Research Utilization

ZCMC and ADZU emerges as regional qualifiers for DOST 2016 Research Conference

Medical Doctors from the Zamboanga City Medical Center and Ateneo de Zamboanga University School of Medicine emerge as Regional Qualifiersfor the DOST-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD) Philippine National Health Research Week (PNHRS) Week Professional & Student Categories.

As one of the regional qualifiers for the professional category, Dr. Alex Yongco-Pang, Jr., DPCP from the Zamboanga City Medical Center with his research entitled Clinical and Metabolic Profile of Male-to-Female (MtF) Transgenders Based in the Zamboanga Peninsula, sought to determine the clinical and metabolic profile of MtF transgenders in Zamboanga Peninsula on self-prescribed and unsupervised cross-sex hormone therapy and describe any cardiovascular complications among MtF transgender currently or previously on unsupervised cross-sex hormone therapy.

Dr. Adamier P. Abdulla,also from the Zamboanga City Medical Center,emerges as regional qualifier for professional category. In his paper entitledMulti-drug Resistant Pulmonary Tuberculosis at the Zamboanga City Medical Center, Dr. Abdulla determined the association between Diabetes mellitus and rate of sputum culture conversion among patients with Multi-Drug Resistant Pulmonary Tuberculosis.

Dr. Lester Jay T. Corsame and Dr. Yrl Phares R. Agbayani from the Ateneo de Zamboanga University School of Medicine surfaced as qualifiers for the student category with their research entitled An iodine Intervention Study among Children (6-12 years old) Living in Areas with Low Iodine Intake (iodine deficiency) and Sanitation Practices and Water Quality of Selected Water Refilling Stations in Providing Safe Drinking Water Supply in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay respectively.

Dr. Corsame sought to determine the prevalence of iodine deficiency among children ages 6-12 years old. During post-intervention, he noted that there was a decrease in the number of children with iodine deficiency. His paper helped parents recognize the current nutritional iodine status of their children and the harmful effects of iodine deficiency.

While Dr. Corsame sought to decrease cases in iodine deficiency, Dr. Yrl Phares Agbayani, looked into the sanitation practices of Water Refilling Station (WRS) in providing safedrinking water supply. In his study, 15 of the 21 refilling stations as sampling sites, received only a satisfactory rating with 6 having a below satisfactory rating.

The PNHRS Week Celebration is a yearly gathering of the health research community every 2^nd week of August. The convergence of all health researchers from here and abroad take this opportunity to keep themselves informed of the current trends in health, innovation, and research. This year’s Conference theme is “Innovations and Development for Health and the Environment”. It will be held at the Citystate Asturias Hotel, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan from August 10-12, 2016. (DOST IX Press Release)

ADZU Biology Students Qualify for the DOST-PCHRD Gruppo Medica Award

Among the invited schools in Zamboanga Peninsula, three (3) groups of BS Biology students from the Ateneo de Zamboanga University (ADZU) qualify for the national search for Outstanding Undergraduate Thesis in Herbal Medicine.

The entries are 1) “Phytochemical screening and study on the antibacterial property of Kalachuchi” by Ms. Fatima Fersayda Ukkoh and Ms. Fatima Ezra Viray; 2) “Synergetic antibacterial effects of Piper betle L. (piper leaf vine) and Areca catechu (areca nut) extracts against common dermal and gastrointestinal tract pathogens” by Mr. Abdelaziz Maldisa and Mr. Cooper Nikko Chavez; and 3) “Cytotoxic and antibacterial activities of the crude secondary metabolites of two mangrove species, Rhizophora apiculata and Rhizophorastylosa, from the Great Sta. Cruz Island, Zamboanga City” by Mr. Mark Phillip Ycaza and Ms. Monique Praico

The DOST-PCHRD Gruppo Medica Award is an annual recognition given to relevant and innovative research work on herbal medicine undertaken by undergraduate students. The award highlights research that can lead to practical and/or commercial applications. It expects to provide the motivation for students with the technical guidance of their faculty advisers, to view undergraduate thesis not merely as an academic exercise, but as an excellent opportunity to contribute to national interest.

The award is open to all undergraduate students from the Colleges of Pharmacy, Chemistry, Nursing, and Arts and Sciences who have completed theses project on medicinal plants. The projects must have been completed within the current school year.

The winning entries will be receiving 60,000, 40,000, and 20,000 pesos respectively to be announced during the Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS) Week Celebration on August 10-12, 2016 in City State Asturias Hotel, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. (Mark B. Madarang, DOST IX PRESS RELEASE)

2016 ZCHRD Institutional Development Activities slated PIA Western Mindanao

The ZCHRD Core Group met in Zamboanga City on February 29 to discuss the 2016 Institutional Development Activities for Region 9 with Dr. Teresita G. Montaño, Consortium Director, presiding.

Dr. Montaño disclosed that the 2016 budget amounts to 1.7M which will cover activities such as echoing of advance epidemiology training, research proposal mentoring, Philippine National Health Research and development week, basic training on ethics review for social science and the conduct of regional research summit among others. Tasks for the activities were assigned to the four (4) committees of the consortium.

(Photo credit: PIA Western Mindanao, https://www.facebook.com/piawesternmindanao/posts/1055262594538185)

DOST IX to deploy 58 RxBox, telehealth device to RHUs in ZamPen

The Department of Science and Technology IX in close coordination with UP Manila – National Telehealth Center, will deploy some 58 units of Telehealth Devices, popularly known as “RxBox”, to selected Rural Health Units (RHUs) including Municipal Health Offices (MHOs) and City Health Offices (CHOs) in Zamboanga Peninsula region.

This project is one of the initiatives of DOST under the “Smarter Philippines” program, as well as the Department’s contribution to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) on improving maternal and neonatal health services.

Earlier this February, DOST Regional Coordinators convened for the first time at Green Leaf Hotel, General Santos City to tackle the nationwide Roll-out of 1,000 units of RxBox, Telehealth Devices in the country. Furthermore, the project planning and implementation were also discussed during the said meeting.

The project beneficiaries were assessed and validated according to the following criteria : 1) Presence of Medical Officer; 2) Training of RHUs staff in Basic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (BEMONC); 3) Availability of PHILHEALTH Package; 4) Power Supply; 5) With Computers; and 6) Mobile Communication Provider.

Since 2014, a total of 143 units of RxBox were deployed in the entire country. Of the 143, three (3) units were deployed in Zamboanga del Norte, specifically at RHUs of Leon Postigo, Polanco and Tampilisan. With the additional fifty-eight (58) sites in Region IX, the DOST IX envisions to improve the health care services in ZamPen.

The RxBox is a multi-component device (BP Monitor, Pulse Oxymeter, ECG, Fetal Heart Rate monitor, Maternal Tocometer, and Temperature sensor) designed to provide better access to life-saving health care service in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA) in the country.

The manufacturing and testing of the device is handled by the UP Manila-NTHC. After testing, the deployment of device will follow in all regions. (Mark B. Madarang, DOST IX PRESS RELEASE)