Northern Mindanao Health Information Network

Iligtas sa Tigdas ang Pinas

2011-03-26T18:18:00.002+08:00

RADIATION ILLNESS

2011-03-21T12:47:00.000+08:00

Press Release/14 March 2011

Exposure from ionizing radiation following nuclear plant accidents may cause acute as well as long-term effects on health.

Health effects are largely determined by the degree and duration of exposure. The highest risk to health is found among nuclear plant workers. Communities a few miles around the plant may also be affected. That is why evacuation maybe necessary to reduce this risk.

Very early occurrence of vomiting or very serious conditions or even death among exposed population, strongly suggest human absorption of very high doses of ionizing radiation. Blood tests may be done to confirm exposure. Geiger counter or dosimeter are also used to monitor progressive exposure to radiation.

Acute illness is known as acute radiation syndrome or radiation poisoning. This manifests as nausea, vomiting, fever or diarrhea. More serious conditions appear with extreme exposure. A latent period follows and lasts for weeks or months. Then more serious conditions affecting other organs may occur. Hair may fall and blood may be found in stools or vomit.

It is important that proper decontamination is done among those exposed. This means removing all clothes and shoes followed by showering. Treatment is given to prevent organ damage.

Long-term effects after exposure include cancers and genetic malformations in fetuses.

Presently, Japanese authorities are implementing containment procedures to eliminate radiation leaks. People have also been evacuated from a 12-mile radius. Hundreds have been screened for radiation exposure and so far no report of any illness was made.

source: www.doh.gov.ph

ONA: PHILIPPINES SAFE FROM RADIATION

2011-03-21T12:45:00.000+08:00

Press Release/ 14 March 2011

Department of Health Secretary Enrique T. Ona would like to inform the public that the Philippines is safe from radiation exposure resulting from the damage to Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan.

Ona took part in a briefing presided by President Benigno S. Aquino III held this noon to evaluate the possible consequences arising from the Fukushima nuclear plant incident and to consider necessary precautionary measures. Present during the said briefing were Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa, Jr., Science and Technology Secretary Mario Montejo, Budget and Management Secretary Florencio Abad, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, Presidential Communications Development Office Secretary Ricky Carandang as well as officials of the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI), the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA) and the National Security Agency.

During the briefing, the PNRI gave assurance that, at present, the Philippines is not in the path of any plume that may have been released by the plant. There was no reported meltdown in the damaged nuclear power plant. As of 11am today the wind pattern in Japan indicates that the Philippines is unlikely to be hit by any radioactive fallout from Fukushima. The PNRI is in coordination with the International Atomic Energy Administration to be abreast of the aftermath of the Fukushima incident. The DOH and all government agencies are monitoring the situation on an hourly basis and have prepared contingency measures.

source: www.doh.gov.ph

JOURNEY TOWARDS ISO CERTIFICATION

2011-03-21T12:40:00.000+08:00

Health Secretary Enrique T. Ona today (March 14, 2011) led the ceremony and parade inside the Department of Health (DOH) compound for the launching of the DOH’s journey towards ISO (International Organization for Standardization) certification.
In his message, Ona encouraged members of the executive committee, regional directors, chiefs of the corporate and special hospitals, central office directors, and all DOH employees and DOH partners to make this happen, stating these three words ,”kaya natin ‘to!”,with enthusiasm and conviction.

During the ceremony, Health Assistant Secretary Gerardo Bayugo discussed what is ISO and what it takes to become ISO-certified. According to him, the system starts by documenting one’s task then strictly observing duties accordingly and finding ways to improve and become more efficient and effective.

Bayugo added that ISO is taking steps towards achieving excellence. “If an institution is ISO certified, then it should be efficient and will be able to minimize wastage in time, efforts and resources to hurdle over unorganized and unnecessary processes”, Bayugo reiterated.
In the same event, Health Human Resource Development Bureau Director Dr. Kenneth G. Ronquillo acknowledged the ISO ad hoc committee, the deputy quality management representatives and the ad hoc secretariat.

source: www.doh.gov.ph

Online Registration of Persons with Disabilities Orientation in the Island Born of Fire (Camiguin Province)

2011-03-01T15:55:00.007+08:00

Philippine Registration for Persons with Disabilities (PRPWD) orientation in Camiguin Province. Batch I participants are stakeholders from TESDA, MSWDO,RHU nurses, DOH Representatives and PWD Federation Presidents. Batch II participants are Rural Health Midwives representing 5 municipalities, Catarman, Guinsiliban, Mahinog, Mambajao, Sagay and Catarman District Hospital. Trainors Nurse Carmencita M. Lubguban, Nurse V - PWD Focal Person of DOH-CHD Northern Mindaqnao, Mr. Voltaire M. Ucab, Zenaida M. Cainglet, representative PSWD and Ms. Marydel F. Credo, Provincial CBRSP Coordinator of PHO Camiguin. (Carmencita M. Lubguban)

CONFIRMED

2011-02-24T14:59:00.002+08:00

Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago congratulates Health Secretary Enrique T. Ona (right) after the latter was confirmed by the Commission on Appointments Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2011. In his opening statement, Secretary Ona said that his administration’s thrust will be the rehabilitation and upgrading of government hospitals nationwide.

Source: www.doh.gov.ph

WIN PHP 30,000 - SLOGAN AND LOGO CONTEST

2011-01-23T09:30:00.001+08:00

The Achievers (August-November 2010) Issue

2011-01-13T14:56:00.004+08:00

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GEOGRAPHICAL MAPPING OF BOTIKA ng BARANGAY - CHD NM 10

2011-01-11T14:21:00.005+08:00

As of December, 2010

DoubleClick this link to view/download the file.

MAKULAY NA PASKO SA CHD-NORTHERN MINDANAO

2010-12-30T15:38:00.004+08:00

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CHD-NM Christmas Party with the theme: Makulay na Pasko sa CHD-NM (Regional Health Office Region-X)

2010-12-23T10:41:00.002+08:00

During the Christmas Party of CHD-Northern Mindanao held December 22, 2010, at the DOH-X quadrangle, Dr. Jaime S. Bernadas, Regional Director, handed the Php500, 000 check to the winning most functional Federated Barangay Health Workers Association in the Region, which is the Federated BHW of Cagayan de Oro City. Representing the Association is Mrs. Sarah Vistal, Federated BHW President. Assisting Dr. Bernadas is Director Jose R. Llacuna, Jr, Director III, and Chief of Local Health Support Division, Dr. Susan O. Dongallo. With the group of Ms. Vistal is Dr. Rachel Dilla, City Health Officer II of Cagayan de Oro , Ms Iryn Salcido, Public Health Nurse Cag. De Oro City Health Office, and Dr. Edna Sheila B. Eugenio. The 1st Runner up receiving Php250,00 is the Federated BHW of Misamis Occidental and the 2nd runner up is the Federated BHW of Bukidnon, and the 3rd runner –up is the Federated BHW of Misamis Oriental. –Ma. Elen C. Santua, M.D., MS II

KAMPANYA KONTRA PAPUTOK AT MRT STATIONS

2010-12-21T09:33:00.003+08:00

Health Secretary Enrique T. Ona recently unveiled a ‘Kampanya Kontra Paputok’ tarpaulin aimed at reducing incidence of fireworks-related injuries to children as Department of Health data revealed that most injuries due to fireworks are found in children aged below 10 years old. Ona instead suggested that local government units designate a common fireworks display area, where the community can gather and have fun while watching fireworks display handled by professionals.

Source: www.doh.gov.ph

The Achievers Journal (April-July 2010 Edition)

2010-12-20T11:00:00.009+08:00

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From Womb to Tomb Media Seminar

2010-12-16T09:50:00.000+08:00

Dr. Ivanhoe C. Escartin, of the National Center for Health Promotion, presenting to media data on suicide during the recent DOH “Womb To Tomb” media seminar held on December 8-10, 2010 in Montebello Hotel , Cebu City. Dr. Escartin talked about depression as a pre- cursor to suicide, as suicide becomes more common during Christmas holidays.

source: www.doh.gov.ph

WALANG BATANG MAGPAPAPUTOK

2010-12-16T09:48:00.001+08:00

Health Secretary Enrique T. Ona discusses to students of Payatas B Elementary School the effects of using fireworks/firecrackers during this holiday season. Ona made the visit to schools to personally advise children to refrain from using fireworks/firecrackers as DOH statistics reveal that most injuries occur in the 1-10 years age group. He also cited that injuries to children happen because fireworks/firecrackers are available at community retail stores. The Department of Health stressed that no irresponsible fireworks use will result to no injury, or even death.

source: www.doh.gov.ph

World Health Report 2010 focusing on Health Systems Financing

2010-12-16T09:41:00.002+08:00

Health Secretary Enrique T. Ona, (3rd from left) presenting the World Health Report 2010 focusing on Health Systems Financing - The Path to Universal Coverage. Health Secretary Ona reiterated in the Alma-Ata Declaration that Health for All would contribute both to a better quality of life and also to global peace and security. He expressed optimism that President Benigno Aquino III’s marching order of universal healthcare coverage among the poorest of the poor Filipinos will soon be realize in two or three years. He added that strengthening rural health units, tapping private sector cooperation, sustaining health outcomes, expanding membership of informal sectors and scaling-up information campaign of Philhealth are some of the strategies the Department of Health should adopt in order to attain its objective. Also in photo from left to right are Philhealth President Dr. Rey Aquino, World Health Organization Country Representative to the Philippines Dr. Soe Nyunt-U, WHO Health Care Financing Team Leader Dr. Dorjsuren Bayarsaikhan, and WHO Health Sector Development Director Dr. Henk Bekedam.

source: www.doh.gov.ph

Regional Public Health Conference

2010-12-16T09:35:00.001+08:00

Health Undersecretary Mario C. Villaverde, during the Regional Health Conference on Determinants of Health, underscoring the need for society to work together to address the problems of rapid urbanization and devise approaches to reduce inequities to access to good health. He added that social determinants like water and sanitation, transportation, mother and children’s health, climate change, nutrition and family size should be given priority in order to make headway and achieve better health for all.

source: www.doh.gov.ph

WORLD AIDS DAY 2010: “LIGHT FOR RIGHTS”

2010-12-16T09:29:00.001+08:00

Press Release/1 December 2010

Human Immunodeficiency Virus or HIV continues to be a potent threat to the health of our countrymen. Countries across the globe are facing this dreaded disease and its disastrous effects on individuals, their families, the health care delivery system, and society in general.

Towards the end of 2008, an estimated total number of 33.4 million people were infected with HIV globally.

Locally, there are now a total of 5,729 HIV positive cases in the country. This represents less than one percent of our total population which means that the country is still on track to meet our MDG target of halting the spread of HIV/AIDS by 2015.

Despite this, Secretary Ona warned against complacency. “Efforts should be intensified to prevent its spread,” according the Health Secretary.

Steady increases in the number of cases have been reported over the years. Twenty-two percent (22%) of all cases were recorded this year alone. This is primarily driven by risky behaviours which includes unprotected sex, among others. In every ten (10) HIV infections reported in the country, nine were acquired through unprotected sex. About of half of these infections were in men having sex with men.

“Risky behaviours are fuelled by lack of awareness on HIV,” declared Secretary Ona as he emphasized the importance of focusing information and education campaigns on the most at risk populations (MARP). He also said that there is a need to inform people about the social impact of HIV/AIDS to correct the negative attitudes, biases, and stigma heavily associated with the disease.

Likewise, he stressed the importance of supporting the needs of people of living with HIV (PLHIV). At present, a total of 1,153 people living with HIV are currently on Anti-Retroviral treatment in the government’s 13 treatment hubs. These, together with the medical and social services are given for free.

This is in keeping with our celebration of World AIDS Day aptly themed, “Light for Rights.” As health is a fundamental right, it is essential that every human being has access to accurate and appropriate information on HIV/AIDS, preventive services to halt its spread, and adequate treatment to fight the disease.

“Let us all be beacons of light in the face of darkness that it is HIV/AIDS,” concluded the Health Chief.

source: www.doh.gov.ph

P-NOY’S PRIORITY: HOSPITAL DEVELOPMENT

2010-12-16T09:24:00.001+08:00

Health Secretary Enrique T. Ona on Wednesday, November 17, arrived by a helicopter to Mati City, Davao Oriental to witness the blessing and inauguration of the New Davao Oriental Provincial Hospital. The Health chief personally handed-over to Davao Oriental Governor Corazon N. Malanyaon a check amounting to almost a million as augmentation for the provincial hospital’s development plan. The visit is part of Pnoy’s commitment to improve all government health facilities whether it is DOH-retained or devolved to the local government units.

source: www.doh.gov.ph

IDTOMIS ANNOUNCEMENT RE-PROFICIENCY TESTING

2010-10-17T06:45:00.001+08:00

Please inform all the DTL in your area that registration for Proficiency test for Screening Drug Testing Laboratories is now on going. Deadline of on-line submission of registration form will be on October 30, 2010. participants will be limited and scheduled per batch depending on the statistical requirements of the PT scheme. Failure to pass the proficiency testing will result to suspension/cancellation of the DOH accreditation for the Year 2011. For more details you can visit BHFS website at http://www.doh.gov.ph/bhfs/ or contact NRL at (02)433-0673/(02)435-7136. Please be guided accordingly.

RUN FOR A CAUSE

2010-10-12T08:47:00.001+08:00

Health Secretary Enrique T. Ona, together with other DOH officers and staffs, join thousands of Filipinos in the 10-10-10 Run for the Pasig River yesterday, October 10, 2010.The event which aimed to raise funds for the rehabilitation of a heavily polluted Pasig River was participated by famous showbiz and political personalities.

Secretary Ona and the entire DOH delegation took part in the 10K run which started in Ayala Ave., Makati and ended at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay.

source: www.doh.gov.ph

NEW NATIONAL REFERENCE LAB

2010-10-12T08:45:00.001+08:00

Department of Health Assistant Secretary Dr. Elmer Punzalan(left) and National Health Laboratory Network Overall Chairman Dr. Juanito Billote recently opened the Philippine Heart Center (PHC) Division of Laboratory Medicine as the latest addition to the DOH National Reference Laboratory. As a reference laboratory for pathology of cardiovascular diseases, the PHC now offers referral service for histopathology, special stains including special studies, gross dissection and examination, autopsy consultation for cardiovascular pathology and external quality assurance activities. The PHC-NRL also offers seminars/training workshops and can be reached at 925-2401 local 5143.

source: www.doh.gov.ph

Kalusugan ng Lahat, Philhealth ang Katapat

2010-10-05T16:23:00.000+08:00

President Benigno S. Aquino III and Health Secretary Enrique T. Ona distributes Philhealth cards to indigent residents of Baseco, Tondo, Manila. The Department of Health, along with other government agencies, observed October 2 as National Philhealth Registration Day in order to promote national insurance consciousness aimed at reducing out-of-pocket expenditiures of Filipinos during hospital confinement and out-patient treatment. The DOH believes that a strongsocial insurance system is a vital element towards progress and nation building.

source: www.doh.gov.ph

GENERICS EXPO IN CLARK

2010-10-05T16:21:00.000+08:00

Healthy Lifestyle advocate Edna Nito, during the 2nd leg of the Philippine Generics EXPO 2010, lectures on the importance of engaging in regular exercise, eating healthy, balanced diet consisting of fruits, root crops, fish, and avoiding alcohol and tobacco as the natural way of preventing diseases and aging. The recent Generics EXPO was held in SM Clark, Pampanga and was participated by pharmaceutical companies promoting generic products.

source: www.doh.gov.ph

DOH AND PHILHEALTH READY FOR OCT 2 PHILHEALTH SABADO

2010-10-01T08:18:00.002+08:00

“It’s all systems go for the Department of Health (DOH) and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC) for the National PhilHealth Registration Day (NPRD) this October 2, 2010 with President Benigno S. Aquino III spearheading the campaign in Baseco, Tondo, Manila”, Health Secretary Enrique Ona today announced.

Ona explained that the nationwide registration this Saturday will take place in Philhealth desks put up in DOH regional offices, public schools, municipal halls, community halls, and DOH-retained hospitals nationwide.

“In keeping with P-Noy’s promise to give each and every Filipino access to quality healthcare in three years time, he will be distributing Philhealth cards to the very poor Filipinos previously identified by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as true indigents and already enrolled
by their respective local government chiefs in PhilHealth,” Ona said.

Meanwhile, Philhealth also disclosed that all Philhealth regional and service offices and government as well as premiere commercial centers nationwide will also hold registration for non-members.

The state-run health insurance program was made a priority item in the new Administration’s health agenda which aims to hit 100 percent of the Philippine population within three years.

Secretary Ona, currently the Chairman of the Board of Philhealth, organized a multi-sectoral task force to set things into motion to realize President Aquino’s directive in the soonest time possible.

Ona himself heads the said task force which is composed of the DOH, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Education (DepEd) as well as the National Anti Poverty Commission and the Leagues
of Provinces, Cities and Municipalities.

The DILG will help the DOH engage local chief executives in the enrolment of indigents in their respective jurisdictions as identified by the DSWD while DepEd shall help set up Philhealth desks in all public schools to encourage students and their parents to register and become Philhealth members.

The activity aims to register the remaining Filipino citizens who are at least 21 years of age and non-members of the program. It is also open to 18 to 20 year olds who may need to register; existing contributors who are still unregistered; those not issued their Philhealth Number Card or Family Health Card yet; and those already registered but who may want to update their membership profile with Philhealth.

