Tacloban City, September 22, 2017 – Eastern Visayas Health Research and Development Consortium together with the Research Management Committee conducted the Mentoring and Coaching Activity for Researchers in Region VIII held last September 19 – 21, 2017 at Luxury Suites, Tacloban City. This activity aims to help and encourage participants from the different member institutions in finishing their research studies with the guidance and expertise of the EVHRDC-Technical Review Board. Also one with them is Dr. Ophelia Mendoza of UP Manila who was the Resource Person during the activity. This also aims to provide technical assistance including preparation of line item budget in the development and actual implementation of health research projects. In addition, to undertake technical review and recommend approval of regional health research projects.
During the first day, the Research Management Committee officially reviewed the proposals by requesting the proponents to present their full blown proposals assimilated with RMC Recommendations of last Technical Review dated June 23, 2017. The power point presentations standard template had a Table of comparison, stated with their recommendations and the compliance made by the proponents. During the proponent’s presentation, the RMC conveyed comments and suggestion. Likewise, Dr. Ophelia Mendoza, who was there to help the proponents in honing their proposals by mentoring and coaching them.
Overall, a total of (12) proposals were gone through by the Research Management Committee. The proponents were expected to make necessary revisions as per RMC suggestions. They will present it on the 3rd day. If they will comply, they will be endorsed to Ethics Review Committee for Ethical clearance.
On the Second day during the AM session, Mr. Leonido Olobia presented the research proposal entitled, “Effectiveness of Vector Prevention and Control Ordinance in Ormoc City” of Rolando Quilantang from Ormoc City Health Office because he is also a co-author of the proposal. 13th presentation of Research proposal for possible funding by EVHRDC.
The Supervising SRS-IDD of DOST-PCHRD, Ms. Anicia Catameo discussed about the Regional Research Fund. She oriented the proponents on how to prepare Line Item Budget properly.
Furthermore, Dr. Ophelia Mendoza and the Research Management Committee members continued to provide technical assistance to the proponents for them to be able to complete their health research proposals. Proponents made immediate corrections in their papers based on the commendations of RMC.
In the afternoon, Dr. Ophelia Mendoza lectured about Definition of Variables and Data Collection. This was considered as useful for the proponents to properly prepare and collect the data they will obtain in the future.
During the third day of the activity after the plenaries, Dr. Lucia P. Dauz, the EVHRDC Coordinator presented the DOST8 guidelines in preparing Line Item Budget. The accounting staff of DOST 8, Ms. Lourdes Salvatierra and Ms. Evelyn Elbore were also around to help the proponents to properly develop Line Item Budget based on DOST8 guidelines. The proponents again presented their final revision including the Line Item Budget.
The Research Management Committee members approved eight (8) research proposals as technically sound for funding consideration by EVHRDC. The following proposals were endorsed to Ethics review committee for ethical clearance.
Moreover, Dr. Lucia P. Dauz, the EVHRDC Coordinator delivered the remarkable Closing Message to encourage the researchers to push through with their research proposals despite the setbacks.
The Eastern Visayas Health Research and Development Consortium (EVHRDC) participated in the 11th Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS) week celebration held on August 24-25, 2017 at Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), Pasay City. The momentous occasion was spearheaded by the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). The celebration is a gathering of different stakeholders in health research and development to contribute research-based solutions to health problems.
The theme for this year’s celebration is “Research and Innovations in Health: Empowering and Transforming Communities,” which focuses on the roles, challenges, and opportunities of health research and innovation in reaching, empowering, and transforming the marginalized Filipino communities.
The activity started with pre-conference sessions at Hotel Jen Manila. On August 22, 2017, morning, the Ethics, and Society of Health Research Communicators (SHARE) Assembly Journal Publishing was conducted simultaneously. In the afternoon of the same day, a Coordinators & Staff Meeting, and SHARE Organizational Meeting/Communication Planning was also conducted. On August 23, 2017, a Technical Review Board (TRB) National Consultative Meeting on TRB Manual was held, to gather inputs and insights of the different consortium in order to finalize the Manual of Operations. There were other parallel sessions being conducted in other rooms at Hotel Jen Manila.
