PHILCAT, PPS hold joint meet
To demonstrate their oneness in the fight against tuberculosis, the Philippine Coalition Against Tuberculosis (PHILCAT) and the Philippine Pediatrics Society (PPS) joined hands for PHILCAT's 12th annual convention with the theme TB Control: The Goal That Binds Us on August 16 to 18 at the Century Park Hotel in Manila.
The convention gave special focus on TB in children in an effort to draw attention to the disease's impact on children and the need to address such issues as underdiagnosis, undertreatment and overtreatment, and the social stigma often associated with TB.
"The stigma has to be removed," stressed PHILCAT chair Dr. Jennifer Mendoza-Wi. She said TB in children has to be addressed with urgency because not only are children more vulnerable to the disease at a tender age, but they stand the risk of carrying TB to their adulthood if they are not properly treated.
Mendoza-Wi said that PHILCAT chose the PPS as its partner in this year's convention in anticipation of the launching of the Clinical Practice Guidelines for TB in Children, aimed at confronting the challenges physicians face in providing care for children with TB.
Serving as highlight of the convention was the signing by associations of health educators and health schools of a "Declaration of Support" for the integration of the directly observed therapy short-course (DOTS) in the academic curriculum of allied health professional schools. The declaration was signed by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Professional Regulation Commission, Association of Deans of Philippine Colleges of Nursing, Philippine Association of Medical Technologists, Philippine Association of Schools of Medical Technology/Public Health, Philippine Nurses Association, Philippine Pharmaceutical Association, Philippine Tuberculosis Initiatives for the Private Sector, and PHILCAT. Health secretary Francisco Duque III and Dr. Michael Voniatis of the World Health Organization also signed the declaration.
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The declaration acknowledged that tuberculosis in the Philippines remains a major public-health problem that demands a concerted, unified response from both the public and private sectors.
Meanwhile, Duque reassured that the Department of Health (DOH) remains committed to the control of TB. He said TB control is one of the priority items in the DOH's four-pronged program on health promotion that includes continuing review of the mandates of bureaus and centers under the DOH, reduction in mortality and morbidity arising from infectious diseases, increasing budget appropriations for health programs, reducing corruption, and ensuring transparency and accountability in all DOH transactions.
PHICAT also elected a new set of officers for 2005-2006. They are Drs. Hubert Benedicto, chair; Yolanda Oliveros, vice chair; Renato Dantes, secretary; and Ma. Imelda Quelapio, treasurer. The members of the board are Drs. Vincent Balanag Jr., Elizabeth Cadena, Salvacio Gatchalian, Melvin Magno, Jaime Montoya, Ma. Isabel Obillo, and Charles Yu.
A. Mendoza
Celebrities push sight-saving drive
To highlight 10 years of helping others see, the Eye Bank Foundation of the Philippines (EBFP), a not-for-profit, nongovernment, humanitarian organization, launched the "Tears of Hope, Tears of Health" campaign. It aims to educate the public on eye health and care, raise funds for EBFP's operations, and get more Filipinos to sign up as cornea and eye donors.
In an unprecedented scale, celebrities took part in "Tears of Hope, Tears of Health." On August 27, a fund-raising dinner called "Vision for a Vision" had "celebrity sightings and performances" as the major attractions.
Corneal recipient Cheche Lazaro, producer Tony Gloria, director Jose Javier Reyes, actors Albert and Liezl Martinez, beauty queen Gloria Diaz, image consultant Abbygale Arenas-de Leon, actress Rica Paralejo, makeup artist Juan Sarte, singer Pinky Marquez, stand-up comic Tim Tayag, and pop princess Sarah Geronimo gave their show of support, while basketball player Vince Hizon and wife Patricia hosted.
A special auction of celebrity items that represent a happy moment in the celebrities' lives was also held to help raise funds for the campaign.
The EBFP mission is to provide the highest quality tissue for corneal transplant surgery, education, and research. It operates the Santa Lucia International Eye Bank, a 24-hour facility devoted to procurement, processing, evaluation, and equitable distribution of corneas and eye tissues to designated recipients throughout the country.
Said EBFP founder and president Dr. Ma. Dominga Padilla: "At any one point there are at least 300 people waiting for corneal tissue in the reservation list of the Eye Bank. Although the four to five months waiting time is very good by world standards, each additional day in darkness is like an eternity for someone ignited with the hope of restored sight. With the help of our generous supporters, we hope to cut this waiting time at least in half, so that we may help more people, and help them more effectively."
Corneal blindness is one of the top four causes of remediable blindness.
M. Ciriacruz
Epilepsy in love-Bingo!
In celebration of epilepsy-awareness week, which fell on September 5 to 11, the Philippine League Against Epilepsy (PLAE) called on everyone to realize that epilepsy does not prevent someone from fulfilling their dreams.
Epilepsy is treatable and does not hinder someone from Building Ties, Building Lives.
Appropriately, most of the lay symposiums on epilepsy were within the context of love, marriage, and family. The art exhibit, Fruits of the Spirit, on September 6 at the Kaisa Heritage Center in Intramuros showcased not just the works of visual artist and art teacher Baldwin Kho but also the exemplary life and career that is possible for someone who complies with treatment and adopts a positive attitude.
Kho is an Epilepsy Exemplar, an award given by PLAE every two years to people with epilepsy who do well academically or professionally.
Though medicines to treat epilepsy and prevent seizures have been available for a long time, a major issue in epilepsy management continues to be the patient's inability to comply with treatment, primarily because of the lack of funds to sustain it.
On the last day of the epilepsy-awareness week, the PLAE hoped to make antiepilepsy drugs more affordable by raising funds for a drug bank through the Bingo Socials. Cash and other interesting prizes were given to lucky participants.
Part of the proceeds from the sale of Kho's paintings will also benefit PLAE's drug-bank project.
M. Ciriacruz
PAO holds joint meeting with AAO
The Philippine Academy of Ophthalmology (PAO) will mark the 60th year of organized ophthalmology in the Philippines with a joint meeting with the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Dr. Romulo Aguilar, former PAO president and head of the committee undertaking preparations for the celebrations, said this marks the first time that the AAO is holding a joint meeting with a national ophthalmology organization, having done so in the past only with supranational organizations.
Where Asia Meets America is the theme of the meeting slated November 28 to December 1. The convention is also expected to draw participants from the Asia-Pacific region. Among the special participants will be representatives from the Singapore National Eye Center and the Asia-Pacific Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
The convention will serve as a fitting highlight of the PAO's celebration of 60 years of organized ophthalmology in the country. Organized ophthalmology began in the Philippines in 1945 with the founding of the Philippine Ophthalmological and Otolaryngological Society.
Dr. Aguilar is joined in the anniversary celebration committee by Drs. Salvador Salceda, Alejandro de Leon, Marcelino Banzon, Ma. Dominga Padilla, Carlos Naval, Winston Villar, Teresita Castillo, Reynaldo Santos, Heriberto Guballa, Mary Rose Pe-Yan, and Ronald Yutangco.
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