The program mainly targets those from the self-employed and informal sector who comprise some 53 percent of the population, a substantial portion of which, can afford to pay for health
insurance as individually paying members (IPMs). Local government units and other non-governmental organizations may choose to sponsor families without the means to pay but were not included in the DSWD,

Targeted citizens are also enjoined to go to any of Philhealth’s 17 regional offices and close to 100 service offices in their respective localities.

Upon registration, they will be advised to activate their membership by paying the required contribution of at least Php 300 for a quarter or Php 1,200 for a year’s payment at any accredited collecting partners nearest them. A duly activated membership and completion of all eligibility requirements shall entitle a member and his/her qualified dependents medical care subsidies when confined in accredited hospitals anywhere in the country.

“I encourage all Filipinos especially those who are not yet members of PhilHealth, let us go out and avail of this opportunity to
be registered with Philhealth on October 2. Let us protect ourselves from the financial effects of health emergencies and medical situations in the family,” Secretary Ona concluded.

For more details on the open registration, the public may log on to www.philhealth.gov.ph or call the Philhealth member relations Department at (02) 637-6456

Source: www.doh.gov.ph

DOH GEARS UP FOR LOCAL BREASTFEEDING CAMPAIGN

2010-09-29T08:28:00.001+08:00

Health Secretary Enrique T. Ona reminds the public about the importance of breastfeeding within the first hour of life and called on health facilities providing healthcare for pregnant women, new mothers and newborns to follow the Ten Steps To Successful Breastfeeding.

During the ‘Breastfeeding Awareness Week’ held at the St. Luke’s Medical Center, Health Assistant Secretary Elmer Punzalan commended the participation of the SLMC as among the first private health facilities to respond to the DOH’s call to implement the Ten Steps To Successful Breastfeeding.

Globally, the Philippines is one of 33 countries that have completed the World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative. There are some 40 countries undergoing training towards completing the World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative.

Presently, about 28% of all maternity facilities in the world have implemented the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding. This has contributed to an encouraging increase in breastfeeding rates despite aggressive commercial promotion of infant formula and baby bottles.

The Ten Steps To Successful Breastfeeding are as follows: 1) Have a written breastfeeding policy that is communicated routinely to all healthcare staff; 2) Train all health-care staff in the skills necessary to implement the policy; 3) Inform all pregnant women about the benefits and management of breastfeeding; 4) Help mothers initiate breastfeeding within the first 30 minutes of life; 5) Show mothers how to breastfeed and how to maintain lactation even if separated from their infants; 6) Give newborn infants no food or drink other than human milk unless medically-indicated; 7) Practice rooming- in. Allow mothers and infants to stay together 24 hours a day; 8) Encourage breastfeeding on demand; 9) Give no artificial teats or pacifiers; and 10) Foster establishment of breastfeeding support groups and refer mothers on discharge from hospital or clinic.

Source: www.doh.gov.ph

DOH-CSC MOA on BOTIKA PARA SA TAUMBAYAN

2010-09-29T08:26:00.000+08:00

The Department of Health, represented by Secretary Enrique Ona, and the Civil Service Commission, represented by Chairman Francisco T. Duque III recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) wherein the CSC shall be granted a seed fund of P15 million worth of medicines. This seed fund shall be distributed to 300 government agencies identified by the CSC wherein each agency will be given P50,000 each worth of medicines and establish a “Botika Para sa Taumbayan”. Said MOA shall broaden the base of beneficiaries of low-cost medicines and ensure access to affordable quality medicines for all. Also in photo is Health Undersecretary Alexander Padilla.

Source: www.doh.gov.ph

Nationwide Philhealth Registration Day

2010-09-15T16:55:00.002+08:00

PhilHealth Sabado (October 2, 2010) is the start of a continuing advocacy program to increase awareness and knowledge of every Filipino on the importance of becoming a PhilHealth member that will ensure access to quality health services to the member and his/her dependents.

The program intends the registration of non-member informal sector under the individually paying program (IPP). It also provides for an opportunity to automatically register and distribute PhilHealth cards to about 800,000 indigents identified in the National Household Targeting System (NHTS) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

PhilHealth Sabado fullfill universal health insurance coverage within three years as promised in the first State of the Nation Address of President Benigno S. Aquino III.

1. Paraan ng Pagpaparehistro
2. Paraan ng Paggamit
- Sponsored Program Members
- Individually Paying Members
3. Alamin ang Inyong Benepisyo
4. Frequently Asked Questions

PRESENTATIONS

1. National Philhealth Registration Day
2. National Philhealth Registration Day - Communication Plan
3. Dry-Run of the National Philhealth Registration Day
4. NPRD Joint Agreement

source: www.doh.gov.ph

D.E.N.G.U.E. LAUNCHING AT MALACAÑANG

2010-09-15T16:53:00.001+08:00

The Department of Health‘s anti-dengue team headed by Secretary Enrique T. Ona recently met with the Malacañang communication chiefs led by Atty. Edwin Lacierda and Manuel L. Quezon III to find solution to the worsening problem of dengue cases in the country . The health chief, together with dengue experts Dr. Enrique Tayag, Dr. Lyndon Leesuy, and Dr. Vito Roque, talk about the technical characteristic and descriptions of the virus and what measures the health department is doing to control the rapid spread of the dreaded disease. The team also launched the new DOH’s strategy aptly called D.E.N.G.U.E, where D-daily monitoring of patients, E-encourage oral intake of fluids, N-note any dengue warning signs likes bleeding, G-give paracetamol, not aspirin, U-use mosquito nets, and E-early consultation. Also present during the meeting are Dr. Melisa Guerrero , Dr. Willie Ong, Dr. Joseph Lachica and the Media Relations Unit of DOH- Office of the Secretary.

source: www.doh.gov.ph

D.E.N.G.U.E. STRATEGY DOWN TO THE COMMUNITY

2010-09-10T07:12:00.000+08:00

Health Secretary Enrique T. Ona recently visited People’s Health Center in Barangay Hulo in Mandaluyong City to personally assess the capabilities of healthcare providers to handle dengue cases at health centers, as well as check their supplies. Ona earlier stressed, during a press conference, that not all dengue cases will require hospitalization. He said that parents and caregivers should practice the DOH’s D.E.N.G.U.E strategy, where D-daily monitoring of patients, E-encourage oral intake of fluids, N-note any dengue warning signs like bleeding, G-give paracetamol, not aspirin, U-use mosquito nets, and E-early consultation.

source: www.doh.gov.ph

DOH ATTENDING TO DENGUE PATIENTS, BUT LGUs URGED TO DOUBLE EFFORTS – SECRETARY ONA

2010-09-10T07:08:00.000+08:00

Press Release/7 September 2010

The Department of Health (DOH) today encouraged the public to maximize their health centers for consultations before bringing their patient to the hospital in an effort to declog public hospitals of long queues in the dengue express lane.

“Many dengue cases, if mild, can be managed at home or closely monitored by our local health staff in the communities. Not all dengue cases require hospitalization”, Health Secretary Enrique Ona emphasized even as he cited San Lazaro Hospital’s average of 500 consultations a day with only 30 admitted as dengue cases.

Ona emphasized that the number of new cases has been going down since August except in some cities of Metro Manila. Dengue peaks during the rainy months, particularly during the month of August.

The DOH disclosed that the number of cases nationwide from January to August 28 now totals 69,594.

This figure is 99% higher than last year’s 34,997 for the same period. There were 501 deaths recorded this year. Last year, there were 369 deaths. The case fatality rate for dengue is lower at 0.74 compared to 1.1 in the same period last year

Secretary Ona meanwhile cautioned local health authorities and the public not to let down their guard against dengue although cases are expected to further go down. He called on all local government officials to remain vigilant and make sure that that their health centers and hospitals are also ready to manage consultations for dengue and other diseases that occur during the rainy season such as influenza, bronchitis, diarrheas and leptospirosis.

DOH recently devised a new D.E.N.G.U.E. strategy to educate the public on home treatment of mild dengue cases. This is to also help decongest hospitals by giving an assurance that not all dengue cases require hospital confinement but can be managed at home using the said strategy.

“Instead of confining patients in a hospital facility, parents and caregivers can practice the D.E.N.G.U.E. strategy. D.E.N.G.U.E. stands for D - daily monitoring of patient’s status, E - encourage intake of oral fluids like oresol, water, juices, etc, N – note any dengue warning signs like persistent vomiting and bleeding, G – give paracetamol for fever and NOT aspirin, because aspirin induces bleeding, U – use mosquito nets and E – early consultation is advised for any warning signs”, Health Secretary Enrique Ona said.

Ona advised the public to go straight to the emergency room if they exhibit dengue warning signs. Warning signs include severe abdominal pain or persistent vomiting, red spots or patches on the skin, signs of bleeding, black stools, drowsiness or decreased consciousness, difficulty of breathing, and pale or cold clammy skin.

Ona has already issued an order to all DOH hospitals to activate their Dengue express lanes to facilitate patient admission for these severe dengue cases. Ona also appealed to chiefs of public and private hospitals to set up additional wards and beds for dengue patients needing confinement.

“Aside from these steps, I has also directed our DOH officials to temporarily suspend all out of town seminars and trainings which involve our local health providers so that they can attend more to dengue cases,” Ona said.

DOH reiterates that the most effective way to prevent and fight dengue is still by practicing the DOH’s 4-S strategy consisting of Search and destroy, Self-protective measures, Seek early treatment and Say no to indiscriminate fogging.

“We are reiterating our call to all local government units (LGUs) to mobilize barangay dengue brigades in their areas such as what is being done in Quezon City and Zamboanga City,” Ona said, adding that a once-a-week community-wide clean up drives against dengue will help a lot in reducing cases.

Measures include emptying of all exposed containers and vases, old tires, coconut husks, and plants of stagnant waters. Abandoned lots, houses and establishments should also be included in the search-and-destroy operations because these may have possible mosquito breeding sites.

Ona also recognized the efforts of other government agencies to combat dengue such as the initiative of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to conduct fogging activities in public schools of Metro Manila where clustering of dengue cases have been reported. He also thanked the Department of Education (DepEd) for including dengue awareness campaigns in their wellness programs in all public schools nationwide.

source: www.doh.gov.ph

ANTI-DENGUE CAMPAIGN IN LRT

2010-09-03T13:43:00.001+08:00

Health Secretary Enrique Ona explains to a young boy the Department of Health’s 4-S strategy against dengue because the population most affected by the disease are the 1-10 years age group. The DOH’s 4-S campaign includes Search and destroy all mosquito breeding sites, Seek early consultation once dengue is suspected, wear Self-protective clothing to prevent mosquito bites, and Say no to indiscriminate fogging, because there are certain conditions that should be observed during fogging operation. Assisting Secretary Ona is Light Railway Transit Authority Division Chief Mr. Joseph Hagos. From January to August 21 this year, dengue cases nationwide reached 62,503 with 465 deaths.

Source: www.doh.gov.ph

PNOY and Chairman Duque Message on 110th CSC Anniversary

2010-09-03T10:00:00.003+08:00

LAUNCHES ‘D.E.N.G.U.E.’ STRATEGY

2010-09-02T08:01:00.001+08:00

Press Release/1 September 2010

The Department of Health (DOH) today assured that many dengue cases, if mild, can be managed at home and not all cases require hospitalization even as the number of cases nationwide from January to August 21 now rose to 62,503.

This figure is 88.8% higher than last year’s 33,102 for the same period. There were 465 deaths recorded this year. Last year, there were 350 deaths.

“Instead of confining patients in a hospital facility, parents and caregivers can practice the D.E.N.G.U.E. strategy. D.E.N.G.U.E. stands for D - daily monitoring of patient’s status, E - encourage intake of oral fluids like oresol, water, juices, etc, N – note any dengue warning signs like persistent vomiting and bleeding, G – give paracetamol for fever and NOT aspirin, because aspirin induces bleeding, U – use mosquito nets and E – early consultation is advised for any warning signs”, Health Secretary Enrique Ona said.

The new D.E.N.G.U.E. strategy has been devised by the DOH to educate the public on home treatment of mild dengue cases. This is to also help decongest hospitals by giving an assurance that not all dengue cases require hospital confinement but can be managed at home using the said strategy.

Ona also reiterated that the most effective way to prevent and fight dengue is still by practicing the DOH’s 4-S strategy consisting of Search and destroy, Self-protective measures, Seek early treatment and Say no to indiscriminate fogging.

“We are urging all local government units to mobilize barangay dengue brigades in their areas,” Ona explained, adding that a once-a-week community-wide clean up drives against dengue will help a lot in reducing cases. Measures include emptying of all exposed containers and vases, old tires, coconut husks, and plants of stagnant waters. Abandoned lots, houses and establishments should also be included in the search-and-destroy operations because these may have possible mosquito breeding sites.

Ona revealed that most of the cases came from Western Visayas (16.1%), CaLaBarzon (10.9%), Central Mindanao (10.5%), Eastern Visayas (9.2%), National Capital Region (8.9%), Southern Mindanao (8.1%) and Northern Mindanao (7.4%).

Ages of cases ranged from 1 month to 95 years old. Majority (52%) of the cases were male. The most affected age group were the 1-10 years while there were more deaths recorded in the less than one year age group and the 1-10 years age group).

Ona disclosed that outbreaks were detected in Roxas City and Iloilo City in Region VI and Zamboanga City in Region IX.

The health chief explained that a hotspot is defined as clustering of cases with increasing number in the past four weeks. Hotspots were observed in the several barangays in the following areas: Lipa City and San Jose in Batangas (Region 4A); Puerto Princesa City in Palawan (Region 4B); Kalibo, Aklan (Region VI); Tagbilaran City, Bohol (Region VII); Pudtol, Apayao (CAR) and ; Kalookan and Valenzuela in NCR.

On the other hand, clustering of cases occur when there are three or more cases in a barangay in the past four weeks. Clustering of cases was noted in many areas in different Regions of the country.

At the National Capital Region, most of the cases were reported from Quezon City.

“The increase in dengue cases can be attributed to the presence of four different strains of the dengue virus circulating in the country today, plus the fact that the country is experiencing the El Niño phenomenon,” Ona elaborated, adding that continuous rains is also responsible for the upsurge in cases.

To more strongly respond to the increasing number of dengue cases, the DOH has ramped up efforts in its public education and information campaign to schools and barangays since July in coordination with its regional health offices and other concerned government agencies such as the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Secretary Ona has also reiterated the directive to activate all dengue express lanes in DOH and to network with regional and provincial blood centers where patients can access safe and clean blood for transfusion in severe cases.

“There is still no cure or vaccine for dengue and that is why we must focus on other cost-effective interventions, the most important of which is source reduction --- destroy the dengue-carrying mosquitoes,” Ona emphasized.

The health department is currently looking into other potential strategies to combat dengue such as the use of vaccines against all four dengue strains, the genetic modification of the Aedes mosquitoes which will render them less active in biting victims and even local alternatives such as the use of “Tawa-tawa”, a local herb that is being investigated for its curative properties against dengue.

“We are on the lookout for the emerging science and trends concerning dengue which can help us to more effectively fight the disease in the future,” says Ona. “Meanwhile, we are doing everything we can to arm the public with information and respond to the medical needs of victims given the tools that are currently available to us,” he added.

Ona reminded the public that dengue, although an all-year round disease, is more common during rainy days when there are more potential breeding grounds for the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. To prevent dengue, Ona advised the public to destroy all possible mosquito breeding sites like old tires, softdrink bottles and tin cans, and use mosquito nets or protective clothing. He also stressed that fogging may be done only in outbreak areas.

Source: www.doh.gov.ph

ONA & KRIS VS AEDES

2010-09-01T08:12:00.001+08:00

Health Secretary Enrique T. Ona and Presidential sister Kris Aquino smashing the Aedes Aegypti mascot to show schoolchildren of Rosa Susano Elementary School in Novaliches, Quezon City that dengue can be defeated through correct information on how to prevent the disease. Secretary Ona also stressed the important role of media in conveying timely and correct messages to the public at the same time appreciated media’s help in the Department of Health’s campaign against dengue. Latest DOH record reveals that dengue cases as of August 14 now reached 54,659 with 429 deaths.

source: www.doh.gov.ph

YOU & ME & MOMMY

2010-09-01T08:09:00.000+08:00

We all support our breastfeeding mommies

Health Assistant Secretary Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial, during the breastfeeding press conference dubbed as “You, Me and Mommy” in support of breastfeeding mothers, stressing the need to revive the breastfeeding culture in the country as a child survival strategy to reduce infant mortality and improve the health status of every Filipino child. Ubial also urged all hospitals to become Mother-Baby Friendly in order to promote and sustain the breastfeeding practice. Also in photo from left to right are UNICEF Representative Vanessa Tobin, World Health Organization Country Representative Dr. Soe Nyunt-U and Ms. Nuriza Abeja, founder of Beauty, Brains, and Breastfeeding.

Source: www.doh.gov.ph

DOH, DepEd STARTS DENGUE SCHOOL CAMPAIGN

2010-09-01T08:06:00.001+08:00

24 August 2010

The Department of Health and Department of Education today started the series of elementary school visits in Rizal Elementary School in Manila in order to inform children on the prevention of dengue and its signs and symptoms.

As of August 14, a total of 54,659 dengue cases were reported nationwide. This figure is 74.9% higher for the same period last year. There were 429 deaths recorded.

“Dengue is a disease more common during rainy season and affects mostly (77%) the 1-20 years age group,” Health Secretary Enrique Ona explained.