Moreover, sixteen (16) delegates From EVHRDC were among the attendees of the activity, and four (4) different committees (Research Management, Research Information, Capability Building, and Structure, Organization, Monitoring & Evaluation) were represented, including the EVHRDC staff. We were also proud to have Mr. Renz Prudenciado, contestant from Leyte Normal University (LNU), for the National Poster Exhibit Contest, Student Category, to join us in representing the region for the said event.
Tacloban City, August 16, 2017 --- Department of Education Regional Office VIII (DepEdRO8) launches the Superkid Linis Lusog Scholl Caravan for school year 2017-2018 last August 15, 2017 at the Oriental Hotel, Palo, Leyte with Department of Health (DOHRO8), Department of Education (DepEd) and Rescope Communication, Inc.
The campaign aims to increase awareness among the school population on developing the habit of handwashing as a basic health or hygiene practice that can prevent infectious diseases.
The caravan had two (2) major activities: a) Pilot Launching of Continuing Health Education for Teachers (CHET) last August 15, 2017 at Oriental Hotel, Palo, Leyte. CHET is an annual assembly that aims to provide updates and new trends relevant to school health. The event was attended by almost 700 school personnel from DepEd Region 8. b) The Superkid School Caravan Proper, that will be conducted in 304 identified school in the 13 school divisions. The activity includes the Superkid Cartoon Video Showing, Superkid Handwashing, Superkid Ball Relay, and Superkid Handwashing Champion Oath taking. Activity started last August 7, 2017 up to September 29, 2017.
The study entitled "Prevalence of Leptospira in Abattoir Workers, Slaughtered Animals and Abattoir Environment in Cavite, Philippines" by Dr. Norbel A. Tabo of the De La Salle University-Dasmarinas was awarded 1st place in the 11th Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS) Oral Research Presentation, Professional Category. This was held on August 24-25, 2017 at the Philippine International Convention Center, Pasay City. This is the HRDCR IV-A's first 1st place at the PNHRS Oral Research Presentation. Below is the abstract of the study.
ABSTRACT
Leptospirosis is known to be endemic in the Philippines with disease incidence that peaks during rainy season or after heavy rains in flood-prone areas. During summer, occupationally at-risk groups such as farmers, abattoir workers, and garbage collectors are affected. Strategies to prevent and control leptospirosis have been done for years yet the number of cases continues to be high. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of antibodies to Leptospira among abattoir workers and slaughtered animals, and Leptospira serovars in slaughtered animals and abattoir environment in Cavite, Philippines.Serum samples obtained from 46 abattoir workers and 69 slaughtered animals were subjected to microscopic agglutination test (MAT). The MAT-screening positive sera were further subjected to MAT quantitation with a cut-off titer of 400 in humans and 20 in animals. The urine of 69 slaughtered animals and 72 environmental samples were subjected to culture. Culture-positive samples were subjected to rrl-PCR, flaB-PCR and serotyping using monoclonal/polyclonal antibodies.
The results showed that 15.2% of abattoir workers in selected abattoirs of Cavite province were positive for Leptospira-agglutinating antibodies, that reacted with serovars Canicola, Hurtsbridge, Losbanos, Poi and Ratnapura. These workers were assigned in dehairing, abattoir cleaning and butchering of pigs, and gut removal, gut cleaning, hide removal, and butchering in cows. On the other hand, the overall Leptospira-seropositivity in slaughtered animals was 58.0%, 61.7% of which was in pigs and 33.3% in cows. The most frequently occurring serovar in pigs was Poi with 38.3%, followed by Icterohaemorrhagiae strain Ictero No. 1 (18.3%), Copenhageni (16.7%), Semaranga (10.0%) and Icterohaemorrhagiae strain RGA (8.3%). However, the most frequently occurring serovar in cows was Poi (22.2%).Twenty five percent (18/72) of the environmental samples were positive for Leptospira. Of these, 5 samples were positive for flaB-PCR. These samples were considered as pathogenic and were observed in Noveleta, Imus City and Bacoor City abattoir. Of the five pathogenic isolates, one isolate reacted with serogroup Grippotyphosa while the remaining four isolates did not react with any of the monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies. On the other hand, none of the 69 urine samples were positive for culture.
