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)
Friday, November 20, 2009
TATAK PGH PLUS PROJECT
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)
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
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.
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).
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Manual for Medical Social Workers
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.
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
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.
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"
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.
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.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
DOH-WHO VISITS MUNTINLUPA EVACUATION SITE
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.
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.
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