Source: www.doh.gov.ph

INFLUENZA A (H1N1) UPDATE

2010-08-13T11:05:00.000+08:00

12 August 2010
source: www.doh.gov.ph

STATEMENT OF HEALTH SECRETARY DR. ENRIQUE T. ONA ON THE WHO DECLARATION OF THE INFLUENZA A (H1N1) POST-PANDEMIC PERIOD

The Department of Health (DOH) concurs with the recent announcement of WHO Director-General Margaret Chan that the world is now shifting toward the post-pandemic period of Influenza A (H1N1). The review of the current alert levels of the A (H1N1) pandemic by the WHO was in fact one of the recommendations during the ASEAN Health Ministers Meeting held in July this year.

As can be gleaned from the official WHO announcement, the post-pandemic phase means that the A (H1N1) virus has taken on a behavior and intensity similar to that of the regular seasonal flu viruses. It also means that we expect sustained community level transmission and localized outbreaks of A (H1N1) in the coming years.

In the country, similar to the rest of the world, all evidence indicates that the virus mostly causes mild symptoms that resolve even without antiviral treatment in the overwhelming majority of cases. There is also no indication of a change or mutation in the virus that would point to increased virulence or a change in the severity or character of the flu illness that it causes to patients.

In the Philippines, findings reveal that A (H1N1) remains to be the dominant strain with 49% of 11,904 specimens submitted to and analyzed by the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine (RITM) testing positive for A (H1N1) 2009 (as of July 31, 2010). This is in contrast with the global situation described by the WHO as having a “mix of influenza viruses, typically seen during seasonal epidemics.”
With the shift toward the post-pandemic phase, let me assure everyone that the DOH will continue to monitor the situation and heed the advice of WHO to continue our early detection and surveillance activities and remain vigilant against the expected local outbreaks as part of the DOH Surveillance for influenza-like illnesses (ILI).
Our local experience in handling the A (H1N1) pandemic of 2009 has already proven the capacity of our government to respond to this emerging challenge especially in giving care to the minority of patients who may need treatment and care in our health facilities. In fact, our efforts have been commended by the WHO in terms of giving an adequate and efficient response; establishing effective collaboration between our government, the WHO and the international community; and in providing effective risk communication to the public since the beginning of the A (H1N1) pandemic.
We shall also intensify our vaccination strategy in targeting our health workers and high-risk groups which include pregnant women, the very young and the elderly, the immuno-compromised and those with chronic conditions (i.e. asthma, COPD, diabetes, cardiovascular disease).
Thus, I encourage our health workers and all our citizens who belong to these vulnerable groups to avail of the vaccines that we have already been providing for free in our local health facilities and DOH-managed hospitals since early this year. I also call on our hospitals and frontline healthcare providers to continue the effective management of our local cases following the clinical guidelines that the DOH has issued in 2009.

DENGUE NOW OVER THE 40,000 MARK, 48% HIGHER THAN LAST YEAR-DOH

2010-08-13T11:03:00.000+08:00

Press Release/12 August 2010
Source: www.doh.gov.ph

The Department of Health (DOH) today reported that dengue cases nationwide now reach 40,648 from January to 31 July 2010. The figure is 48% higher than last year’s 27,473 for the same period. There were 328 deaths recorded this year with case fatality ratio (CFR) of 0.8%. Last year, there were 293 deaths (CFR at 1.1%).

Most of the cases came from Central Mindanao (5,259 cases), Western Visayas (4,511), Eastern Visayas (4,086), CALABARZON (4,034), Southern Mindanao (3,875), Northern Mindanao (3,603), and the National Capital Region (3,452).

Ages of cases ranged from less than a month to 95 years old. Majority (52%) of the cases were male. The most affected age group were the 1-10 years and the 11-20 years, while there were more deaths recorded in the less than one year age group and the 1-10 years age group.

Health Secretary Enrique T. Ona disclosed that outbreaks were detected in the municipality of Gasan in Marinduque and Barangay Banica, Lawaan in Roxas City, Capiz.

Hotspots were observed in Barangays Minoyan, Murcia, Carabalan, Aguisan in Himalayan City and Concepcion, Bubog in Negros Occidental; Barangays Bata, Singcang, Banago, Tangub, Taculing, Pahanocoy, Felisa, Villamonte and Mansilingan in Bacolod City; and Barangays Lanot, Malibili, Tiza, and Bolo in Roxas City. A hotspot is defined as clustering of cases with increasing number in the past four weeks. On the other hand, clustering of cases occur when there are three or more cases in a barangay in the past four weeks.

Clustering of cases were noted in the province of Ilocos Norte, La Union, and Ilocos Sur in Ilocos Region; Cagayan in Cagayan Valley; Zambales, Aurora, Tarlac, and Bulacan in Central Luzon; Rizal, Quezon, Laguna, and Batangas in CALABARZON; Marinduque, Palawan, and Mindoro Oriental in MIMAROPA; Albay. Masbate and Camarines Sur in Bicol Region; Aklan, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, Iloilo City, Negros Occidental, and Bacolod City in Western Visayas; Bohol, Negros Oriental, Cebu in Central Visayas;

There were also clustering of cases in Biliran, Samar, Eastern Samar, Southern Leyte, and Leyte in Eastern Visayas; Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur in Western Visayas; Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, and Bukidnon in Northern Mindanao; Davao City, Davao del Sur, and Davao Oriental in Southern Mindanao; Sarangani Province, Cotabato City, General Santos City, Sultan Kudarat, North Cotabato, and South Cotabato in Central Mindanao; Lanao del Sur in the Autonomous Region of Moslem Mindanao; Baguio City, Mountain Provicne, Benguet anmd Apayao in the Cordillera Administrative Region; Agusan del Sur in CARAGA and Metro Manila at the National Capital Region (NCR).

At the National Capital Region, most of the cases are from Quezon City (754), Manila (606), Kalookan (372), Navotas (227), and Valenzuela (221). Other cities include Malabon (182), Mandaluyong (171), Marikina (165), Pasig (144), Pasay (126), Makati (119), and Parañaque (114).

“The increase in dengue cases can be attributable to the El Niño phenomenon the country is experiencing,” Ona said, adding that continuous rains will also be responsible.

The health chief reminded the public that dengue, although an all-year round disease, is more common during rainy days when there are more potential breeding sites for the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. To prevent dengue, Ona advised the public to destroy all mosquito breeding sites like old tires and tin cans, always clean roof gutters, replace water in flower vases regularly, use mosquito nets or protective clothing. He also stressed that fogging may be done only in outbreak areas.

SECRETARY ONA'S 1ST REGIONAL VISIT

2010-08-13T10:59:00.001+08:00

source: www.doh.gov.ph

Health Secretary Enrique T. Ona during the groundbreaking ceremony of the Davao Sub-National Blood Center in Mindanao to meet the blood needs of the region. Also in photo (from left to right) are Western Visayas Regional Director Dr. Ariel Valencia, Head Executive Assistant Dr. Yolly Oliveros, Southern Mindanao Regional Director Dr. Gene Baluma, Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) Chief Dr. Leopoldo Vega and Health Assistant Secretary David Lozada. Secretary Ona also formally renamed the Davao Medical Center to Southern Philippines Medical Center. Ona envisioned the SPMC to be a model hospital and to utilize private-public partnership as a strategy to further improve the current healthcare delivery system. He added that SPMC could also be a center for organ donation and transplantation in Mindanao.

MILESTONE BREAKTHROUGH IN THE DOH ANTI-CORRUPTION CAMPAIGN

2010-08-13T10:55:00.002+08:00

source: www.doh.gov.ph
The Department of Health, through the Integrity Development Committee (DOH-IDC) comes up with a Covenant of Commitment with the National Movement for Free Election (NAMFREL), a non-partisan, non-political Coalition Against Corruption (CAC) watchdog together with other Civil Society Organizations in the country.

The commitment covenant signing was graced and represented by Honorable Secretary Enrique T. Ona, MD, witnessed by the IDC Chairperson, Assistant Secretary Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial with undersecretary of Health for the Field Implementation Management Office (FIMO) and all IDC Committee Members.

The commemorative signing made the DOH’s Anti-Corruption campaign a breakthrough of success and commitment in its effort to align the efficient, effective, and transparent governance to better achieve a quality healthcare delivery for the people

DOH LEADS WORLD BREASTFEEDING WEEK

2010-08-06T11:31:00.001+08:00

source: www.doh.gov.ph

The Department of Health (DOH), along with some 73 countries worldwide, joins the international community in the observance of the 19th World Breastfeeding Week with the theme, “Breastfeeding: Just 10 Steps. The Baby-Friendly Way”.

According to Health Secretary Enrique T. Ona, breastfeeding improves maternal and child health, and contributes to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goal number 4 and 5 which is the reduction of child mortality and improvement of maternal health, respectively.

Study shows that the initiation of breastfeeding within the first hour of life will lead to successful exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months. Continued breastfeeding should continue through the second year and beyond, with addition of safe, adequate, and appropriate complimentary foods.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) recently noted that the marked reduction in child mortality from 13 million deaths globally in 1990 to 8.8 million in 2008 can be partly attributed to the adoption of basic health interventions like early and exclusive breastfeeding.

Globally, the Philippines is one of 33 countries that have completed the World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative. There are some 40 countries undergoing training towards completing the World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative.

Presently, about 28% of all maternity facilities in the world have implemented the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding. This has contributed to an encouraging increase in breastfeeding rates despite aggressive commercial promotion of infant formula and baby bottles.

However, the 28% global compliance is a far cry from the 1990 Innocenti Declaration goal that by 1995 all maternity facilities shall be practicing the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding and shall promote and support breastfeeding practices in their respective countries.

The challenge for us is so great considering the resources are scarce. The “Rooming-In and Breastfeeding Act 7600” was revised and expanded to RA 10028 or known as “Expanded Breastfeeding Act of 2009”. This law addresses the issue of discontinuation of breastfeeding because women workers have to return to their work. This will also fill-up the gap of some mothers, who for some reason, will not be able to breastfeed their babies for awhile by encouraging hospitals to put up milk banks. Breastfeeding will also be integrated in the academe from elementary to college, especially for medical and allied courses.

While all those things are in process, the DOH have to make sure that hospitals, birthing homes/lying-in/maternity clinics and the likes practices Mother-Baby Friendly Hospital Initiatives (MBFHI).

“Let us vigorously promote breastfeeding for a healthier citizenry,” Ona concluded.

DOH AND PHILHEALTH TO LAUNCH NATIONWIDE REGISTRATION

2010-08-06T11:29:00.001+08:00

source: www.doh.gov.ph

The Department of Health (DOH) and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC) will stage a massive open registration this September in response to President Benigno Simeon Aquino’s marching orders to attain universal Philhealth coverage in three years.

This was disclosed by Health Secretary Enrique T. Ona in a press briefing today explaining that the nationwide registration shall take place by setting up Philhealth desks in public schools, municipal halls and all DOH-retained hospitals nationwide.

“In keeping with P-Noys promise to give each and every Filipino access to quality healthcare in three years time, your Philhealth will open its doors across the country to reach out to the very poor Filipinos identified through the National Household targeting System – Proxy means test (NHTS-PMT) of Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and considered as true indigents,” Ona said.

Meanwhile, Philhealth President and CEO Dr. Rey B. Aquino also disclosed that all Philhealth regional and service offices and government as well as premiere commercial centers nationwide will also hold registration for non-members.

The state-run health insurance program was made a priority item in the new Administration’s health agenda which aims to hit 100 percent of the Philippine population within three years.

Secretary Ona who currently sits as the Chairman of the Philhealth Board, has organized a multi-sectoral task force to set things into motion and realize president Aquino’s directive the soonest time possible.

Ona himself heads the said task force which is composed of the DOH, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Education (DepEd).

The DILG shall help the DOH engage local chief executives in the enrolment of indigents in their respective jurisdictions as identified by the DSWD while DepEd shall help create Philhealth desks in all public schools to encourage students and their parents to register and become Philhealth members.

The activity aims to enrol the remaining Filipino citizens who are at least 21 years of age and non-members of the program. It is also open to 18 to 20 year olds who may need to register; existing contributors who are still unregistered; those not issued their Philhealth Number Card or Family Health Card yet; and those already registered but who may want to update their membership profile with Philhealth.

The program mainly targets those from the self-employed and informal sector who comprise some 53 percent of the population and of which a substantial portion can afford to pay for health insurance as individually paying members (IPMs). On the other hand, the low income as well as those without the means to pay shall benefit from sponsorships where the national and local governments and other sponsors shoulder the premiums for their annual coverage.

Targeted citizens are also enjoined to go to any of Philhealth’s 17 regional offices and close to 100 service offices in their locality.

“We are also tapping other means such as online registration via our website; via texting using their cell phones; in malls and other commercial centers; and through our partners such as Local Government Units, government hospitals and colleges and universities to ensure that they will be able to register with ease and convenience,” Philhealth President Aquino explained.

Upon registration, enrolees will be advised to activate their membership by paying the required contribution of at least Php 300 for a quarter or Php 1,200 for a year’s payment at any accredited collecting partners nearest them. A duly activated membership and completion of all eligibility requirements shall entitle a member and his/her qualified dependents medical care subsidies when confined in accredited hospitals anywhere in the country.

“I encourage all Filipinos, especially Philhealth non-members, to go out and avail of this opportunity to be registered with Philhealth and secure financial protection that they will need in times of emergencies and medical situations in the family,” Secretary Ona concluded.

For more details on the open registration, the public may log on to www.philhealth.gov.ph

DOH LAUNCHES OSPITAL PiNOY: MALINIS AT MABANGO CAMPAIGN

2010-08-06T11:26:00.001+08:00

Source: http://www.doh.gov.ph

In the government’s desire to further improve service to the people and be at par with its private counterparts, the Department of Health (DOH) today launched the “Ospital ng PiNOY: Malinis at Mabango” campaign.

“Hospitals should be centers of wellness and not of sickness, hence the need to maintain always a clean environment,” Health Secretary Enrique T. Ona said, adding that the poor status of cleanliness and orderliness of DOH hospitals have always been a usual source of complaints among patients and caregivers, as well.

Aside from providing health services, hospital authorities should make sure that the wards, rooms, lavatories, hallways, and corridors inside the hospital premises and its surroundings are always clean, orderly, and odor-free.

The health chief challenged all hospital directors of DOH-retained hospitals and specialty hospitals to maintain the highest degree of hygiene in their work environment. Unclean, unkempt and smelly hospital premises pose a health risk to patients, their companions, and health workers. Oftentimes, this also causes the negative perception of the people on public hospitals.

The “Ospital ng PiNOY: Malinis at Mabango” campaign specifically instructs hospitals to maintain cleanliness and orderliness inside hospital premises including driveways and parking areas at all times and pursue specific initiatives, mechanisms, and activities to achieve its goal. It should also mobilize its staff and health workers, as well as patients and their companions, to ensure that hospital cleanliness and orderliness is maintained.

“Ospital ng PiNOY: Malinis at Mabango” stickers, posters, and tarpaulins should be set up in conspicuous areas such as entrances, corridors, hallways, offices, wards, rooms, lavatories, etc.

A feedback mechanism such as grievance boxes, complaint desks, hotlines is a must in order to allow patients, clients and other stakeholders to lodge their complaints regarding the cleanliness and orderliness of the hospital so that corrective measures are implemented immediately.

Ona directed the Assistant Secretary for Special Concerns and Regional Directors to ensure compliance to this campaign by conducting regular, random, unannounced spot checks of hospitals and by calling the attention of hospital chiefs, if necessary.

CHD-NM STRATEGIC PLANNING WORKSHOP 2011-2016

2010-07-07T10:36:00.005+08:00

ONA URGES DOH TO SUPPORT P-NOY

2010-07-07T10:10:00.002+08:00

Former National Kidney & Transplant Institute Chief Dr. Enrique Ona formally took the reins as Health Secretary from outgoing Dr Esperanza I. Cabral in a simple turn-over ceremony held at the DOH Convention Hall, July 5, 2010. During the turnover rites, Ona was warmly met by Department of Health colleagues and urged everyone to rally behind the Aquino administration for effective and efficient healthcare service delivery.

Source: http://www.doh.gov.ph

NEW HEALTH CHIEF

2010-07-02T11:31:00.002+08:00

Dr. Enrique T. Ona today assumes his new post as Department of Health Secretary. Sec. Ona solicited the support of all his DOH family to work towards the marching order of President Benigno Aquino III for universal Philhealth coverage in three years. Sec. Ona was the former Executive Director of the National Kidney and Transplant Institute since 1998 and President of the Transplantation Society of the Philippines.

source: http://www.doh.gov.ph

DOH SUED ON CIGARETTE PACKS WITH PICTURES; HEALTH GROUP HIT TOBACCO COMPANY

2010-06-18T13:34:00.001+08:00

Press Release/17 June 2010

The health group, Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Alliance Philippines (FCAP) criticized the tobacco company, Fortune Tobacco Corp. for questioning in court the recent order of the Department of Health to put pictures in cigarette and tobacco packages bearing information about these products.

“Expectedly, the tobacco industry tries to block the order of the DOH aimed at protecting the Filipino people against smoking-related diseases,” said Dr. Maricar Limpin, FCAP Executive Director.

Fortune Tobacco Corp. filed a petition for Declaratory Relief with application for the issuance of a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) on June 3, 2010 regarding the DOH Administrative Order No. 13, Requiring Graphic Health Information on Tobacco Product Packages.

The petition, now being heard before the sala of Marikina Regional Trial Court Branch 272 by Hon. Justice Felix P. Reyes will hold its next hearing on June 21.

The DOH issued the AO on May 24 imposing mandatory printing on cigarette packs of pictures and information depicting the real effects of cigarettes and the removal of all descriptors in cigarette products. Fortune filed the petition even before the AO is set to be implemented.

