contents 5 Health in Paradise 8 Household Helpers to Benefit from PhilHealth 9 9 Cementing DOH-LGU Partnership 12 QMMC Goes on a Meatless Monday 13 Bantay Presyon 16 News and Views on Stem Cell Therapy 16 Regulating Stem Cell Therapy 18 Permissibility in Islam 16 20 Hype or Hope? 22 Health Secretary's Cup 26 Hold It, Let's Debate 30 Health Bus Tours 33 GP Awards 36 Health Promoting Schools 37 Paputok Summit Calls for Culture Change 39 Neurocysticercosis 41 Kuliti (Sty in the Eye) 42 Manscaping - Dare to Go Bare, Guys! 45 Sustaining the Fight Against Leprosy 47 DOH-MSD-Zuellig 26 49 DOH Runners' Club jokes n'yo 33 42 beatBOX 21 stress RELIEF 25 KALAbeat 28 laughter HEALS 29 SAbeat 50 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH - National Center for Health Promotion 2F Bldg. 18, San Lazaro Compound, Sta. Cruz, Manila 1003, Philippines HEALTHbeat Tel. No. (63-2) 743-8438 Email: [email protected] Health Debates On March 14 (Manila Time), the 1.2 billion-member Catholic Church celebrated the announcement of a new Pope - Pope Francis. On March 15, Health Secretary Enrique T. Ona together with its partners signed the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 10354, otherwise known as the “Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health (RPRH) Act of 2012” in Baseco, Tondo, and calling it a momentous event in the history of health care. After the prescriptive period of 15 days, the IRR would have started full implemention on March 31 - Easter Sunday. But that would not be too easy for government agencies that are tasked to implement the said law. On March 19, news reports carried the status quo ante order issued by the Supreme Court to suspend the law's implementation for 120 days. The oral argument is slated on June 18. Is this a "Twist of Faith?" We will not comment on that, of course. We will just wait for the turn of events and see and hear more discussions and debates. Editorial Board Oh well, at least the State, Church (both Catholic and Muslim), and medical organizations Ivanhoe C. Escartin, MD do not debate on the position the Department of Health has taken on Stem Cell Therapy Rosemarie G. Aguirre issue. Although this technology holds promise, it is not yet part of standard of care and is Editors-in Chief Anthony R. Roda considered an investigative procedure for compassionate use. And they all agree and would May Elenor R. de Guzman want to prevent the practice of human-derived allogenic stem cells from aborted fetuses in Managing Editor Donato Dennis B. Magat the country. Staff Writers Elizabeth G. Mascareňas Glen S. Ramos Debate, in principle, is a platform to generate arguments for or against a particular issue. The DOH welcomes debates. In fact, it has organized the six-month Health Secretary's Cup Photographer Paquito P. Repelente campaign to increase public awareness on Kalusugan Pangkalahatan (universal health Cover Design Diosdado G. Angeles, Jr. care). It used nationwide inter-college debates, community townhall meetings, round table Graphics Design Rhoderic N. Domingo discussions with various sectors of society, and media conferences. Frederick C. Pereňa Contributors As Secretary Ona puts it, "as guardians of the health of the people, the DOH needs to know what (Words) Maria Victoria C. Madura the people feel about the current health system and the reforms it is trying to implement." Riza Caldoza-De Leon, MD Tato M. Usman, MD So, bring on the discussions and debates, but we hope that everything will be resolved (Photos) Romeo S. Caparas Joerem P. Ceria immediately and everyone will be working in harmony toward the attainment of the country's Marlito Tasitorno health goals. Circulation DOH-NCHP Production, Dissemination – The Editors and Collection Unit FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. NOT FOR SALE. Opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent those of the DOH. The mention of specific companies or of certain manufacturer’s products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by the DOH in preference to others of similar nature. Articles may be reproduced in full or in part without prior permission, provided credit is given to the DOH for original pieces. A copy of the reprinted or adapted version will be appreciated. Articles, artworks, photographs, caricatures, letters and other contributions are most welcome. Materials will be edited for clarity and space. Unsolicited manuscripts will not be returned. Contributors must indicate their names and addresses. 