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Representatives from member-institutions of Caraga Health Research and Development Consortium (CHRDC) agreed on strengthening its efforts on health research development and promotion after reviewing the consortium’s direction and its best practices during the General Assembly at Butuan City, January 29.

Mr. Ricardo Varela, Assistant Regional Director for Field Operations of the Department of Science and Technology Caraga presented the accomplishments of CHRDC in 2017. Among these notable attainments of CHRDC were its efforts in communicating health research outputs to the end-users in the communities and campaigning for the utilization of these research-based knowledge.The Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) recognized these efforts and committed to support the undertakings of the consortium in the years to come.

A communication plan for the consortium is on the works to help utilize research information in Caraga. Mr. Varela also mentioned various capacity building activities, meetings and other health research activities conducted to encourage young researchers to engage in health research.

Meanwhile, Dr. Cesar Cassion, Assistant Regional Director for Department of Health Caraga and the current chair of the Research Management Committee presented and discussed the updates of the Technical Review Board (TRB) Manual of Operations to inform the members regarding the important changes in the operation, particularly in the review and evaluation of Research and Development (R&D) proposals. 

“Let’s always keep the flame burning”, said Rey Brangan, Bombo radyo representative. 

CHRDC aims this year to strengthen the collaboration among stakeholders engaged in health research and development in Caraga region to continuously exert effort in the promotion and development of health researches.

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The Central Visayas Consortium for Health Research and Development (CVCHRD) members met last January 26, 2018 at the DOST 7 Conference Room, Cebu City. The main purpose of which was to evaluate and assess its 2017 performance and continue its strategic plans for 2018.




The DOST-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) presented the 2017 performance evaluation of the Central Visayas Consortium for Health Research and Development (CVCHRD) and the Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS) communication plan to the CVCHRD members. The presentation was facilitated by Engr. Zamora after which committee members validated the 2016-2022 CVCHRD strategic plans in conformity to the plans and recommendations for 2018.
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Last 11-12 January 2018, MMHRDC was invited to a 2-day workshop meeting in Cebu. The purpose of this meeting was to help the Technical Working Group to finalize the Development of the Technical Review Board Manual to be used by the TRB of the 17 Consortia. Participants from MMHRDC included Dr. Ofelia P. Saniel, RMC Chair of MMHRDC and a member of the Technical Working Group; Dr. Hilton Lam, Program Coordinator of MMHRDC; and Mr. Jesson James A. Montealto, one of the project staff of MMHRDC.
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The Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD), in coordination with the Region 1 Health Research and Development Consortium (R1HRDC), conducted the first phase of the capacity building on health research in disaster on January 23-24, 2018 at the Northview Hotel, Laoag City. Participated by 25 researchers, the training aims to equip young researchers in the region with the basic foundation in the field of disaster research.

Dr. Miguel Manuel Dorotan, Dr. Ofelia Saniel, and Dr. Ophelia Mendoza, the resource persons, introduced the basic principles and concepts on disaster risk reduction (DRR). The Phase II and Phase III of the training is scheduled on March 6-8 and April 3-4, 2018, respectively, by the same set of participants who attended the Phase I. At the end of the three trainings, the participants is expected to come up with a proposal that will address knowledge gap on disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.


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After successfully completing their research on the possible snail vectors of Schistosomiasis in areas surrounding Lake Mainit, Dr. Joycelyn Jumawan, researcher-professor funded by the Caraga Health Research and Development Consortium (CHRDC), shared the major findings of their study to the communities of Jabonga, Alegria and Kitcharao, in a health awareness forum, October 17.

Schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease caused by blood flukes called Schistosomes, has plagued communities in the region for several years. With the spread of the disease, Dr. Jumawan and her team from Caraga State University studied the different species of snail vectors of Schistosomiasis and mapped out the distribution of these snails in the field using their infection rates from snails infected by furcocercous schistosome like cercariae.

Schistosomiasis, its major findings in Lake Mainit

In the forum, Dr. Jumawan revealed to the participants three snail species harboring schistosome like furcocercous cercariae that could potentially be new vectors for Schistosomiasis in lake Mainit—the Apple Snail (Ampullaria luzonica), Ear snail (Radix rubiginosa), and Pagoda Tiara (Thiara scabra). “These species were not the known snail vectors of Schistosomiasis in the Philippines. However, this finding needs to undergo molecular and ultrastructural studies to fully identify the species of the parasite for a more specific intervention,” adds Jumawan. For years, the residents think that the common snails such as the Oncomelania sp., Biomphalaria sp., and Gyraulus sp. are the snail vectors of the disease.






Using the geographical information system (GIS), the study also identified the species to be more abundant in rice fields, canals and creeks, with a higher infection rate observed in the rice fields. “There would be a higher potential for infection if humans will be exposed in the rice fields with the presence of these potential snail vectors,” says Dr. Jumawan. Wearing protective clothing while working in the ricefields can help prevent the infection. She also suggested to provide vaccination to carabaos and cattles in the rice field as these bovines could potentially increase spreading the disease.

Jumawan explained that a person gets infected by the disease through immediate skin contact with fresh water contaminated by the parasite. The larva penetrates the skin through releasing an enzyme which allows it to enter pores of the skin.

Ms. Jomella Torres, the Schisto coordinator of the Department of Health (DOH) Caraga, added that the infection does not come from eating the snails since the parasites can be killed by the acidity of the digestive system. Instead, poor sanitary toilets and water supply lead to the transmission of the disease. The cycle of the infection involves an infected person urinating or excreting feces near fresh water, where the eggs of the schistosome parasites can hatch and enter the snails. The parasite then swims to the water from the snail’s body and penetrates the skin of its host.

Solving the growing number of Schisto cases

According to Dr. Jumawan, Schistosomiasis can always be prevented with the appropriate strategies to successfully manage the disease in the area. She suggested local decision makers and government agencies alike to come up with a multi-component integrated control involving not only mass treatment to humans, wearing protective clothing in the field, improved sanitation, but also bovine treatment and vaccination for livestock.

Ms. Torres expressed full support from DOH Caraga to this campaign. “With the help of officials and health workers in the community as key players in sanitation and mass treatment of the disease, there are solutions to eradicating the spread and transmission of the disease,” says Torres.

Organized by the Caraga Health Research and Development Consortium (CHRDC), in partnership with the Department of Health – Caraga and the Local Government of Jabonga, the Health Education Awareness Forum on Schistosomiasis was attended by 69 participants composed of Barangay Health Workers, Rural Health Units, Barangay Officials and residents from municipalities of Jabonga, Alegria and Kitcharao.

The research project was funded by the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD), with support from CHRDC.


*Article is lifted from http://caraga.dost.gov.ph/?p=1940
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