“The tobacco industry’s action confirms the effectiveness of pictures to control cigarette smoking among the youth. What the tobacco industry is not saying in the press release that pictures work too well for the youth who are the primary target of tobacco marketing. Why will the industry go all the way to the court if they do not see the effectiveness of this measure to curb smoking and eventually affect their profit? The industry will naturally move heaven and earth to refuse the printing of pictures in cigarette packs because this will effectively ruin one of their most vital marketing platforms, the product packages,” explained Limpin.

Limpin said reaching out to the younger generation was touted by the industry itself as the way to heftier profits. They are called replacement smokers as more adult smokers are dying due to smoking-related diseases.

In the template of pictures that will be printed in cigarette packs, the DOH AO requires printing of photos depicting the effects on the smokers of toxic compounds and over 60 carcinogens containing cigarettes and tobacco products. It also includes information that nicotine, a by-product unique only to tobacco, is the substance that eventually leads the smoker to addiction.

“The DOH issued the AO to provide the consumers with accurate information about cigarettes and other tobacco products. The industry deliberately omitted in their press statements that it was not meant to replace the existing health warning printed in cigarette packs,” said Limpin. FCAP is a health alliance of medical and health professionals, concerned mothers, environmental advocates, religious and faith-based groups and individuals who aim to liberate the Filipino people from the hazards and ailments caused by cigarettes and other tobacco products.

According to Limpin, the DOH has to ensure accurate product information because cigarettes and other tobacco products are the only consumer products legally sold in the market that are known to cause sure-death, if not debilitating and pain-causing ailments, when used as directed by the manufacturers.

REFERENCE: Dr. Maricar Limpin, FCAP Executive Director - 0917-6283502 Joyce E. Sierra +639175221065

STATEMENT OF COALITION FOR HEALTH ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY

2010-06-11T10:04:00.001+08:00

From: DOH WebPAGE

9 June 2010

The Coalition for Health Accountability and Transparency (CHAT) is a coalition of civil society organizations concerned with issues on access to medicines, public health and good governance. Bound by a common advocacy, but recognizing the independence and integrity of its member-organization s, the Coalition is working to promote transparency and accountability, and encourage sharing of information in the field of public health.

The Coalition lauds the Department of Health (DOH) for upholding the Constitutional right to health and right to health information through the recent issuance of Administrative Order 2010-0013 (AO 2010 0013) requiring graphic health information and prohibiting misleading descriptors on tobacco product packages, and urges the DOH to stand firm despite the attempts to undermine the bold step forward in public health.

At least 10 Filipinos die every hour from preventable tobacco-related diseases. This is further aggravated by the lack of compelling information on the toxic and poisonous contents and emissions of tobacco products.

By requiring the placement of visible and full color pictures and health information on tobacco product packages, the DOH succeeds in effectively communicating the health risks of smoking to those sectors of the populace that are most vulnerable to the deceptive appeal of cigarettes – the youth and the illiterate.

We deplore the shameless attempts to undermine the DOH Administrative Order on Graphic Health Information. The tobacco companies, and those representing their interests, have no right to take away the Filipino’s right to health information. So far, they have questioned the DOH’s competence and authority as well as the legality of the DOH Administrative Order.

We join the community of lawyers’ and legal experts’ recognition of the DOH’s authority to issue the Administrative Order. Instead of questioning and protesting the DOH issuance, the tobacco companies should respect the Philippine government and the Filipino people in the same way that they respect other countries’ governments and people. Right now, these companies already place graphic information on cigarette packs they export to Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia. The Filipinos deserve no less.

We urge the politicians (Congressmen) to refrain from supporting the tobacco industry’s attempts to question and nullify the Administrative Order. Policy makers should not act to promote industry interests and protect tobacco industry profits at the expense of the Filipino’s health.

We ask the DOH Secretary to stand firm and not to give in to the demands of the profit-driven tobacco industry to withdraw the AO.

The AO was issued in compliance with the mandatory requirements of a treaty. Any government act of backing off from it would be tantamount to telling the world that the Philippines does not care about treaties it signs nor does it care about the health of our people.

2010-06-05T10:46:00.000+08:00

From: DOH WebPage

Press Release/24 May 2010

The Department of Health (DOH) today reaffirmed its commitment to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and issued Administrative Order No. 2010-0013 requiring graphic health information on all tobacco packages and to adopt measures to ensure that tobacco product packaging and labeling do not promote tobacco use by any means that are false, misleading, deceptive or likely to create an erroneous impression.

The issuance of the AO is considered a monumental achievement in government efforts to curb tobacco use and reduce its gargantuan socio-economic costs. It is estimated that smoking exacts a P200 billion toll on the country due to health costs and productivity losses, in comparison to the P30B revenues gained from taxes paid by the tobacco industry.

The required graphic health warning information on all tobacco packages reflect findings that warning labels must be noticeable, relevant and memorable in order to be effective. At least 38 countries and territories are already implementing picture-based warnings on tobacco packaging. These include Canada, Brazil, Singapore, Thailand, Venezuela, Jordan, Australia, Uruguay, Panama, Belgium, Chile, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Romania, United Kingdom, Egypt, Brunei, India, Taiwan, Malaysia, Peru, Djibouti, Switzerland, Cook Islands, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Mongolia and Iran.

The European Union has also recommended that all their 27 member-states implement graphic health warnings. Other countries in the process of implementing picture-based warnings include France, Iceland. Ireland, Latvia, Macau, Norway, Pakistan, Portugal, Slovakia, South Africa, South Korea, the United States, and member-states of the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Caribbean Community.

Most of the gains in reducing consumption are estimated to come from the youth sector who will likely be discouraged from smoking due to the graphic health information. This is very relevant considering that smoking prevalence among young Filipinos aged 13-15 has increased by approximately 30% over the past two years, according to the Philippines’ 2007 Global Youth Tobacco Survey.

Bills have been filed in both the Senate (SB 2377) and the House of Representatives (HB 3364) that will mandate the use of picture-based warnings instead of mere text warnings on no less than 50% of both the front and back sides of the tobacco packages. However, these legislative initiatives have met strong opposition from the tobacco industry, which has used its influence on legislators, especially those from the Northern bloc of tobacco-growing provinces.

“The passage of these bills into law must be prioritized considering that an average of 1 Filipino dies every 6 minutes due to tobacco-related diseases”, said Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral, adding that as of September 2008, the Philippines is already in violation of its treaty obligations under the FCTC.

“I am appealing to the leaders of the next administration to ensure their passage into law in order to save more than 17.3 million current smokers in the country aged 15 years and above from further addiction and exposure to major health risks”, Cabral said. She also noted that tobacco companies such as Philip Morris, Fortune Tobacco and Mighty Corporation already produce cigarette packages with graphic warnings for export to other countries. “There’s no reason why they cannot do it for us here”, she concluded.

Noting that the Arroyo Administration, in its concern for tobacco farmers has provided funds to the Philippine Tobacco Authority (PTA) to develop alternative crops and livelihoods for the tobacco farmers, Secretary Cabral expressed her appeal to the PTA to fulfill its obligations to tobacco farmers and to make a report on how it has spent the money allocated for this purpose. At the moment, the profits of tobacco companies and their middlemen have kept increasing whereas tobacco farmers have unfortunately been kept poor as they have always been. Perhaps it’s time for tobacco farmers to shift to growing more high value crops from which they can earn a better living.

PNAC TO HOLD 2010 NATIONAL HIV SUMMIT

2010-04-28T08:53:00.001+08:00

From: DOH WebPage

With increasing cases of HIV seen and reported especially in the last three years in the Philippines, it has now become imperative for the government to conduct an HIV Summit to urge leaders from all sectors of society to jointly scale-up a national response to address the disease.

“It is very timely and appropriate that we hold a one-day National HIV Summit in order to inform leaders on the current state of HIV in the Philippines and the need for urgent action towards meeting the Millennium Development Goal 6, particularly Target 9 on HIV and AIDS,” Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral announced.

The said National HIV Summit, to be held on April 12 at the Manila Diamond Hotel, aims for a wide multi-sectoral representation from civil society, national and local government, private businesses, faith-based groups, development partners, academe, and media. It will present an intensified National HIV Program and come up with a national coordinated response on how everyone can work together to prevent the further spread of HIV and AIDS.

Department of the Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Austere Panadero will present a framework of the response, coverage of programmes, gaps in coverage, financing and fulfillment of provisions in R.A. 8504, otherwise known as the ‘Philippine AIDS Prevention and Control Act of 1998.’ On the other hand, Department of Social Welfare and Development Undersecretary Alicia Bala will discuss the Agenda for a Scaled-Up National Response, which shall lay down key actions and intended results for a national response including how much to mobilize for highest impact. A multisectoral workshop will also be facilitated by seasoned Consultant for development Mr. Mario Taguiwalo in the afternoon.

Cabral stressed that the Summit shall be a venue in providing information to stakeholders and leaders on the status of the HIV epidemic in the country, current national responses and the agenda for more intensified interventions. It will also serve as a venue to build and strengthen collaborations amongst key players in the national response and to meaningfully engage other players in the realization of harmonized, collaborative and scaled-up initiatives addressing the challenges of HIV and AIDS in the country. Towards the end of the program, the Summit envisions an alliance: partnerships renewed and new partnerships established.

Also, to promote a deeper appreciation of the HIV situation by attendees, poster exhibits shall be conducted side by side with the Summit. Delegates shall be given the opportunity to go through viewing posters that showcase good practices in the response to HIV and AIDS. SM-ZOTO and PUP Molave Theatre Guild will also present special performances about the lives of people living with HIV and related issues.

Other program highlights include a presentation of the national state of HIV and AIDS and the projected increase of the HIV burden by National Epidemiology Center Director Dr. Eric Tayag and a presentation by the Deputy Director of Disease Control and Head of the AIDS/STD Section of the Ministry of Health, Malaysia – Dr. Sha’ari Bin Ngadiman on the strategies in addressing the epidemic as implemented by neighbor countries.

The Summit will be open to media. Philippine National AIDS Council Chair Esperanza Cabral shall respond to workshop reports, including setting the roadmap for the response.

WORKSHOP ON MANAGING PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES AND PANDEMICS USING THE INCIDENTS COMMAND SYSTEM (ICS)

2010-04-28T08:49:00.001+08:00

From: DOH WebPage

Participants to the ASEAN Workshop on Managing Public Health Emergencies and Pandemics Using the Incidents Command System (ICS), led by National Center for Disease Prevention and Control Director Dr. Eduardo Janairo, recently met to construct a regional overview of achievements and gaps in the use of ICS in managing public health emergencies. The said workshop also aims to develop common understanding and highlight the importance of ICS for muliti-sectoral response, especially in facilitating continuity of operations and services during a severe pandemic.

HEALTH WORKERS SOON TO BE VACCINATED VS H1N1 VIRUS – DOH

2010-04-28T08:45:00.000+08:00

From: DOH WebPage

Press Release/21 April 2010

The Department of Health (DOH) announced today that health workers all over the country will be vaccinated against the A(H1N1) virus during the latter part of April as part of the country’s response to the pandemic.

“Our frontline health workers are at higher risk for getting the disease than ordinary people due to their larger probability of exposure. In addition, they may also transmit the infection to other patients, as well as their families and co-workers, so it is appropriate that they be given priority now that the vaccines are ready for deployment”, Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral said.

The Health Chief noted that more than 420,000 health workers at the national and local levels and the public and private sectors will benefit from the vaccine. The 1.9 million doses of the vaccine arrived during the last week of March and are being shipped to the different regions of the country. Health workers from the regional health offices and local government units have been oriented prior to the distribution of the vaccine.

The vaccines represent the first tranche of the promised 9 million doses by the World Health Organization (WHO) as part of an agreement with the Philippine government signed on November 25 last year.

The endowment, according to WHO Director General Margaret Chan, is part of the WHO’s pledge to make distribution more equitable and fair to protect poor and vulnerable populations in developing countries’.

The WHO made its commitment during the 60th Session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific in September last year where it said that donations from developed countries and pharmaceuticals are enough to cover 10% of the population of the developing world. WHO requested the Philippine government to authorize the use of these vaccines.

Cabral said that next in the priority list for vaccination are about 2.5 million pregnant women. Subsequent shipments will be given to other priority groups such as children six months to five years old, those 60 years old and above, and those with chronic medical conditions.

TURKISH FLOUR SAMPLES UNDERGOING STRINGENT ANALYSIS - DOH

2010-04-28T08:37:00.001+08:00

From: DOH WebPage

Press Release/6 April 2010

The Department of Health (DOH) disclosed today that samples of flour imported from Turkey are undergoing stringent analysis by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) following media reports that these are potentially harmful to the health of consumers.

It was recently reported that substandard flour from Turkey that contain toxic substances are being dumped in the Philippines and used to make food products such as noodles and bread.

The DOH, through the FDA’s Laboratory Services Division, immediately moved to test samples for the presence of mycotoxins, particularly Ochratoxin A and Aflatoxin, using the Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method. Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by certain species of fungi.

Six samples from Central Visayas and the National Capital Region were collected from March 9-22 and underwent laboratory analysis on March 27. Five of the flour samples were imported from Turkey, while one was from a local source. Initial results revealed that none of the samples had concentrations of Ochratoxin A and Aflatoxin above the allowable limit. Despite these initial findings however, the FDA will conduct more thorough tests using the High Performance Liquid Chromatography Method (HPLC) the results of which will be released soon.

Meanwhile, representatives from manufacturers of Turkish flour being imported into the Philippines arrived in the country on March 26 to assure FDA officials that their products are fit for human consumption. The manufacturers also promised to submit a special certification from the Turkish government that their flour is safe, adding that Turkish flour is routinely tested for the presence of toxic substances by the Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs before being exported to other countries.

“We would like reassure the public that the DOH is on top of the situation”, said Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral. “If and when it is proven that Turkish flour is indeed unsafe, they can expect us to take immediate and decisive action”, she further added.

CABRAL GETS SUPPORT ON CONDOM DISTRIBUTION

2010-04-28T08:35:00.001+08:00

From: DOH WebPage

Amid strong rejection from Philippine clergies, non-government organization Catholics for Choice recently offered their group’s support and encouraged Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral on her condom distribution efforts.

Catholics for Choice President Jon O’ Brien remarked that Cabral’s efforts will undoubtedly save lives as we confront the HIV and AIDS epidemic. He added that Cabral’s stance on the effectiveness of condom and her willingness to debate the bishops is not only making news internationally, but is also highlighting the Catholic hierarchy’s inappropriate interference in public policy.

O’ Brien describes Cabral’s willingness to remind people on the importance of condoms to protect their health and to save lives as a gesture of genuine concern. He added that it recognizes people’s ability to choose for themselves when it comes to issues affecting their health. It is also a position supported by Catholic social justice teaching and Catholics around the world.

During the observance of the 2001 World AIDS Day, Catholics for Choice launched a campaign in the United States, Mexico, South Africa, Kenya, Chile, Zimbabwe and the Philippines dubbed as ‘Condoms4Life’. The said advertising campaign was the first phase of an effort to change the Vatican’s policy and challenge its aggressive lobbying against availability and access to condoms in the most-at-risk areas of the world. It is also aimed at raising public awareness on the devastating effect of the bishops’ ban on condoms.

In 2007, Catholics for Choice conducted a survey in the Philippines which showed that 77% of Catholics believe in the life-saving effects of condoms and believe using condoms to prevent the spread of AIDS is pro-life.

A UNAIDS report drafted in 2003 concludes that condoms have an estimated 90% rate of protection. The 10% failure rate does not mean that 1 in 10 condoms is defective. Condom failure can be attributed to human error such as when a condom slips off, breaks or is not used early enough.

According to the Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, condoms sometimes fail due to failure to use it consistently or correctly.

Also, the World Health Organization disclosed that laboratory studies have established the impermeability of the male latex condom to infectious agents contained in genital secretions, including the smallest viruses.

“As the world has changed, people have also changed. The attitudes on sex have also become more mature, responsible and compassionate,” Cabral explained.

Cabral stressed that the health department’s stand to use condom was meant to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS and other sexually-transmitted diseases because anyone is vulnerable to infection.

LET’S WORK TOGETHER – DOH TO FAITH-BASED GROUPS

2010-04-28T08:27:00.000+08:00

From: DOH WebPage

Let us stop the bickering. Let us work together because lives are at stake.

Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral recently asked clergies to refrain from ‘word war’ but instead focus in finding a solution acceptable to all in order to reduce the number of individuals infected with HIV/AIDS.
As the number of infected individuals increase from one infection every three days in 2000, to one per day in 2007, and two infections per day in 2009, the country cannot afford to lose a day in stopping the spread of infection. Presently, Global Fund pays for the cost of medicines of people living with HIV/AIDS and these medicines are free only until 2012.

In the beginning, HIV was reportedly brought by returning overseas workers. Today, figures indicate that the spread is also emphasized local transmission. And with the stigma attached to HIV/AIDS, experts agree that only one in four cases of HIV infection are reported.

“The government cannot do this task alone of reducing and preventing infections. I am glad that faith-based organizations now have opened their doors to this calling of caring and providing support to those infected and affected,” Cabral said.
At the First Catholic Forum on HIV/AIDS, Fr. Bob Vitillo of the Roman Catholic Church, said that it is the people themselves who will decide what they will do and not society nor the Church. He added that it will be based on their moral perspective and value system. Furthermore, it is the responsibility of government and the Church to re-enforce the value system.

In fact, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines-NASSA is planning a follow up to the First Catholic Forum on HIV/AIDS in order to train its network members for pastoral counseling and a seminar for those working in hospitals.

Brother Donald Cancino of the Order of Saint Camilus revealed that one of the mandates of their organization is for every region to become involved in HIV ministry. Brother Cancino said that after joining training workshops, they were finally allowed to do bedside visitations with patients at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine and San Lazaro Hospital.