4 HEALTHbeat I March - April 2013 COVER story HEALTHbeat travels to some awesome views in Batan, one of the three inhabited islands of Batanes. (Photos by Tony Roda) Health in Paradise by GLEN S. RAMOS and ANTHONY R. RODA, MaHeSoS HEALTHbeat Staff Batanes is the smallest province northernmost tip of the Philippines, about 29 barangays and a lone congressional and could be the remotest island in the 860 kilometers (kms) north of Manila, 280 district. The six municipalities are Ivana, Philippines, but its breathtaking landscapes kms north of Aparri, Cagayan and 190 kms Uyugan, Mahatao, the island municipalities and seascapes, the preserved stone houses south of Taiwan. It is surrounded on all of Sabtang and Itbayat, and Basco – the with cogon roofs, and the resilience of the sides by vast turbulent seas and rugged capital and center of commerce and where people's spirit to keep their culture unsullied topography, and nearly half of the province most inhabitants and government offices make the place truly a splendor! It may be consists of hills, mountains and cliffs. are located. hard to imagine if serious health threats Batanes is composed of 10 small Batanes is also known as the occur in this island-paradise. islands, of which three - Batan, Itbayat and “Home of the Winds.” It is subjected to Sabtang - are inhabited. The province is the frequent typhoons, but it does not mean Island-Paradise smallest province in terms of land area (230 that the province is constantly battered square kilometres) and population (17,237 by typhoons. If Batanes is mentioned in Batanes is situated in the as of 2012 estimate). It has six municipalities, connection with weather disturbances, it is March - April 2013 I HEALTHbeat 5 because Basco holds the last weather station transportation from Manila as well as from of Batanes is under CHD-Cagayan Valley in the north. It is a reference point for all Tuguegarao, Cagayan by small local airlines. (Region 2), the DOH-retained hospital typhoons that enter the Philippine area. When traveling to Batanes, however, you in Basco – the Batanes General Hospital The islands’ inhabitants are called must have a very flexible schedule as flights (BGH) – is under CHD-NCR because of its “Ivatans,” and they have learned to live with get canceled at the last minute. accessibility to Manila. the temperamental weather – sunny one Acting Chief of Hospital Dr. Jeffrey moment and stormy the next. They live Health in Paradise Anthony T. Canceran said that the BGH in stone houses made of limestones with has a total bed occupancy rate of 34.14% cogon roofs to withstand steady winds and The remoteness and isolation of with total admissions of 1,484 in 2012. The rains that often sweep the province. Because Batanes from the rest of the Philippines did recorded live births were 194, while deaths of this traditional architecture, Batanes not spare the province from one of the most were 36. is included in the list of UNESCO’s world dangerous viruses – dengue. He quipped, “Although some heritage site. In July 2011, a dengue outbreak people may think that health services The Ivatans are also known for occured in five of six municipalities with are not tedious in Batanes due to the few their frugal and humane lifestyle. Tourists 900 cases recorded, and the whole province admissions and people are seldom getting may get surprised if they will be greeted by was placed under a state of calamity. The sick. This, of course, is not the case. At the children by "pagmamano." It is the practice residents believed that tourists brought the end of the day, we find it rewarding to know of respect by asking for an elder’s hand and virus to the province, others theorized that that we have prevented illnesses and other touch one’s forehead while bowing.Elderly the dengue mosquito arrived from ships health incidents from occurring through residents, on the other hand, are generous to coming from Manila. health promotion and education activities greet tourists with a smile. However, according to the findings being done by the hospital staff." The Ivatans live out basic noble of the Department of Health - National Canceran added that the values, as proven by the fact that there is Epidemiology Center (DOH-NEC), the improvement of health facilities and services very low crime rate in Batanes. According outbreak was caused by poor solid waste in other municipalities may have prevented to the Philippine National Police in Region management and environmental sanitation, the influx of patients to the BGH. 2, crime incidents in the province are the presence of the vector (aedes aegypti and In 2012, hospital admission lowest in the region with 21.43 percent. aedes albopictus), storage of water in records showed that the top three causes of It is only in Batanes that “Honesty Shops” key containers which served as mosquito hospital admission were dengue, diarrhea are possible. It exists not for profit but for breeding sites, and human movement. and gastroenteritis, and hypertension. genuine communal camaraderie. There The DOH-NEC further revealed that Meanwhile, the top three causes of seems to be a strong need among the people the improper management of swine and morbidity (illness) were acute upper to protect and preserve Batanes’ prestine poultry production in the areas intensified respiratory infections, disorders of teeth and culture against commercialism and other the situation because the water used for supporting structures, and hypertension.