and Systematic Approach for Disaster Preparedness and Risk Reduction

·         Research and Evaluation in Disaster Preparedness and Management

·         A Leader’s Science Toolkit for Disaster Preparedness: The Case of Albay

·         ICT Tools for Disaster Management - eHealth and Social Media

·         Telehealth and RxBox, Experiences from Leyte and Bohol

·         The Social Media System: A Double Edged Sword and Agent for Change

·         Big Data as Surveillance Tools During Emergencies and Disasters

·         Juan Direction: Coordinating Mechanisms for Better Emergency Health

·         Disaster Preparedness: Is the Philippines Ever Going to be Ready?

·         Government’s Response and Coordination to Disaster Preparedness Management and Post Disaster Management (in relation to health)

·         Moving Forward Research and Innovation for Disaster and Emergency Health Management

Regional Development Council (RDC) Chair and Albay                             Governor Joey Sarte Salceda, the champion on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM), and known for Albay’s Zero Casualty will deliver a talk on “A Leader’s” Science Toolkit for Disaster Preparedness: The Case of Albay. Albay is also recognized for its Center for Initiatives and Research on Climate Adaptation and Climate Change Academy.

Other important events during this year’s PNHRS Week Celebration are the Professional Research Competitions; Opening Ceremonies to be highlighted by the Opening of Exhibits and the Keynote address by Secretary Panfilo M. Lacson, Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery, Fellowship Night with regional contest, and the Closing Ceremonies to feature “The Health R&D coveted awards (Consortium Website/Database Awards/PCHRD-Gruppo Medico Award for undergraduate Thesis in Herbal Medicine/5^th Student and Professional Research Competitions (Oral Presentations/Poster Exhibits)/Consortium Exhibits and Dr. Alberto G. Romualdez, Outstanding Health Research Award. Aside from the student-constestants, celebration, BCHRD will represented by committee chairs [Research and Development Committee (RDC), Capability Building Committee (CBC), Regional Information, Commercialization and Utilization Committee (RICUC) and Ethics Review Committee (ERC) with Dr. Fay Lea Patria M. Lauraya, Chair, BCHRD and President, Bicol University and Dr. Alma G. Banua,  Consorium Chair as delegation heads.       (Dr. P.O. Lucena, DOST V).