Their group also began training their own men and theologians and opened training programs to the Daughters of Charity, Good Shepherd Sisters, and Sisters of the Holy Spirit.

Also, faith-based organizations and government institutions have conducted education programs to help people who are afraid of undergoing HIV testing. Faith-based organizations observed that the problem with some government agencies is that they only play with the numbers and do not go deeply enough into the situation of infected people.

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development also conducted activities focused on policy development, capability building and education, and providing treatment, care and support services to people living with HIV/AIDS and their families.

On the other hand, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) for the years 2005-2008 provided technical assistance in the formulation of the AIDS Medium Term Plan IV. The NEDA also prepared the National AIDS Spending Assessment for the years 2000-2004 and 2005-2007 to track down amount of resources spent for HIV/AIDS in aid of planning.

The family and society's development is influenced by their faith to a major extent. The upcoming 2010 HIV Summit is at Manila Diamond Hotel on April 12, 2010; will deal with the current concerns of these sectors in the country. Several faithbased groups will attend to this event tp share their commitment and response to this epidemic.

DOH URGES INTEGRATION OF HIV/AIDS IN SCHOOL CURRICULA

2010-04-06T08:37:00.000+08:00

From: DOH WebPage

Press Release/26 March 2010

In order to implement a more effective campaign against HIV and AIDS in the country, the Department of Health (DOH) strongly urged that information on the modes of transmission, prevention and control of this disease be integrated in the curricula of all institutions of learning. The country’s HIV and AIDS situation has reached alarming proportions as it is now described as “expanding and growing”, from the previous “low and slow” and “hidden and growing” phases.

Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral noted that risk behaviors are high among males who have sex with males (MSM), people in prostitution and people who inject drugs (PWID). This was reflected in the 2009 Integrated HIV Behavioral Serologic Surveillance results. These groups are considered the most-at-risk populations (MARPs), while young adults, overseas Filipino workers, persons with multiple sex partners, and partners of those in the MARPs are considered as vulnerable. “Education is a potent weapon in combating this disease, hence the integration in school curricula is vital”, Cabral stressed.

To address the present situation, the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher education (CHED), and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) have all integrated HIV/AIDS issues and concerns in their respective plans and activities. Local government units are assisted by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in establishing Local AIDS Councils and launching AIDS awareness activities. The DOH, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and DILG have also entered into a Joint Memorandum Circular to operationalize the Regional AIDS Assistance Teams that will provide technical assistance to HIV prevention and control activities of LGUs. People living with HIV or the “Positive Community: are also conducting HIV education initiatives and forming support groups to other HIV-positive Filipinos and their families. Among the organizations leading this effort are the Positive Action Foundation Philippines
Inc. (PAFPI), the PinoyPlus Association and BabaePlus Association.

Rule 2, Section 6 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 8504 or the National AIDS Prevention and Control Act of 1998 provides the rationale of HIV-related education and information campaigns. It indicates that “the provision of timely, adequate, appropriate and relevant HIV education and information shall empower persons and communities to think and act in ways that protect themselves from HIV infection, minimize the risk of HIV transmission and decrease the socio-economic impact of HIV/AIDS”.

“ON THE MOVE AGAINST TB, INNOVATE TO ACCELERATE ACTION”: DOH MARKS 2010 WORLD TB DAY

2010-03-26T10:57:00.000+08:00

From: DOH WebPgae

The Department of Health (DOH) revealed today that the current year 2010 is the halfway mark of the 2006-2015 Global Plan to stop Tuberculosis, or TB. This year’s theme, “On the Move Against TB, Innovate to Accelerate Action”, speaks of the need for new ways to make anti-TB services even more accessible and efficient.

The Philippines has itself made great strides in combating TB. From a high mortality rate of 38.2 deaths per 100,000 population in 1990, the Philippine Health Statistics reported a lower rate of 31/100,000.

While the Philippines is still included in the World Health Organization (WHO) watchlist of 22 high-burden countries, it has lowered its ranking in TB prevalence from 7th to 9th. TB also remains the 6th leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the country, but experts have observed a decreasing trend.

The country has also made notable improvements in TB case detection, reflected by the increase over the past five years in the number of all TB cases identified, from 134,000 to 150,000 per year. Almost half a million smear positive cases were started on treatment and 90% have been successfully treated.

In pursuit of further success, the National TB Program (NTP) formulated the Philippine Plan of Action to Control TB 2010-2015 (PhilPACT) with the support of the WHO and the United States Assistance for International Development (USAID) through the TB-LINC and Health Policy Development Projects.

Administrative orders have also been formulated and implemented for the provision of services in selected sites for multi-drug resistant TB (MDRTB) patients, those with TB and HIV, prisoners/inmates with TB and for the nationwide expansion of TB services for children.

“We must scale up efforts and continue to seek new and innovative ways to stop TB if we are to successfully attain targets under the Millennium Development Goals”, Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral declared. Secretary Cabral also noted that, in collaboration with the Philhealth, more than 500 TB-DOTS facilities (public and private) have been certified and accredited in 2009. Patients can access the TB Outpatient Benefit Package of Philhealth.

Services in the urban poor areas have also been enhanced through the involvement of non-government organizations in Tondo, Manila and Payatas, Quezon City through the support and collaboration of the NTP, the Research Institute for Tuberculosis and the Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Foundation.

Secretary Cabral likewise stressed the importance of private sector involvement through the Philippine Coalition against Tuberculosis (PhilCAT). The private sector contributed nearly 10,000 cases detected under the Public-Private Mix DOTS (PPMD) strategy.

In all these initiatives, the DOH has been the primary provider of anti-TB drugs for all cases detected under the Program.

DOH SUPPORTS WORKPLACE FOR ADOPTING ‘AIDS IN THE WORKPLACE’ PROGRAM

2010-03-26T10:54:00.000+08:00

From: DOH WebPage

The Department of Health (DOH) today revealed that the Philippines witnessed a sharp increase in the number of diagnosed HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) cases in the last three years. Majority of these recorded cases belong to the economically-productive age group.

“In 2000, an average of one new case is diagnosed every three days. In 2007, it rose to one new case per day. Last year, there were two new cases diagnosed in a day,” Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral said.

Due to the rising trend and because most infections can be found among economically-productive individuals, Cabral explained that the business sector is in a position to help curb the rising trend in HIV infections by setting up policies and programs in the workplace. This program is also in consonance to provisions in Republic Act 8504 or the AIDS Prevention and Control Act of 1998.

The health chief added that HIV/AIDS programs in the workplace is a vital response because the disease increases business costs like increased burden of healthcare provision, lower productivity of infected employees, loss of skilled workers, increased risks in the workplace and indifference among employees.

The midterm assessment of the Philippine AIDS Medium Term Plan IV recommended the strengthening of partnership with the private sector. However, the Philippine Business for Social Progress noted in 2008 that private sector involvement and response to HIV/AIDS in the workplace has yet to be strengthened.

Few companies led by Chairperson of Shell companies in the Philippines Ed Chua has taken the role of being the ‘Business Champion for Health of the Philippines to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.’ As a result, several companies had signified their interest to establish ‘AIDS in the Workplace’ program.

Organizations that support the ‘AIDS in the Workplace’ program include Philippine Business for Social Progress, Pilipinas Shell Foundation, International Labour Organization, UNAIDS, and the Philippine National AIDS Council. A partnership agreement is envisioned to be drawn to describe the roles and responsibilities of each organization for this initiative.

“The rising number of HIV cases in the workforce makes it imperative for business to take drastic action to prevent new infections in the labor sector,“ Cabral stressed, adding that the tripartite workplace sector (including government-management-labor sectors) should highlight interventions targeted to address risky behaviors, because this sector also includes a vast number of customers and clients, which may include the most-at-risk populations.

Meanwhile, a one day National HIV/AIDS Summit will be held on 12 April 2010 at the Manila Diamond Hotel to inform national leaders on the current state of HIV/AIDS in the country and the need for urgent action towards meeting the Millennium Development Goal 6, particularly HIV. The workplace sector is one of the sectors to attend this event.

FIRST PHILIPPINE GLOBAL ADULT TOBACCO SURVEY SHOWS MANY FILIPINOS EXPOSED TO SECOND-HAND SMOKE

2010-03-26T10:51:00.001+08:00

From: DOH WebPage

The Department of Health (DOH) today disclosed that almost half of the Filipinos surveyed in the first Philippine Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) revealed that they live in homes where smoking is allowed.

In coordination with the National Statistics Office, a total of 9,705 individuals in rural and urban areas of the country 15 years of age and older (to represent 61.3 million Filipinos) were selected and interviewed in 2009. Of this number, 28.3% were current tobacco smokers, representing 17.3 million Filipinos and 22.5% or approximately 13.8 million Filipinos smoke every day. The average age of initiation for daily smokers 18-34 years old was 17.4 years old.

The GATS data revealed that almost half (48.8% or 29.8 million) of Filipinos are exposed to cigarette smoke in their homes and 54% (32.9 million) reported that someone smokes at least monthly in their homes.

The knowledge, attitude and perception of the respondents that smoking causes serious illness were very high at 94%; 95.6% believe that smoking can cause lung cancer, heart attack (81.3%) and stroke (75.5%).

More importantly, among those who work indoors, 65.4% of their worksites have policies “disallowing” smoking yet 13.9% were exposed to second hand smoke (SHS). More than a quarter (25.5%) of Filipinos who visited a government building during the past 30 days were similarly exposed. while 55.3% (28 million) Filipinos who used the public transport during the past month were exposed to SHS.

“This is why we are urging cigarette manufacturers to put graphic health warnings on their products”, Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral said, adding that there is also a need to work fast towards 100% smoke-free environments where there is still very high exposure of second-hand smoke at homes, public places and indoor places.

Cabral also said that communities and local government units need to address this issue by passing ordinances to strengthen provisions of RA9211 or the Tobacco Regulatory Act of 2003 on "Healthful Environment" without exemptions.

The GATS is a standardized global survey for systematically monitoring adult tobacco use and tracking key tobacco control indicators. The Philippine GATS is a joint collaborative effort of the Philippine Department of Health and the National Statistics Office, the field implementing agency. Technical support was provided by the World Health Organization and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

DOH ADVOCATES FOR WELLNESS THROUGH COMPLIANCE TO MEDICINES REGIMEN

2010-03-16T08:10:00.001+08:00

From: DOH WebPage

With medicine prices going down, the DOH is now reminding our public to use medicines rationally and to complete their prescribed treatment regimen.

Local and international trends are geared towards wellness. Rather than be burdened with the high costs of treatment, especially of hospitalizations, people tend to prefer to invest in the prevention of diseases and the promotion of healthy lifestyles and environments. This wellness concept saves money and improves quality of lives.

“Engaging in sports promotes Wellness. Like sports and healthy lifestyles, compliance to medicines regimen is also Wellness. If you take your prescribed medicines rationally and correctly, you will feel better, live longer, be more productive, and have a good quality of life,” Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral stated.

The DOH has launched this “Compliance to Medicines is Wellness” campaign today in ceremonies held at the Philippine Sports Commission compound, the training grounds for Manny Pacquiao during his amateur days. It was witnessed and supported by PSC Chair Harry Angping, a key official in the promotion of Sports and Wellness in the country. The event aims to promote sports and the rational use of medicines.

“Our efforts to bring down prices of medicines would be incomplete if people persist on not completing their treatment,” Cabral explained. “One common malpractice is when patients stop completing antibiotic courses when their symptoms are gone because it costs too much money to complete a course. But this leads to antibiotic resistance which in turn pushes doctors to prescribe more expensive antibiotics later on.”

An example is the antibiotic Amoxicillin which is just around three (3) pesos. To complete a treatment of seven (7) days and cure you of a bacterial infection, you need 21 capsules that cost 63 pesos only. If the infection becomes resistant to Amoxicillin, to complete a course of another antibiotic, this may cost from 700 pesos to more than 1,000 pesos.

Cabral further mentions that, “Even if you suffer from chronic diseases like diabetes or hypertension, regular intake of prescribed maintenance drugs promises a better quality of life, with less risk for complications or hospitalizations. The lowered costs of medicines now allow our people to comply and complete their treatment courses and take their medicines religiously, if needed.”

These lowered prices of medicines are due to initiatives by government to engage industry to bring down their prices as well as to the competition provided for by lower priced generics whether from local or from multinational sources.

“What we are promoting here are low cost medicines, whether branded or generic. These medicines offer competition that put pressure on high priced medicines to bring down their prices. Generic competition helps and even multinational companies now are geared towards having quality affordable generic lines for their products,” Cabral stressed.

“Manny Pacquiao is our hero. His discipline is an inspiration to us all. And we want our people to exhibit the same discipline in taking medicines as Manny does in training for fights especially now that medicine prices are going down,” Cabral said.

The DOH announced last month the second round of government mediated price reductions that covered 98 medicines. These covered medicines for dialysis, cancer, prostatic disorders, asthma, depression, hypertension, among others. A majority of these price cuts would be effective March 31, 2010. The first round happened August last year where prices of more than 100 medicines were cut by 50%.

TOKEN OF APPRECIATION FOR HUMANITARIAN TEAM TO HAITI

2010-03-10T06:36:00.001+08:00

From: DOH WebPage

Health Secretary Esperanza I. Cabral (8th from left)gave a token of appreciation to the Philippine Humanitarian Team to Haiti for their unconditional dedication and perseverance in demonstrating the Filipino work of healing and caring to others during tiimes of disaster. The team, led by Dr. Emmanuel Bueno of the East Avenue Medical Center, is compose of Dr. Arnel Rivera, Dr.Romeo Bituin, Dr.Glomar Malana, Dr. Edilberto Tamayo, Dr. Christian Lee, Dr. Ryan Conrad Carnero, Dr. Alexander Ramos, Dr. Jose Evan Pagunsan, dr. David Mendoza, and Dr. Roland Cruz. Other members include Ms. Mayo Santiago, Mr. Willy Viloria, Mr. Dennis de Guzman, Mr. Ceasario Castro, Ms. Celia Pangan, Ms. remedios Guerrero, Ms. Bernaden de Leon, Engr. William Sabater, Engr. Paulino Garcia and Mr Rammel Eric Martinez. Also in photo are Undersecretary Alexander Padilla (6th from left), Assistant Secretary Elmer Punzalan (7th from left), Undersecretary David Lozada (9th from left), and assistant secretary Gerardo Bayugo (10th from left)

MOST DOH HOSPITALS FULLY COMPLIANT WITH TOTAL MERCURY PHASE-OUT

2010-03-10T06:29:00.002+08:00

From: DOH WebPage

Press Release/ 4 March 2010

The Department of Health (DOH) reported today that 16 out of the 20 DOH-retained hospitals in Metro Manila have fully complied with the directive on phasing out the use of all apparatuses or devices in the healthcare system that contain mercury.

The phase-out is in keeping with Administrative Order No. 2008-0021 which mandates the gradual phase-out of mercury in all Philippine health care facilities and institutions.

The move to stop the use of all medical devices containing mercury was jumpstarted in 1991, when the World Health Organization (WHO) concluded that a safe level for mercury that would not have any adverse effects on a person’s health has never been established.

The list of 16 fully-compliant hospitals include San Lorenzo Ruiz Women’s Hospital, Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital, Philippine Orthopedic Center, Valenzuela Medical Center, National Center for Mental Health, East Avenue Medical Center, San Lazaro Hospital, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Dr. Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center, Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital, Las Pinas General Hospital and Satellite Trauma Center, Rizal Medical Center, Quirino Memorial Medical Center, Tondo Medical Center, Lung Center of the Philippines and the Philippine Children’s Medical Center.

In a report to Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral last 24 February 2010, there were only four remaining DOH-retained hospitals in Metro Manila that have not yet fully complied with the phase-out.

These four hospitals are the National Children’s Hospital, Amang Rodriguez Medical Center, Philippine Heart Center and National Kidney and Transplant Institute.

The National Children’s Hospital is still using mercurial sphygmomanometers while awaiting delivery of digital sphygmomanometers, while the Heart Center has fully phased out mercurial thermometers, but still has functioning mercurial blood pressure devices that are waiting to be replaced.

The National Kidney and Transplant Institute is still using 11 mercurial sphygmomanometers but these are only used as back up in their hemodialysis units and are awaiting replacements. The Amang Rodriguez Medical Center retrieved nine mercurial blood pressure apparatuses from the condemned equipment damaged by Typhoon Ondoy but these too are due to be replaced soon.

Meanwhile, four compliant hospitals were recognized by the group Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia. These are the San Lazaro Hospital, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Las Pinas General Hospital and Satellite Trauma Center, and the Philippine Children’s Medical Center.

According to the Health Chief, mercury must be phased out because of its potentially harmful effects to a person’s health. Mercury can damage the nervous, digestive, respiratory, endocrine and immune systems. It can also cause tremors, impaired vision and hearing, paralysis, insomnia, emotional instability, developmental effects on a fetus, and attention deficit and developmental delays during childhood.

“With all the hazards posed by mercury, it is high time that we complete the implementation of its total phase-out in all hospitals and health facilities”, Cabral concluded.

DOH ANNOUNCES SECOND WAVE OF DRUG PRICE REDUCTION

2010-03-03T11:55:00.001+08:00

From: DOH WebPage

Press Release/26 February 2010

The Department of Health (DOH) upon instructions from Her Excellency Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, today announced the second wave of drug price reductions under the Government Mediated Access Price (GMAP).