The presence of common serovars at the interface of both abattoir workers-slaughtered animals, and slaughtered animals-abattoir environment could indicate continual source of leptospires and could pose problems on human health. These serovars could be potential candidates for the development of vaccines and diagnostic tests.
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Region 02 in partnership with the Local Government Unit of Cauayan City and Isabela State University will conduct the biggest S&T celebration in the region on August 14-18, 2017 at F. L Dy Coliseum, Cauayan City, Isabela.
Informative, exciting and fun S&T activities will be held during the Regional Science and Technology Week 2017, a weeklong celebration that highlights the significant contributions, innovations, and breakthroughs of Science and Technology in the lives of the Filipinos towards holistic countryside development.
It aims to bring science and technology closer to the people, letting them get a first-hand experience on how science and technology work for a better and progressive life.
Anchored in the theme “Science for the People”, DOST R02 prepared various activities for the general public including S&T Quiz, Science Explorer, Technology Fora, Search for Ginoo at Binibining Agham at Teknolohiya, S&T Trivia, and many more.
Kids will have a unique science experience in the Science Explorer, a mobile interactive learning facility that provides access to audio-visual equipment, interactive exhibits, and countless learning materials letting the students learn concepts and ideas in science in a more exciting and fun ways.
Also, numerous DOST—assisted products owned by micro, small and medium enterprises in the region will be displayed and sold in the S&T Bazaar.
Moreover, different Regional Testing Laboratories nationwide are expected to come for the first ever National Laboratory Summit. This will further strengthen the awareness of laboratory personnel and staff to various regulations and laws and the significant breakthroughs in laboratory testing.
Aside from these, cash prizes will be given to researchers, inventors, faculties and students with the best research outputs and innovations during the Regional Invention Contest and Exhibits (RICE) scheduled on August 14-18, 2017. Winners from the regional level will compete to the national contest for the 2018 National Invention Contest (NICE).
The Smarter Approaches to Reinvigorate Agriculture as an Industry in the Philippines (SARAI) Project spearheaded by the University of the Philippines Los Bańos will also be introduced during the S&T event.
SARAI aims to improve the forecasting and crop monitoring system of the Philippine crops including rice, corn, coconut, banana, coffee and cacao. SARAI team has developed various systems and technologies including Cost-efficient soil moisture sensors and meters, Smarter Pest Identification Technology (SPI Tech), SARAI-Enhanced Cost-Efficient Soil Moisture Sensors and Meters, Smarter Pest Identification Technology, SARAI-Enhanced Agricultural Monitoring System (SEAMS), Automatic Weather Station (AWS) and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (AUV), and SARAI Knowledge Portal.
DOST key officials including Secretary Fortunato dela Peńa, Undersecretary for Regional Operations - Brenda L. Nazareth-Manzano, Assistant Secretary for Finance and Legal Affairs - Emmanuel S. Galvez, DOST-Technology Application and Promotion Institute Director Edgar I. Garcia, other DOST regional directors and other representatives from DOST’s attached agencies and research councils are expected to come.
Also, State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), Regional Line Agencies, Provincial and Municipal Local Government Units and other partner stakeholders will also extend their support and presence during the RSTW 2017.
The activities are open to public for free. Updates will be posted in our official Facebook Account @www.facebook.com/cagayanvalley. Don’t forget to like our page @www.facebook.com/DOST.Region2.
