PHILCAT: "Every Breath Counts" in TB Fight
Every breath counts" in the fight against tuberculosis. Whether it be in high-burden countries like the Philippines, or in countries experiencing TB resurgence because of HUIV/AIDS, the fight must continue.
Using this as a theme for this year's World TB Day commemoration held March 24, organizations and individuals that comprise the Philippine Coalition against Tuberculosis (PHILCAT) gathered at the Government Service Insurance System Theater to reaffirm their commitment to the fight.
PHILCAT chair Charles Yu expressed his hope that the Philippines would be "the next success story" in TB control, and spoke about how the collaboration between the public and private sectors is making significant contributions toward achieving the targets-a detection rate of 70 percent and a cure rate of 85 percent. Meanwhile, Dr. Michael Voniatis, medical officer of the World Health Organization's Stop TB Program in the Philippines, congratulated the partners on their work against the disease.
In recognition of all the work the partners put in, the PHILCAT honored 21 organizations coming from government, nongovernment, professional, and corporate sectors, as well as international agencies.
The awardees were: the Department of Education, Department of Justice, Department of the Interior and Local Government, and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation; the Center for Tuberculosis in Children-Philippines, Committee of German Doctors for Developing Countries, the University of Santo Tomas TB Clinic, Tropical Disease Foundation, World Vision Development Foundation, and Coalition of Concerned Caviteños against Tuberculosis; the Philippine College of Chest Physicians; GlaxoSmithKline Philippines, United Laboratories, Wyeth Philippines, and PhilamCare Health Systems; and the Canadian International Development Agency, Japan International Cooperation Agency, Médicos del Mundo-Spain, US Agency for International Development, and the WHO.
Also, Health secretary Manuel Dayrit was given the PHILCAT achievement award for his continued support to the fight against TB. Dayrit expressed hope that the oft-repeated statistics about TB-300 Filipinos get infected every day, and three die every hour-will change soon.
Meanwhile, to further strengthen the partnership between the public and private sectors in implementing DOTS (directly observed treatment, short course), the operating guidelines for public-private mix DOTS (PPMD) and its logo were unveiled at the event.
Jin Paul de Guzman
PHA Launches Hypertension Video Campaign
The numbers are alarming: 22 percent of adult Filipinos (about eight million) are hypertensive. Of the eight million, more than three million don't know they are hypertensive. Of the five million who know they are hypertensive, 63 percent go without treatment. Of those who do get treatment, only 781,000 are compliant, of whom not even 400,000 achieve blood-pressure control-that is not even five percent of all the Pinoy hypertensives.
Considering this problem and the health crisis it is likely to create-given the fact that hypertension is a major risk factor to the development of a number of possibly fatal conditions-the Philippine Heart Association came up with yet another way to teach the public how important prevention is in dealing with hypertension.
In a media forum on April 14 held at the PHA Heart House, PHA officers as well as members of the PHA Council on Hypertension launched four educational videotapes that aim to raise public awareness on hypertension. These videotapes shall be shown in key places such as airports, buses, and ships. This way, a significant percentage of Filipinos will receive practical information on how to control blood pressure, and prevent the onslaught of heart disease, strokes, and other serious conditions.
Each of the videotapes, produced in cooperation with Merck Inc., is 13 minutes long. The videotapes are divided into four important areas-diagnosis, causes, complications, and prevention of hypertension. At present 12 transport companies and organizations have agreed to show the videos in their vehicles.
Jin Paul de Guzman
PHISSAM on Improving Men's Health
The Philippine Society for the Aging Male (PHISSAM) discussed Current Strategies Toward Improving Men's Health during its third annual convention on March 18.
Dr. Dante Morales, medical director of Manila Doctors Hospital, talked about erectile dysfunction (ED) "as a sentinel of cardiovascular disease."
Ageing, increase in weight, dietary changes, smoking, and diabetes were among the factors he said that account for the increased incidence of ED.
Morales said most men suffering from it are either silent about it or don't think that it is a matter that they should discuss with their doctor. Many are also not aware of available treatment options if not embarrassed to seek proper medical assistance.
However, ED must be treated because it can adversely affect male health and quality of life. It is associated with emotional stress and lower levels of physical and emotional satisfaction. More important, it may also offer clues to certain symptomatic but progressive diseases, Morales explained.
Dr. Manuel Yuhico of Asian Hospital and Medical Center commented that "some disease entities may not be visible yet but the first manifestation may be ED." Morales pointed out that ED is "a sentinel, a guard, a clue to cardiovascular disease," among other disorders. Once diagnosed, it can then be treated with the right drugs like phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors.
Yuhico said PDE-5 inhibitors "are effective for a group of patients with mild to moderate erectile dysfunction." He presented studies on the available PDE-5 inhibitors: sildenafil, tadalafil, and vardenafil, noting that tadalafil has a longer duration of action compared with the two.
But where drugs don't work, Yuhico said the options are injectables, vacuum constriction devices, and surgical implants.
He also pointed out that it is wrong to presume that only older patients have ED. Patients as young as 35 years may have problems because they are prone to stress, overwork themselves, and, for whatever reason, may not be able to function when the need arises.
Meanwhile, PHISSAM president Dr. Jose Alberto Reyes III offered practical advice on prevention and early detection of prostate cancer. Other speakers were Dr. Cathy Chen on controversies and consensus on testosterone replacement therapy, Dr. Florante Gonzaga on DHEA replacement, Dr. Tito Torralba on osteoporosis in men, and Dr. Ruby Manalastas on sleep disorders in the elderly.
Mariafe Pagsuguiron
PCHA Plots Way to Hospital Entrepreneurship
A mid raging social, economic, and political issues, the Philippine College of Hospital Administrators (PCHA) trained its eyes on innovations and strategies hospitals would need to address far-ranging health-care concerns.
At its 28th annual convention, the association discussed ways of improving and professionalizing hospital administration in the country. Their theme was Taking Charge: Charting Your Way Toward Hospital Entrepreneurship.
"Hospital administration is not only a fine career but a full -time profession as well," said Dr. Evangeline Del Rosario, PCHA president. She noted that with technological advancement fast changing the health-care landscape and the hospital industry, hospital administrators have to acquire new skills to run the pace. She said licensing standards also have to be modified to reflect these changes.
Del Rosario stressed the role that administrators must play in keeping public confidence and trust in the health-care system, stressing that effective leadership and management are crucial in the success of a hospital organization.
Dr. Ma. Rebecca Cuezon, chair of the organizing committee acknowledged the difficulties of "making plans that make sense" amid the prevailing economic, social, and political conditions." But she said this is part of the challenge that hospital administrators face.
Keynoting the conference, Edward Fereira, president of the Management Association of the Philippines, gave hospital administrators insights into leadership, management, and entrepreneurship. He stressed the importance of adapting to change, saying "entrepreneurs who are unable to shift their frame of mind are under threat of losing their leadership position." He said the hospital industry must remain dynamic because the public expects a lot from it in terms of quality of service.
Rolando Martin, human resources manager of Max's restaurant, shared "secrets" of maintaining customer loyalty. Martin said that because "people will always want more for less," today's business organizations must be "more customer-driven than profit-driven."
He said hospitals as business organizations can do no less. They have to adopt strategies other businesses employ such as raising the standards of hiring; conducting intensified training programs; giving appropriate rewards and recognition; defining corporate vision, mission, and core values; and adopting management by example.
Miles Dumalagan
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