The new set of price reductions includes the following drugs/medicines: anti-hypercholesterolemia (Ezetrol and Vytorin),anti-hypertensive (Cozaar and Hyzaar), anti-depressant (Seroxat), anti-psychotic (Leponex), anti-cancer (Tykerb, Zoladex, Zoladex LA and Leunase), anti-asthma (Ventolin Rotapack), anti-coagulant (Coumadin and Fraxiparine), anti-glaucoma (Betoptic, Ciloxan, Isoptocarpine and Quinax), medicines for prostate disorders (Avodart) and fluids for patients on kidney dialysis.

Also included are new introductions into the market, whose prices are amongst the lowest when compared with similar products in the same therapeutic categories. These include the following: anti-hepatitis B/anti-viral (Revovir), antibiotic/anti-bacterial (Levofloxacin Winthrop), anti-inflammatory/pain reliever (Meloxicam Winthrop) and anti-asthma (Seretide with a new device).

“We are happy that eleven drug companies responded to our request and offered their medicines for price reduction. We would like to thank them for their cooperation and also encourage other pharmaceutical companies to follow suit. We shall continue to study how we can achieve the greatest impact from such interventions that will benefit all Filipinos, especially the poor,” Health Secretary Esperanza I. Cabral said.

Most of these price reductions will be effective come March 31, 2010, with a few more to be implemented at a later date when supply issues have already been addressed.

This round of the GMAP is calculated to affect more than two billion pesos of the market, and is expected to generate one billion pesos worth of savings for the public. “Imagine the benefit to chronic kidney disease patients, for example. A 30% cut in their expenses for medicines will translate to an added four months worth of dialysis treatments per year”, Cabral added.

BE CAUTIOUS IN BUYING FOOD SUPPLEMENTS - DOH

2010-03-03T11:54:00.000+08:00

From: DOH WebPage

Press Release/25 February 2010

The Department of Health (DOH) urged the public to be cautious in buying food and herbal supplements, saying that these are not meant to be alternatives to medicines and sound medical advice from physicians.

The sale of food and herbal supplements has exploded into a billion-peso industry in the Philippines over the past few years, with the advertisements bombarding the public in all forms of media. The employment of celebrity endorsers with testimonials about their supposed "curative" effects has made it an even more lucrative venture.

Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral, however, expressed her concern that many people are wasting hard-earned money on these supplements. "Many are being misled into thinking that these supplements can cure diseases when in fact they can't", said the health chief. Former Health Secretary Dr. Alberto Romualdez, chair of the Medicines Transparency Alliance Philippines (MeTA-Philippines), also said in recent media reports that of the P150 billion being spent for health in the Philippines, about half goes down the drain because there are used on products which have no effects on the health or wellnesss of people.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which is under the DOH, has repeatedly issued warnings to the public to always check whether the products they buy are approved by the FDA and are marked with the disclaimer "NO APPROVED THERAPEUTIC CLAIMS". Secretary Cabral has also ordered the translation of the warning into Filipino for the greater understanding of the public. Manufacturers of food supplements shall be required to put the Filipino translation of the disclaimer in the packaging of their products, as well as in all advertising, promotion and sponsorship materials.

"We are not against the food and herbal supplements industry, but it is in the best interest of the people that they be armed with the right information on these products". Cabral said.

DOH RELEASES HEALTH ADVISORY AS EL NINO’S EFFECTS FELT

2010-02-23T19:21:00.001+08:00

From: DOH WebPage

Press Release/ 19 February 2010

The Department of Health’s National Center for Health Promotion (NCHP) and National Center for Disease Prevention and Control (NCDPC) recently released a health advisory to the public as the country begins to feel the effects of El Nino.

The El Nino phenomenon is characterized by extreme climactic conditions – either extreme temperature rise with a little rainfall, and the opposite extreme, unusually heavy rainfall. The former condition is what the Philippines is currently experiencing. “This extremely hot weather carries with it its own effects on health, so we came out with an advisory to inform the public about the potential health risks, and what they can do to safeguard themselves,” Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral said.

Potential health risks brought by the onset of El Nino include diarrhea, cholera and skin diseases (due to water scarcity or shortage), paralytic shellfish poisoning (due to red tide blooms), heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke (due to high temperatures). The DOH advises the public to do the following, among other precautions: conserve water and protect it from contamination, drink more fluids, avoid strenuous physical activities, wear light clothing and listen to updates on shellfish bans.

The DOH also has a health advisory for the upcoming summer season, which has added information on disorders usually associated with the summer months such as sunburn, sore eyes, flu, chickenpox, measles and hypertension. “For many Filipinos, summer is a time for fun and festivities, but they must always remember to put their health on top of their priorities,” Cabral further added.

FREE CONDOMS A PART OF ANTI-HIV/AIDS CAMPAIGN

2010-02-17T19:38:00.000+08:00

From: DOH WebPage

Press Release/16 February 2010

The Department of Health (DOH) clarified today that the condoms given last Valentine’s weekend were not meant to promote artificial contraception, but rather a reminder to the public of the importance of responsible sexual behavior in combating the threat of HIV/AIDS. The Ingat Lagi, My Valentine campaign, which was held last February 13 at the Dangwa Flower Market in Manila, has received criticism from the Catholic Church for supposedly being “immoral”.

The DOH, reiterating the words of Deputy Presidential Spokesman Ricardo Saludo, explained that the condom distribution should not be construed as a signal that the government is advocating sexual licentiousness. The free condoms were just a tool of a creative campaign aimed at promoting awareness on HIV/AIDS prevention at a most opportune time – Valentine’s Day.

The DOH emphasized the fact that it was not pushing condom use as the exclusive method to combat HIV/AIDS, as some critics of the Ingat Lagi campaign accused, and defended the activity as just part of the three-point campaign to combat HIV/AIDS known by the acronym ABC – A for “abstinence from sex”, B for “be faithful to your partner” and C for “condom use”. The health agency also pointed out that the distribution of the condoms to adults was undertaken by a private merchandising firm, DKT, and that the government did not spend for the procurement of the condoms, as it was also DKT that supplied them. The DOH’s role in the campaign was focused on raising public awareness and information dissemination, as it employed counselors to explain the ABC campaign to the throng of people that crowded Dangwa last Saturday.

The DOH further said that it will continue to push the ABC program more aggressively in light of reports of the alarming increase in HIV/AIDS cases in the country, so as to empower the public with information on how to deal with this threat. This information will then allow individuals to choose and use the most appropriate means to protect themselves from HIV/AIDS.

CABRAL ADVOCATES 100% SMOKE-FREE WORKPLACES

2010-02-08T13:20:00.001+08:00

From: DOH WebPage

Health Secretary Esperanza I. Cabral reminds government employees and the general public transacting business with government that smoking is prohibited in government buildings, grounds and premises.

In places providing services relating to health and youth activity, such as hospitals, health centers, schools, universities and colleges, smoking is absolutely prohibited and “smoking areas” are not allowed.

Except for places where smoking is absolutely prohibited, smoking is allowed only in designated and marked outdoor smoking areas that are located in an open-space with no permanent or temporary roof or walls and 10 meters away from entrances, exits or any place where people pass or congregate. Smoking Area signages must also be highly visible and prominently displayed.

Cabral said that these provisions are stipulated under Civil Service Commission’s Memorandum Circular No. 17, series of 2009. Any complaints filed by co-workers or the public will be investigated and violators will be subjected to disciplinary action.

The policy is designed to promote safe and healthy workplaces and to protect government workers from secondhand smoke, which can cause life-threatening diseases. Secondhand smoke is the smoke that comes from the tip of a burning cigarette, pipe or cigar and when a smoker exhales.

Conclusive scientific evidence confirms that workers exposed to secondhand smoke have a 35-50% increased risk of heart disease. Constant exposure to secondhand smoke nearly doubles the risk of a heart attack. Moreover, workers exposed to secondhand smoke at work have a 25% elevated risk of lung cancer.

The effects of secondhand smoke on lung function are similar to smoking a few sticks a day. It can cause emphysema, chronic bronchitis and asthma attacks.

Cabral said that seven (7) out of every 10 smokers want to quit smoking, and smoke-free policies can help smokers quit successfully by reducing environmental triggers and not allowing smoking to be the norm.

According to the Social Weather Station Survey of Filipinos on Smoking, commissioned by the Department of Health’s “Bloomberg Initiative-Philippines OC-400 Project,” which was done in the last quarter of 2009, about 27% of Filipinos are current smokers. The proportion of smokers is similar in Luzon and Visayas, but slightly higher in Mindanao (30%). The percentage of smokers in rural areas is pegged at 28% while in urban areas it is 27%.

By income class, more smokers are found in the Class E at 31% followed by Class D at 26% and Class ABC with only 21%. By sex, 46% of males and 8% of females smoke. By age, 30% of smokers belong to the 35 to 44 years old age bracket. This is followed by 18 to 24 years old where 26% smoke, and by age 55 years or older, it is down to 22%. By educational attainment, only 20% of those who completed college education smoke, while up to 32% of those with no formal education smoke.

The SWS Study also revealed that only 57% of Filipinos said that they have never smoked before. The average consumption is similar across all areas at 11 sticks per day.

The majority of the respondents are aware of tobacco regulation laws in the country and that 74% of Filipinos recognize the health benefit from laws enforcing smoke-free areas. Opposition to secondhand smoke is pegged at 93% nationwide, strongest in Visayas (95%) and Luzon (92%) and weakest in Mindanao (91%).

Cabral noted that the campaign of government and anti-tobacco advocates on 100% smoke-free environments is gaining momentum as many Filipinos are against exposure to secondhand smoke.

“Speak up, non-smokers! Let smokers around you know that you mind,” Cabral concluded.

BREAST OVERTAKES LUNG AS NO. 1 CANCER SITE IN METRO MANILA AND RIZAL

2010-02-08T13:16:00.002+08:00

From: DOH Webpage

In a joint announcement by Department of Health (DOH) secretary Esperanza I. Cabral and Philippine Cancer Society, Inc. (PCSI) chairman Dr. Roberto M. Paterno, breast cancer is now the most common cancer site in terms of incidence in Metro Manila and Rizal and has surpassed lung cancer as the most prevalent cancer.

“This is significant as far as the DOH cancer control program and the PCS advocacy for prevention and early detection as we need to intensify efforts to save our women from this deadly disease,” said Sec. Cabral during the recently-held formal turnover ceremonies of the publication, “Cancer in the Philippines,” as part of the celebration of World Cancer Day (February 4).

For his part, Dr. Paterno said that the Society will enhance its free mammography services and fine needle aspiration biopsy to accommodate more indigent patients. “We shall also boost our education and information activities around the country to teach women on how to early detect breast cancer so that it can be successfully cured,” Paterno added.

Unfortunately, there is no effective detection method for lung cancer. It is usually diagnosed at an incurable stage. Still, lung cancer can be prevented by avoiding tobacco products.

Also, according to the cancer monograph, the top ten cancer sites for both sexes now stands at breast, lung, liver, cervix, colon, thyroid, rectum, ovary, prostate and non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. In men, the five common cancer sites are lung, liver, prostate, colon and rectum while for females, these are breast, cervix, ovary, thyroid and lung.

These rankings cover the period 1998-2002 and validated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). The IARC collects cancer incidence and mortality data from participating countries during five-year periods.

The PCS is a non-stock, non-profit organization with more than fifty years of service in cancer research, education and information for prevention and early detection, patient services, palliative treatment and hospice care. The Society also maintains a free consultation and referral clinic every Mondays and Wednesdays, 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. at its main office at 310 San Rafael St., San Miguel, Manila. Other cancer information can be seen at .

FREE MORPHINE FOR INDIGENT CANCER PATIENTS

2010-02-08T13:12:00.001+08:00

From: DOH WebPage

Pain management is one of the most important aspects of health care especially for those with chronic or terminal illnesses yet scores of Filipino patients are suffering from pain unnecessarily due to lack of accessibility and availability of opioid medicines such as morphine.

Although eliminating pain is clinically possible as there are a number of safe and effective methods that treat pain such as opioid analgesics (i.e. morphine), it is often left untreated because access to these controlled medications is a problem for many. Impediments in regulation, procurement, and knowledge and attitude on opioids often pose obstacles in the adequate use of these drugs for medical purposes.

The Technical Working Group (TWG) for the Accessibility and Availability of Opioid for Pain and Palliative Care is a multidisciplinary, multisectoral group that facilitates and advocates for policies that improve accessibility and availability of opioid analgesics for pain and palliative care in the country created in April 2008. With the primary objective of breaking the barriers and other misconceptions about opioids, and in coordination with the Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) and other partner agencies, the TWG has initiated and implemented activities for opioid accessibility and availability in the past years.

PHILIPPINE HUMANITARIAN TEAM BUCKLES DOWN

2010-02-08T13:09:00.000+08:00

From: DOH WebPage

Press Release/3 February 2010

The 21-man Philippine Humanitarian Team sent by the Department of Health (DOH) hit the ground running upon their arrival in quake-devastated Haiti, as they immediately rendered badly-needed medical services at two locations in the capital Port-au-Prince, Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral reported today.

Cabral disclosed that after consultation with the Health Cluster coordinator, Dr. Dana Van Alphen, the team chose to serve at the Hospitalier Eliazar Germain, a 45-bed facility one-and-a-half hours away from the United Nations base where the team had set up camp. The Philippine humanitarian team replaced the Miami Medical Mission, which had been managing the hospital until they pulled out last January 30. There the team performed debridement and other surgical procedures for wounded patients.

Part of the team also rendered medical services at the Stade Sylvio Cator, a nearby football stadium turned into an evacuation camp. The group provided rapid health assessment and performed surgeries and wound dressing. The psychosocial team, on the other hand, was prepared to provide stress debriefing to UN peacekeeping personnel, including Filipinos, with UN base psychiatrist Dr. Yousupha Niang. They also visited four areas where Filipinos affected by the earthquake had temporarily settled in tents to provide mental and psychosocial support.

“Our team has performed admirably and was able to provide excellent service to the victims of the earthquake, Filipinos and Haitians alike,” Cabral concluded.

PGMA SENDS OFF PHILIPPINE MEDICAL TEAM TO HAITI; SECOND BATCH TO BE DEPLOYED

2010-02-02T08:59:00.001+08:00

From: DOH WebPage

Her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo thanked the 21-man Philippine humanitarian team bound for Haiti in the send-off ceremony in Malacanang yesterday. President Arroyo noted that the filipinos had been the beneficiary of the international commuity's generosity during Typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng, and the sending of the medical team to Haiti was a way through which the country could give back.

Health Secretary Esperanza I. Cabral disclosed that a second team, composed mostly of psychosocial nurses and sanitary engineers, will be sent to Haiti within the next two weeks. Cabral also acknowledged Haiti's Honorary Consul to the Philippines, Mr. George Schulze, who was instrumental in facilitating the issuance of visas to the entire Philippine humanitarian team.

The first batch of Filipino humanitarian workers are composed of team leader Dr. Emmanuel Bueno, Drs. Arnel Rivera, Glomar Malana, Ryan Conrad Carnero, Edilbert Tamayo, Alexander Ramos, Romeo BItuin, Christian Lee, Jose Evan Pagunsan, Dave Mendoza, Rolando Cruz and Rammel Martinez, Nurses Celia Pangan, Dennis de Guzman, Cesar Castro, Willy Veloria and Mayo Santiago, Sanitary Engineers William Sabater and Paulino Refuerzo Padilla, and Psychosocial Nurses Remedios Guerrero and Bernarden De Leon.

OATHTAKING

2010-01-30T12:28:00.002+08:00

From: DOH WebPage

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo swears in Dr. Esperanza I. Cabral as the new Department of Health Secretary during simple rites held at Malacañang Palace, Tuesday, January 26, 2010.

RP Medical Team Off to Haiti on January 25

2010-01-26T09:10:00.000+08:00

From: DOH WebPage

22 January 2010

Health Secretary Esperanza I. Cabral reported today that the Philippine humanitarian team bound for Haiti to render medical assistance in the earthquake-stricken country will leave on Monday, January 25, 2010.

“We are very pleased that so many people helped us in this worthy project to reach out and help those in need,” said Cabral, who highlighted the assistance of Philippine Airlines (PAL) and the Philippine Airlines Foundation (PALF), FedEx and the Department of National Defense (DND).

The health chief disclosed that PAL and PALF provided free plane tickets for the whole humanitarian team for the Manila-San Francisco leg of their route. From there, the team will take a connecting flight to Miami, and then to Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. PAL and PALF also shouldered the tickets for the team’s trip home from San Francisco back to the Philippines.

The FedEx Group, on the other hand, will be transporting the team’s cargo and medical supplies for free, while the DND, led by Lt. Col. Lopez Dagoy, will take care of handling the cargo when it arrives in Haiti.

The Philippine humanitarian team is composed of general and orthopedic surgeons, internists, anesthesiologists, pediatricians, nurses, epidemiologists, psychiatrists and sanitary engineers from DOH hospitals and facilities, as well as local government units. The team leader is Dr. Emmanuel Bueno, Chief of the Emergency Department and Health Emergency Management Service (HEMS) Coordinator at East Avenue Medical Center. According to HEMS Director Dr. Carmencita Banatin, the team will be in Haiti for 18 days.

“In any disaster, the world can always count on the compassion and assistance of the Filipinos,” Cabral concluded

Humanitarian Team to Haiti

2010-01-26T09:06:00.003+08:00

From: DOH WebPage

Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral (3rd from left) giving detailed instructions to Health Emergency Management Staff Director Dr. Carmencita Banatin (2nd from left) on the deployment of a medical team to Haiti. The 21-member team will be composed of general and orthopedic surgeons, internists, anesthesiologists, pediatricians, nurses, epidemiologists, psychiatrists, and sanitary engineers. Also in photo are Health Assistant Secretary Elmer Punzalan and Undersecretary Mario Villaverde.

