UNSAFE FOODS AND DRINKS Office workers take their lunch break at a roadside eatery somewhere in Metro Manila. The World Health Organization has advised the public to be careful of what they eat because unsafe foods claim an estimated 2 million lives globally annually. The recent poisoning tragedy killing two individuals after taking a few sips of milk tea also dramatizes this potential public health hazard

DUCK, COVER, AND HOLD 

Surviving an earthquake and reducing its health impact requires preparedness, planning, and practice. Thus, everyone from employees, mall shoppers, even bystanders participate in the Metro Manila ShakeDrill (#MMShakeDrill) last June 2, 9 a.m. outside Alphaland Mall in Pasong Tamo Extension, Makati City. Organized by the Metro Manila Development Authority, the metro-wide earthquake drill aims to promote a culture of preparedness among Metro Manila residents for a possible 7.2 magnitude movement of the West Valley fault

PHOTO BY RAMIR G. CAMBIADO

TSEKAP READY 

A health worker under the Nurse Deployment Program (NDP) ensures completeness of the TSeKaP (or Tamang Serbisyo para sa Kalusugan ng Pamilya) equipment package before handling over to a recipient. The Department of Health distributed TSeKaP medical equipment to each barangay in the Municipality of Laoac, Pangasinan. The program aims to equip LGUs and barangays with essential medical equipment that will allow them to provide basic health services to residents even in the farthest barangays. Henceforth, the residents need not travel far and spend pesos for hospital check-ups in the town proper. They can have it right there in their own barangay. Each package contains two non-contact thermometers, one stethoscope, one digital BP apparatus, one glucometer set (for measurement of blood sugar), one dressing set (for sterile wound care), and two nebulizers for asthma relief

PHOTO COURTESY OF DOH

FREE DENGUE VACCINE Amidst some concerns from health advocates on the long-term safety of the dengue vaccine, Zelin Joice Carungay, 9 years old, receives her first dose of the vaccine during the Department of Health’s roll-out of the school-based free dengue vaccination in Parang Elementary School, Marikina recently

PHOTO BY RAMIR G. CAMBIADO

BYSTANDER CPR 

Seventy to 80 percent of out-of-hospital arrests happen at home, at times, in public places. Unfortunately, bystanders are afraid to act during emergency cases because their training has significantly lapsed or they don’t know how to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) properly. Philippine Heart Association Council on CPR chair Dr. Francis Lavapie (standing) instructs a lay audience on how to do CPR as Roland Diola, a PHA-CPR volunteer, demonstrates on the instructional mannequin

ROAD TRAIN 

The eco-friendly Hybrid Electric Road Train, developed by the Department of Science and Technology-Metals Industry Research and Development Center (DOST-MIRDC) as an alternative mass transport system, is envisioned to help ease traffic congestion in metropolitan cities and ferry more commuters at any given time. The road train is composed of five interlinked airconditioned coaches that run on both diesel fuel and electricity powered by a generator with 260 batteries. The road train went on a demo ride along Roxas Boulevard alongside cyclists and joggers, showcasing the concept of road sharing as advocated by the Bayanihan sa Daan Movement on February 7, 2016 (Story on page 4)

ZUMBA LOVIN’ Zumba dancers at Harbor Square start the new year with a dance at Harbor Square. People from all ages are now turning to Zumba as a form of exercise. This may be an alternative to old and repetitive exercise routines

SEASON OF SHARING Persons with disabilities (PWDs), who are members of the Handicapped Care Association Incorporated (Handicare, Inc.) in Makati City, are given Christmas presents from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) as part of the agency’s Pamaskong Handog Project. Aside from noche buena pack and other grocery items, PAGCOR also donated 15 wheelchairs to the PWDs

ACCESS FOR MNH Dr. Shin Young-soo, World Health Organization regional director for the Western Pacific, launches Accelerating Convergence Efforts through Systems Strengthening for Maternal and Newborn Health (AcCESS for MNH) with moms and their babies in Davao City. The project aims to serve the improvement of health of mothers and newborns in 10 local government units (LGUs)

GLOBAL HANDWASHING DAY

October is global advocacy day dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding on the importance of hand washing with soap as an easy, effective, and affordable way to prevent diseases. From 2011 to 2014, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) has reached more than 200,000 children through hand washing sessions during the GHD celebration. PRC-initiated activities include hand washing demonstration, information dissemination, distribution of bar soaps and IEC materials, jingle making contest, GHD logo formation, and other participatory activities

GLOBAL HEALTH FORUM 

Over 4,000 participants from 72 countries attended The Global Forum 2015 recently, which showcased the critical role of research and innovation on health and development. Held in Manila – a first in Asia - the forum sets a new record as the largest event of the Forum’s history, with attendance quadrupled from the last edition. Highlighting the event is the opening ceremony attended by (L-F) Dr. Jaime Montoya, executive director of Philippine Council for Health Research and Development; Prof. Carel Ijsselmuiden, executive director of Council on Health Research for Development; Hon. Mario Montejo, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) secretary; Hon. Mmboneni Muofhe, South Africa DOST deputy director-general; and DOH Undersecretary Dr. Vicente Y. Belizario, Jr.