The Doctor Is In

2010-01-26T09:03:00.003+08:00

From: DOH WebPage

Newly-minted Department of Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral immediately plunged into action as she held an early morning briefing with top DOH officials led by Undersecretaries Mario Villaverde and Alexander Padilla, who updated Secretary Cabral on the accomplishments of the Department, as well as its current goals and thrusts.

That same morning, Secretary Cabral, heeding President Arroyo's instruction for the country to join multinational relief efforts for Haiti, has also ordered the deployment of a medical team composed of doctors, nurses and sanitary engineers to the quake-devastated Caribbean nation. Usec. Villaverde, Director Maylene Beltran of the Bureau of International Health Cooperation and Director Carmencita Banatin of the Health Emergency Management Services met with Undersecretary Esteban Cornejos and Atty. Enrico Fos of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to coordinate the sending of the Filipino medical contingent.

At the DOH turn-over ceremonies later in the day, the Secretary thanked the DOH personnel for the warm welcome given to her, and lauded the accomplishments of the DOH under former Secretary Duque's term. She also called on them to join her in her drive to reduce the inequities in the country's health services and to set the groundwork for the next administration in improving the entire Philippine healthcare system during the five-and-a-half months that she will be at the helm of the DOH

Hazard Map of Northern Mindanao

2010-01-12T12:37:00.002+08:00

DOH SEEKS TOTAL BAN OF FIRECRACKERS AFTER TWO DEATHS

2010-01-05T11:46:00.001+08:00

From: DOH WebPage

Press Release/4 January 2009

The Department of Health (DOH) today recommended the complete banning of firecrackers and fireworks in residential areas after it claimed the lives of two revelers last New Year’s celebration.

“We are recommending the total ban because this is the first time that deaths due to firecrackers have been reported. In the previous years, fatalities were mainly due to watusi ingestion and stray bullets,” Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said.

The health chief said that in the 18 years of the existence of the DOH Philippine Fireworks Injury Surveillance (DOH-PFIS), it is only now that deaths due to pyrotechnic devices were reported.

“The two deaths involved a seven year-old male from Cabanatuan City and a 29 year-old male from Baguio City. Both died of cerebral concussion secondary to blasting last January 1,” Secretary Duque said.

The DOH-PFIS disclosed that the seven year-old boy was hit by a kwitis, a legal firecracker, on his upper eye lid on December 31. He then suffered a concussion and was rushed to the hospital where he died the next day, January 1. He was a passive case because he was just a bystander.

The other fatality was reportedly intoxicated when he lighted the jumbo kwiton bomb on January 1. When the firecracker exploded, he was hit in his right temple. He was dead on arrival when he was brought to the hospital. His cause of death was brain hemorrhage due to the blasting. The firecracker that killed him is not on the list of legal fireworks.

“We should take the total banning of firecrackers even more seriously now with these two deaths. We should not just ban the kwitis and the new illegal ‘cracker that cause the deaths of these two individuals because if the seemingly harmless watusi is able to not just maim but kill, then the other so-called legal firecrackers might also do the same in the future. We can’t risk more lives anymore before we take the big step of totally banning these potentially killer pyrotechnic devices,” Secretary Duque explained.

The DOH-PFIS reported that compared to the five-year average (2004-2009/same period), there is an increase of 13 cases or 1%.

There are 50 sentinel hospitals nationwide reporting to the DOH-PFIS this year.

DUQUE: FIREWORK INJURIES DOWN BUT STRAY BULLETS UP, NO DEATHS

2010-01-05T11:44:00.001+08:00

From: DOH Webpage

The Department of Health officially announced today 597 firework-related injuries from 43 (86%) reporting sentinel hospitals all over the country for the period December 21,2009-January 1,2010.

“This is the fourth lowest number of firework-related injuries recorded in the country in the annual Iwas Paputok surveillance in the past decade,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque III revealed.

The number of cases decreased by 15% compared to the previous year when there were 702 injuries (683 from fireworks, 17 from stray bullets and 2 from watusi ingestion). It also decreased by 153 cases (20%) compared to the five-year average from 2004-2008.

The decrease may have been due to the fewer use of or more cautious use of fireworks.

“We were relentless in our drive against firework use. In fact, we even employed scare tactics that showed the public vivid images of severely mangled limbs and a tray of surgical instruments used for limb amputation,” Duque explained

The public too may have welcomed the New Year with injury-free alternative merry-making devices such as the torotot and blaring radios. Also, the health chief attributed the decrease in the number of cases to more ways of celebrating the New Year such as concerts, street parties and public display of fireworks in open spaces which are done by pyrotechnic professionals.

This year there were 570 injuries from fireworks, 26 from stray bullets and 1 from watusi ingestion.

Firework injuries affected ages from 2months-75 years, median 13 years, mostly males (456 or 80%). Three hundred fifty-three (62%) were active users, 453 (79%) had blast/burn injuries without amputation, 39 (6%) had blast/burn injuries with amputation and 78 (15%) had eye injuries.

Piccolo was the single most frequently used firecracker that caused 208 (36%) firework injuries. Piccolo is cheap and easily accessible to children. Piccolo was recommended for banning since 2007. This year, the PNP intensified its campaign to ban Piccolo. However, injuries from Piccolo increased by 100 cases or 93% compared to last year. Without these, the total number of injuries would have been significantly lower.

Meanwhile, stray bullet injuries increased by 9 cases (53%) compared to the previous year. Ages ranged from 8 to 51 years. Cases were mostly from NCR with 18 cases or 69%.

“Overall, we are pleased with the continually decreasing number of firework-related injuries which we recorded in the past years. We continue to advocate for safer ways of welcoming the New Year. We also advise those injured to go to the nearest health facility to get anti-tetanus shots,” Duque said.

Secretary Duque also acknowledged the efforts of hospitals, both public and private, for attending to injured patients during the revelry and for reporting cases to the DOH National Epidemiology Center.

“I also thank local government units who have successfully implemented our DOH Kontra Pautok program, which contributed to the successful decrease in the number of this year’s fireworks-related injuries, “ Duque concluded.

BE RESPONSIBLE, KNOW YOUR RISKS, GET TESTED FOR HIV --- DOH

2009-12-15T13:07:00.001+08:00

From: DOH WebPage

Press Release / 11 December 2009

Give your loved ones the best gift this holiday season: faithfulness and willpower to turn away from risky and harmful vices and behaviors.

The 2009 Integrated HIV Behavioral and Serological Surveillance (IHBSS) revealed today that the number of Filipinos afflicted with HIV/AIDS especially among high risk populations is steadily growing. Further, the Department of Health (DOH) said that the risk for HIV/AIDS will continue if advocacy efforts to avert the increase of this disease will not be intensified. Latest data said that most of the cases were due to unprotected sex and injecting drug use of persons who may have harmed others unknowingly.

“The threat is real. An individual is like a walking time bomb that may explode and spread the virus to others, cause deaths especially if he or she doesn’t know his or her HIV status while engaging in high risk behaviors.” Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said.

The health chief said that although the number of new HIV infections has dropped by 17% globally since 2001, the number of new cases here in the country has increased by 334%.

The 2009 IHBSS report disclosed that the overall prevalence of cases in the most at risk populations (MARPs) is 530 per 100,000 population. It also revealed the following figures: men having sex with men – 1,050/100,000; freelance female sex workers – 540/100,000; registered female sex workers – 230/100,000; and injecting drug users – 210/100,000.

“These figures are far high compared to the numbers that the 2007 IHBSS has yielded,” Duque said.

The 2007 IHBSS reported the following figures: overall prevalence in MARPs– 99 per 100,000 population; men having sex with men – 280/100,000; freelance female sex workers – 44/100,000; registered female sex workers – 68/100,000; and injecting drug users – 130/100,000.

“The number of infected persons in the Philippines is growing and the infection is spreading fast in most-at-risk populations such as freelance female sex workers, men having sex with men, and injecting drug users, among others. We have to stop the spread and gain control of the situation,” Duque said.

“Although HIV and AIDS do not discriminate and anyone can get infected including unborn babies, we have groups that are more at risk than others because of behaviors that include unprotected vaginal and anal sex, multiple sex partners and re-use of needles and syringes while injecting drugs, to name some,” Duque said.

The Secretary said that to prevent the spread of the virus, the DOH is determined to boost its information drive and strengthen its prevention program and services against HIV/AIDS.

“But the efforts of DOH alone are not enough. The DOH will need the help of other sectors, other agencies of government, the LGUs, civic society and individuals and communities. All of us have a responsibility and role in stopping this disease,” Duque said.

The Philippine HIV/AIDS Registry reported that for October 2009, 80 new HIV cases have been confirmed by the STD/AIDS Cooperative Central Laboratory. This was a 36% increase compared to the same period last year (59 in 2008). This brought the total of cases for 2009 to 626. Four (4) of these new cases were reported as AIDS. There was no death reported for the month of October.

The cumulative number of HIV cases from 1984 to October this year is 4,218, of which 828 have become AIDS. Of the 828 cases, 314 have already died. The most common mode of transmission was sexual contact (3,798 out of 4,218), while the least common was through mother-to-child transmission (49/4,218).

NOTE: For further inquiries on the 2009 IHBSS data, please call Dr. Eric Tayag at 09178554257; for prevention program and services, please call Dr. Gerard Belimac at 09159402115.

NUMBER OF NEWBORN DEATHS TO DROP SOON --- DOH

2009-12-10T19:55:00.003+08:00

From: DOH WebPage

The Department of Health (DOH) expects a sharp cut on infant deaths in the future as it launched the Essential Newborn Care (ENC) Protocol today.

“We believe that this protocol will pave the way for the solution on the problems we have on neonatal deaths. We are very positive that its adoption will directly reduce the count of newborn deaths in the country,” Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said.

Health authorities said that the Philippines is one of the 42 countries in the world where 90% of all global deaths of under 5 year old children are accounted to.

“Although childhood death rates in the country showed a downward trend from 1993 to 2003, the decline slowed down in the last 10 years,” Duque said, noting that the under five mortality rate decreased to only 32 per 1000 livebirths in 2003 from 52 per 1,000 livebirths in 1988.

“The infant mortality and child death rates have also exhibited similar trend over the same period,” the health chief noted.

Secretary Duque said that neonatal and post-neonatal deaths declined the slowest over the past 20 years with the reduction of only 9 percent and 7 percent, respectively, from 1988 to 2003.

“Our analysis showed that 50% of these deaths occur during the first 2 days of life with the following as causes: birth asphyxia (31%), complications of prematurity (30%) and severe infection (19%),” Duque explained.

“Now, we are launching this Protocol, in collaboration with the World Health Organization, to help solve this newborn mortality problem because if it is not reduced by at least half, the goal of reducing childhood mortality by two thirds by 2015 would not be met,” Duque said. The Medium Development Goal target is 6 per 1000 livebirths by 2015.

Secretary Duque explained that ENC is a comprehensive strategy to improve the health of the newborn through interventions before conception during pregnancy, at and soon after birth, and in the postnatal period.

“But for this Protocol, we are focusing on the 1st few hours of life of the newborn with the manual guiding the health workers and medical practitioners in providing evidence-based essential newborn care,” Duque said.

The health chief said that the guidelines categorize procedures into time-bound, non-time bound, and unnecessary procedures.

“Time bound interventions should be routinely performed first and include: immediate drying, skin to skin contact followed by clamping of the cord after 1 to 3 minutes, non-separation of the newborn from the mother, and breastfeeding initiation,” Secretary Duque said.

The health chief said that non-time bound interventions include immunizations, eye care, Vitamin K administration, weighing and washing.

“There are also the so-called unnecessary procedures and these include routine suctioning, routine separation of newborns for observation, administration of prelacteals like glucose water or formula, and footprinting,” Secretary Duque said.

The health chief signed the new Protocol as the government launched the UNANG YAKAP Campaign today.

RP TO RECEIVE H1N1 VACCINES FROM WHO

2009-12-01T09:23:00.002+08:00

From: DOH WebPage

The Philippine government will soon receive H1N1 vaccines from the World Health Organization (WHO) after the two parties signed an agreement yesterday and presented the document to Her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo earlier today.

The said agreement stipulates that the government will ensure its registration and authorize its use; commit to its appropriate and ethical use; handle its importation, customs clearance and distribution; and notify WHO of occurrence of any unexpected adverse events.

The endowment, according to WHO Director General Margaret Chan, is part of WHO’s pledge to make the distribution equitable and fair to developing countries and poor and vulnerable populations once it becomes available.

The WHO made this commitment during the 60th Session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific in September this year where WHO said that its donations coming from more developed countries and pharmaceuticals will be enough to cover 10% of the population of the developing world.

The Philippine Department of Health (DOH) disclosed that the first deliveries of the vaccines shall be given to health care providers.

Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said that these medical personnel are at higher risk of getting the disease than ordinary people due to the larger probability of exposure, plus they may also unknowingly transmit the infections to their families and other patients with other illnesses.

Duque said that the next in the priority list are pregnant women because they have 10x the risk of needing intensive care if infected compared to the general population; people aged 6 months to 59 years old with chronic medical conditions; children five years old and below and adults who are beyond 60 years old (healthy or otherwise) because they are considered to be at highest risk of severe infection; and lastly, the remainder of the population.

The health chief stressed that the vaccination is free of charge and will only be given to those who will volunteer to be immunized against the novel virus.

Duque said that the WHO estimates that it will be able to obtain donations and funding for procurement of at least 200 million vaccines in the first year, which will be enough to cover 10% of the population of the developing world.

“But of course, we cannot afford to just sit and wait for it. Therefore, we are now making our best efforts to procure on our own,” the health chief said, emphasizing that the DOH has already allocated P100 million for it this year.

We have to understand, however, the reality that because the global manufacturing capacity is limited, supplies may be initially inadequate and not readily be augmented,” Duque explained.

The government also expressed its gratefulness to the WHO for its continuous health assistance to the victims of the three consecutive typhoons and tropical storms that hit the country recently.

WHO also responded to the request of the DOH to send a team of experts from the WHO Global Outbreak and Alert Response Network (GOARN) to assess the leptospirosis outbreak in the country and to help improve the country’s post-disaster surveillance and disease outbreak control and response efforts.

“We laud the WHO for its steady collaborative partnership with the Philippine government in mounting a coordinated and integrated health sector response to many disease challenges in the country especially in times of disasters. Our country is grateful,” President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said.

TATAK PGH PLUS PROJECT

2009-11-20T18:02:00.003+08:00

From: DOH WebPage

Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III (right) and Philippine General Hospital (PGH) Director Dr. Carmelo Alfiler (left) recently forged an agreement dubbed as “Tatak PGH Plus Project” for the pilot networking of the Las Piñas General Hospital for capacity-building, skills transfer and empowerment activity. Under the said Memorandum of Agreement, PGH’s well-known best practices and successful initiatives will be shared with other hospitals’ medical, nursing, paramedical and administrative staff. To date, there are now some 25,000 trainees and patients who have participated in the modules and missions, or an average of nearly 2,000 per hospital as originally envisioned. Also in photo are UP Manila Chancellor Dr. Ramon Arcadio and Ms. Paz Corrales from the Center for Health Development –Metro Manila. (18 November 2009, DOH-OSEC)

THERE ARE NO SAFE FIRECRAKERS OR FIREWORKS --- DOH

2009-11-20T17:57:00.004+08:00

From: DOH WebPage

The Department of Health (DOH) today strongly advised parents not to allow children to use firecrackers or fireworks whether of the legal or illegal kind.

“These devices are not toys and are very dangerous, especially in the hands of innocent children,” Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said. “We recommend a ban on the use of these devices in residential areas and encourage local authorities to designate an area where fireworks could be lighted, displayed and handled by professionals or those who are trained in using explosive devices,” he added.

Health authorities said that the top 5 firecrackers that caused the most injuries in 2008 were (1) piccolo, (2) kwitis, (3) 5-star, (4) luces and (5) home-made or altered firecrackers.

“Piccolo, an illegal firecracker, continued to be the number one cause of injury during the last holiday season and it did not only cause minor injuries but also severe ones like the ruptured eyeball of a boy in Bicol,” Duque disclosed.

He explained that the public should always be cautious and not to regard the legal fireworks as safe because Kwitis and Luces, both legal fireworks, were No. 2 and No. 4 in the list.

“The seemingly harmless Luces can burn up to 1093 ºC (2000 ºF) or 10 times the boiling point of water,” Duque said.

Duque also disclosed that the top 5 Firecrackers causing “Blast Burn with Amputation” were (1) Home-made or Altered Firecrackers, (2) 5-star, (3) camara, (4) rebentador, (5) and whistle bomb.

DOH records show that Watusi, long considered as illegal, continued to sneak in the market and caused two cases of injuries this year. The youngest case was a 9-month old girl from Tondo, Manila who was left unattended in the house by her parents while an elder sibling played with Watusi. She was brought to the Philippine General Hospital for treatment.

The second case was a 31 year-old male from Rodriguez, Rizal with a history of psychiatric treatment. He allegedly ingested 2 boxes of Watusi. He was brought to East Avenue Medical Center for treatment. Both patients survived.

Health authorities said that there is also a significant increase in the number of stray bullet incidents caused by the indiscriminate firing of guns. These were reported in the two regions in Mindanao with no previous records.

ON-LINE REGISTRY

To further improve coordination among agencies and health facilities involved in injury prevention, the DOH is introducing the Online National Electronic Injury Surveillance System - an internet-based system that allows health facilities to report fireworks injury cases.

The 2008 Fireworks Injury Surveillance Report gathered by the DOH National Epidemiology Center recorded an all-time low in the total injuries reported compared to the previous four years' report.

Duque said that the 733 injuries reported from December 21, 2008 to January 5, 2009, is 280 (28%) cases lower than the previous four-year average, and 136 (16%) cases lower than the 2007 report.

The National Capital Region had the highest proportion of cases reported with 451 (61%) cases, followed by Western Visayas with 86 (12%) cases, and the Ilocos region with 58 (8%) cases.

The ages of cases ranged from 8 months old to 76 years old. Majority (594 or 81% cases) were males. A total of 261 (36%) cases were 10 years old or younger. However, the number of persons in each age group declined substantially, especially the 6 - 10 and the 11 - 15 age groups when compared to the previous year.

“We have total injuries of 714 (97%) cases which were fireworks-related, 17 (2%) cases were stray-bullet injuries and 2 (0.28%) cases were Watusi/firecracker powder ingestion”, Duque noted.

“The top three body parts which sustained most injuries were the hands with 277 (38%) cases, lower extremities with 130 (185) cases and head and neck with 103 (14%) cases. Most of the injured were discharged after initial treatment in the Emergency Room”, he added.

“The lone fatality reported, a 28 year-old mother from Cotabato City was a victim of stray bullet. That is why we should be vigilant in reporting indiscriminate gun-firing incidents during the holiday season to prevent this unnecessary and fatal events”, Duque lamented.

Meanwhile, there were no injury from organized public display nor tetanus due to fireworks injuries reported for 2008.

A total of 50 sentinel hospitals participated in the surveillance conducted for injuries resulting from fireworks use, stray bullet from indiscriminate firing, and watusi/firecracker powder ingestion related to the Yuletide celebration. The participating sentinel hospitals were located in the National Capital Region (29), Luzon (11), Visayas (5) and Mindanao (5).

Manual for Medical Social Workers

2009-11-11T20:14:00.004+08:00

From: DOH WebPage

Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III (3rd from left), during the ceremonial launching of the Manual for Medical Social Workers fifth edition, where he lauded the country’s medical social workers because of their rigorous work in addressing social inequities and are also pushing boundaries towards ensuring a holistic approach to healthcare. Duque also disclosed that medical social workers in our health facilities are a vital provision in order to turn our goal of “Health For All Filipinos” a reality. Also in photo from left are Dr. Criselda Abesamis, DOH Director for National Center for Health Facility Development, DOH League of Social Workers’ President Ms. Lucille Arvesu, and Ms. Madeliene Gabriel Doromal, DOH Development Management Officer and Medical Social Adviser.

PROCUREMENT OF FLU-TESTING MACHINES BY RITM UNDER INVESTIGATION – DOH

2009-11-11T20:10:00.003+08:00

From: DOH WebPage

The Department of Health (DOH) today disclosed that the allegedly anomalous flu-testing machine deal exposed by a labor group over the weekend is already being investigated by the agency since August this year.

“We are not clueless about it and, as a matter of fact, the DOH has already started its investigation as early as August when the Filipino-owned firm Macare complained about it. It is now being investigated by our Integrity Development Committee (IDC),” Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said.

The health chief said that the DOH-IDC is investigating the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) and all its officials and personnel, including its director, Dr. Remigio Olveda, who were involved in the procurement of the said flu-testing machines.

Secretary Duque said that it is not correct to blame the DOH regarding this alleged anomalous transaction because although the RITM is under the wings of the DOH, like all state-owned hospitals, it has its own procuring entity.

“Because it has autonomy to transact financially, the RITM and its officials went on with this business deal all by themselves. Now, with the DOH-IDC on board investigating them, I am positive that we will soon know all the details behind this,” Duque said.

“It is too soon and premature for everyone to allege any anomaly. We have already started the investigation and we assure the public that there will be no sacred cows in this investigation and I will let the ax fall on the guilty person, whoever he might be,” Duque said.

The health chief said that if found guilty, RITM officials will face suspension, dismissal or whatever forms of punishment the IDC deems fit.

Flu-testing machines, although of a different type from Roche’s are used by the RITM and three other laboratories to confirm suspect A(H1N1) cases.

12TH NHSM - "BRIDGING TO FUTURE HEALTH REFORMS"

2009-11-11T20:06:00.002+08:00

From: DOH WebPage

Health Secretary Duque, during his opening remarks at the recent 12th National Health Sector Meeting, ponders on his vision of health reforms in the Philippines that would attempt to overcome the challenges of unfair and inequitable access to health care for all Filipinos. Duque also thanked the whole Department of Health family, donors, and all DOH attached agencies for their dedication and support over the past several years of his leadership.
“The last two years have been phenomenal and historic, with the passage of two major legislation- the Universally, Accessible, Affordable Quality Medicines Act Of 2008 and the FDA Law of 2009- both testaments to our moral responsibility to our citizens to provide them with the drugs and medicines that they need as a matter of human right”, Duque said.
He also stressed that the two equally important laws represents an opportunity for him as a government official to show that there are rooms for changes and exercise the highest political will, so that cure and better quality of life are not a privilege of the few but a freedom available for all.

DOH-WHO VISITS MUNTINLUPA EVACUATION SITE

2009-11-03T10:54:00.002+08:00

From: DOH WebPage

Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III and World Health Organization Director for Western Pacific Region Dr. Shin Young-Soo recently visited Muntinllupa Elementary School in Barangay Poblacion to distribute doxycycline capsules to prevent leptospirosis complications. Duque and Dr. Young-Soo also conducted massive information dissemination campaign to prevent other diseases common in evacuation centers.

LEPTO ALERT GLOBAL RESPONSE

2009-10-30T07:39:00.002+08:00

From: DOH WebPage

Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III accompanies the World Health Organization expert team on leptospirosis control headed by Dr. Shin Young –soo (WHO Regional Director for Western Pacific) and Dr. Soe Nyunt-U (WHO Country Representative to the Phil.) during their visit on Wednesday (October 28, 2009) to flooded areas in Calamba, Laguna. The team, whose members are drawn from the Global Outbreak Alerts and Response Network (GOARN), will be assisting the Philippine government by providing technical assessment and assistance in the surveillance, epidemiological and clinical care of those who fall sick from the disease. The GOARN team will cover parts of Pangasinan, Metro Manila and Southern Luzon where a heightened alert was declared after the extensive flooding caused by tropical storm Ondoy and typhoon Pepeng. The Department of Health remains on heightened alert against further outbreak of leptospirosis. As of October 27, a total of 181,932 individuals have been given prophylaxis (for NCR: Marikina-56, 426 persons; Malabon-2,364; Quezon City-25,916; Taguig-19,224; Pateros-4,116; Parañaque-12,166; Pasay-5,948; Muntinlupa-3,533; and Pasig-1,417; for Region IVA: Rizal-19,608; and Laguna-7,652. The DOH also distributed 1.8 million capsules of doxycycline.

FDA LAUNCHES HOTLINE FOR DRUG COMPLAINTS OR PROBLEMS

2009-10-28T08:21:00.001+08:00

From: DOH Webpage

Press Release/27 October 2009

Any complaints on the drug you’re taking?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the Department of Health (DOH) launched today a hotline for reporting any complaints of drugs sold in the country.

Consumers may now report to the FDA any complaint or problem with their medicines to telephone # 807-8275, or text 090... or 0909-2080500, or email at ireport@bfad.gov.ph. Reports may also be made through the Bantay Gamot Report Forms available in most drugstores.

“In this age of globalization, consumerism, free trade, and increasing use of the internet, the ordinary person now has easy access to different drugs and medicines. Combine this with the penchant for self-medication and the need to improve the drug dispensing practices of our pharmacists and we have a potentially harmful situation where drug safety is questioned,” Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III declared.

To address this situation, the FDA came up with the Medicines Surveillance Integrating Consumer Reporting Project in the National Capital Region which aims to educate consumers on the proper use of drugs and increase consumer awareness as to where to report complaints or problems with their medicines.

Previously, the FDA has received consumer reports that led to the detection of substandard drug preparations, adverse drug reactions and counterfeit medicines.

“These reports involved illegal business operation practices, such as operating without a license or a registered pharmacist, unlawful dispensing of drugs in the absence of a pharmacist, selling of unregistered drug products, or expired drugs, or suspected counterfeit drugs,” Duque explained.

Other reports were about errors in drug dispensing, common side effects of medicines, lack of drug efficacy, false claims of food supplements, and quality defects,” the health chief added.

“All reports will be treated as confidential and shall be analyzed and investigated following FDA protocol.” Duque assured.

In case of complaints against any drug, the caller may give his name, address, and contact numbers; however, in case of adverse drug reactions, the caller will be asked to give this information and other clinical data as needed.

“The FDA is committed to guard efficiently our nation’s drug supply and advocates patient care to protect the right to health of every Filipino,” Duque concluded.

DUQUE, BAYUGO DISTRIBUTES DOXICYCLINE IN SAN PEDRO, LAGUNA

2009-10-28T08:18:00.004+08:00

From: DOH WebPage

Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III distributes doxicycline capsules to residents of Barangay Landayan, San Pedro, Laguna where about 25,000 residents are still submerged in floodwater due to typhoon Ondoy and Pepeng. Duque urged local government to help provide medicines to flooded residents in order to prevent Leptospirosis, which in severe stage leads to death. Assisting Duque is CALABARZON Regional Director Dr. Gerry Bayugo.

DOH INKS MOA WITH PRIVATE HOSPITALS TO TREAT LEPTOSPIROSIS CASE

2009-10-22T13:19:00.003+08:00

From: DOH WebPage

The Department of Health (DOH) today signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with 5 PhilHealth-accredited private medical facilities where the government can refer leptospirosis patients that state hospitals can no longer accommodate. The DOH, through the MOA, will subsidize the financial requirements of patients that it will refer to these hospitals.

“The sudden upsurge of leptospirosis cases after the massive flooding caused by tropical storm Ondoy and typhoon Pepeng brought us to a situation where we need to get into special arrangements with medical facilities from the private sector to help the government treat patients, especially the non-PhilHealth member indigents. So, with this subsidy package for leptospirosis we aim to cover all those who needed medical attention but cannot afford to due to financial constraints,” Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said.

The five private-owned medical facilities that signed the MOA today are: Capitol Medical Center, MCU-F.D. Tanchoco Medical Foundation Hospital, Manila Doctors Hospital, Los Baños Doctors Hospital, and The Medical City.

The other hospitals that have also expressed support are: St. Luke’s Medical Center, Delos Santos-STI Medical Center, Cardinal Santos Medical Center, Fe Del Mundo Children’s Medical Center Foundation, Dr. Jesus Delgado Memorial Hospital, Chinese General Hospital, and Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital.

The health chief said that under the DOH subsidy package, patients with an uncomplicated case is entitled to P5,000, while the one with complicated one will get P20,000.

“But patients cannot just go to these private hospitals and avail of this treatment package because only those that will be referred by DOH hospitals due to congestion will be accommodated by our pre-identified referral private facilities,” Duque explained.

Under this MOA, the DOH and its hospitals shall make appropriate referral of patients to the participating hospitals for medical treatment. It shall also pay for every referred indigent patient based on the agreed package.

On the other hand, the participating hospitals must be equipped with hemo and peritoneal dialysis, intensive care units and ventilator capabilities. They should also set up a special ward and allot additional beds in anticipation of referrals, among other obligations.

SEVERE LEPTO CASE AT EAMC

2009-10-22T13:16:00.003+08:00

From: DOH WebPage

Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III checks the condition of a 38-year old leptospirosis patient from Bagong Silang, Quezon City. Said patient has already undergone his fifth dialysis treatment as a result of leptospirosis complication. As of October 19, the East Avenue Medical Center (EAMC) has 267 leptospirosis cases, with about 23 immediately needing dialysis. Most of these patients came from Quezon City, Rizal, Marikina, Caloocan, and Pasig. Also in photo is EAMC Hospital Director Dr. Roland Cortez.

LEPTOSPIROSIS INCREASING IN METRO

2009-10-22T13:14:00.003+08:00

From: DOH WebPage

Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III personally checking the health conditions of patients afflicted with leptospirosis at the San Lazaro Hospital. Duque observed that the number of admissions of female and children with leptospirosis in submerged areas is increasing. As of October 17, the Department of Health has recorded a total of 1,665 leptospirosis cases and 104 deaths in 15 hospitals in Metro Manila. Leptospirosis’ signs and symptoms include fever, body aches, chills, and yellowing of the skin. All suspected cases are advised to seek medical consultation immediately to prevent complications.

DUQUE DECLARES LEPTO OUTBREAK

2009-10-17T11:08:00.003+08:00

From: DOH WebPage

Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III today during a press conference (16 October 2009) declared an outbreak of leptospirosis in the barangays of Tumana, Malanday, and Concepcion I in Marikina. Duque revealed that a mass administration of prophylaxis against leptospirosis will be immediately provided to affected population. He also warned the public not to wade in flood waters and to use protective boots in order to prevent leptospirosis, and other diseases such as typhoid fever, cholera, and hepatitis. Leptospirosis is usually caused by exposure to water contaminated with urine of infected animals. The disease’s signs and symptoms include high fever, severe headache, chills, muscle aches, and vomiting. In extreme cases, jaundice, abdominal pain, and kidney damage may result.

RELIEF EFFORTS

2009-10-17T11:02:00.004+08:00

From: DOH WebPage

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III on 13 October 2009 distributed assorted medicines, water containers, hyposol, drinking water and packs of relief goods to residents of Dagupan City affected by typhoon Pepeng. Duque also warned on the rising cases of leptospirosis as some barangays in the area still remain submerged in floodwater. Latest statistics disclose that there are now 812 cases of leptospirosis from January 1 up to October 12. This figure is 5.3% higher than last year for the same period. Most of the cases came from National Capital Region (46%), Western Visayas (17%), and Bicol region (5%). Majority of cases were male (91%).

DOH WARNS PUBLIC ON LEPTOSPIROSIS AFTER THE FLOOD

2009-10-14T18:16:00.001+08:00

From: DOH WebPage

The Department of Health (DOH) today warned the public against leptospirosis as it noted a spike in the number of cases from 9 private and government hospitals in Metro Manila after tropical storm Ondoy and typhoon Pepeng struck the country one after the other recently.

“With the recent spate of flooding in the different areas of the country, we expect cases of leptospirosis to rise after two weeks and it is still best to be aware of the symptoms and seek early treatment of the disease,” Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III explained.

As of October 12, the DOH recorded 383 cases from the East Avenue Medical Center (69 cases), Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center (1), Manila Doctor’s Hospital (10), The Medical City (70), National Kidney and Transplant Institute (28), Quirino Memorial Medical Center (18), Philippine General Hospital (17), Rizal Medical Center (13), and the San Lazaro Hospital (157).

“This is a cause for concern since this surge in cases being reported by only 9 Metro Manila hospitals already represents about half of last year’s annual figures when we reported 769 total cases”, Duque said.

Leptospirosis is caused by swallowing the bacteria directly from water, absorbing it through cuts in the skin, or through food. Although the disease is commonly associated with rat urine, infection can also come from animals like cattle, pigs, horses, dogs, and wild animals. The bacteria live in freshwater and are killed immediately by heat, disinfectant, acids and alkalis.

The disease’s incubation period is seven to 12 days after exposure. Symptoms may appear suddenly as early as four days after exposure, or as late as 21 days. Common signs and symptoms are flu-like and include fever, a red skin rash and general weakness. Headaches, reaction to light, muscle and joint pains, vomiting, and fatigue are also common. Incubation period may last up to a month. Death may also occur.

“We strongly advise anyone who had a history of wading in the recent floods and who has the symptoms of the disease to consult at once at the nearest doctor or health facility for treatment”, the health chief said.

Duque also said that anyone working in flood water should protect any broken skin by using boots and preventing flood water from entering their mouth. All drinking water should be brought to a rolling boil for at least five minutes and preferably up to 20 minutes, according to the World Health Organization’s guidelines.

“Protect food and drinking water from contamination, fresh vegetables and fruit should be washed in clean water first before cooking or peeling”, he concluded.

COME HELL OR HIGH WATER- DOH ON THE GO

2009-10-14T18:12:00.001+08:00

From: DOH WebPage

The Department of Health medical team headed by Secretary Francisco T. Duque III and CALABARZON Regional Director Dr. Gerry Bayugo, recently conducted a relief and medical mission in isolated Bgy. San Juan in Taytay Rizal, which was severely damaged by typhoon Ondoy. Using a rubber boat, Duque visited several households and gave vitamin A and measles vaccine to all susceptible children. He also warned residents of the possible diseases like leptospirosis, typhoid, respiratory ailments, and skin diseases that may occur as a result of the flooding. (9 October 2009, Taytay Rizal)

VITAMIN A TO PREVENT INFECTION

2009-10-09T08:35:00.003+08:00

From: DOH WebPage

Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III personally administers vitamin A to four-year old Mac Bryan Cortel at the ULTRA evacuation center in Pasig City, where more than 500 families are presently seeking refuge from the devastation brought by typhoon ‘Ondoy”. Duque strongly urged all evacuees to practice personal, as well as environmental hygiene, in order to prevent transmission of diseases. (8 October 2009)

HEALTH CHECK

2009-10-09T08:32:00.003+08:00

From: DOH WebPage

Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III personally checking the health conditions of evacuees devastated by Typhoon Ondoy. In order to prevent diseases in evacuation centers, Duque urges everyone to practice good personal hygiene like boiling water use for cooking and drinking, washing hands with soap and water before and after eating and after using the toilet, using toilet facilities/portalets for one’s personal needs, using protective clothing to avoid dengue, and to breastfeed every child because mother’s milk provides complete nutrition and that water in evacuation sites is usually unsafe. (5 October 2009, Taguig City)