HIGH-IMPACT FIVE The Department of Health (DOH) and the European Union (EU) recently spearheaded a National Health Summit to capture, share, and scale up local health practices and interventions proven effective in increasing access to quality mother and child health care newborn. The DOH also launched the High-Impact Five (Hi-5) recently, which focuses on Maternal Health Care, Infant Care, Child Care, HIV/AIDS, and Service Delivery Network. This strategy aims to produce the greatest improvement in health outcomes especially in 43 priority provinces. In photo are EU to the Philippines Ambassador Guy Ledox, Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas, DOH Secretary Jannette P. Garin, and other cabinet secretaries

MURKY WATERS Areas in Metro Manila were once again flooded after several days of continuous rain. The Department of Health alerted the public against wading in floodwaters to prevent leptospirosis and other water-borne diseases

MOST DISTINGUISHED FELLOW Dr. Luis M. Mabilangan (left) is recognized by the Philippine Heart Association as this year’s Most Distinguished Fellow for his illustrious career spanning 50 years. He is well known for his genuine love for children, passion and compassion as a pediatric cardiologist, and scholastic works as one of the outstanding professors at the University of the Philippines, College of Medicine. He is assisted by his marshall, Dr. Edison T. Ty (right) as he goes up the stage to receive his award

HIV MOBILE TESTING Officials of the Department of Health (DOH) distribute questionnaires to the employees of a restobar during the start of HIV mobile testing in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. The DOH has been alarmed by the increasing incidence HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, and has adopted a more proactive approach to prevent it particularly in individuals at risk

FIRE OUT A man tries to put out a bush fire that blazes out of control near a suburban neighborhood in Caloocan city recently. It is only midway through the fire prevention month and there are already several reported incidents of fires all over the city which is why the Bureau of Fire protection continues to remind the public to always take extra precautions to prevent fires

HEALTHY SUNDAY The academic oval at the University of the Philippines in Diliman is closed to motorized vehicles during Sundays allowing people to run, walk, bike, and exercise safely in it. Such initiatives from various institutions and local government units promote exercise and make the adoption of an active, healthier lifestyle safer and more enjoyable

VIVA IL PAPA Braving the rains, pilgrims and onlookers excitedly wave and cheer as Pope Francis and his convoy pass along Lacson avenue in Sampaloc, Manila on their way back to the Apostolic Nunciature from the University of Sto Tomas last January 18, 2015. The pope’s five-day visit so moved the entire nation, just as he was immensely moved also by what he saw and felt during his pastoral visit here.

Dengue study put on hold, Why fruits, veggies matter, New hope for metastatic colorectal cancer

Tempest in DOH, Stop stigma on OFWs from Ebola countries, Extended post-stent treatment reduces risk of coronary thrombosis

Should we send health workers to Ebola-hit countries?, Surviving leukemia, Should statins be withheld in intracerebral hemorrhage?

Organ transplant for the poor, Nationwide measles vaccination
slated for kids under 5, Improving outcomes,
survival in CHF

Allaying the Ebola scare, 5 Filipino young scientists to attend int’l BioCamp, PDA stenting in a premature infant with Hypoplastic Right Heart Syndrome

‘All-or-none’ rule for SCT, ‘No truth to PCMC issue’ – Sec. Ona, EO 168: Managing emerging infectious diseases, A more logical screening colonoscopy

Tempest in the PMAD - Sec. Ona highlights climate change in Geneva meet - Hypertensives can pay a stiff price — PSH - Ph’s first minimally invasive surgical training center - Clinical decision-making in stroke likened to poker and marketing

Address health inequities - ‘Overweight, obesity, diabetes, and the law’ - Service fee guidelines - ‘Small bite, big threat’ - Drug regulatory study tour

BIR-MDs set reconciliatory mood
‘I’m not against doctors’ – Kim Henares, RH law is ‘not unconstitutional’— SC, ‘Imagine there’s
a disaster’ ...

‘Healthcare workforce
crisis real’ – PCP, ‘Flesh-eating
disease’ a
hoax!, Barriers to vaccination ...

June 2016

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Vital Signs - April 2015

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