National HIV Testing Week and Formal Launch of the 2015 International AIDS Candlelight Memorial

Manila - At 11'o clock AM today, May 6, the Department of Health will formally launch the National HIV Testing Week and the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial 2015 at the Press Conference Room, DOH Compound, Tayuman, Manila.

[PRESS RELEASE] Save the Children Calls on Stakeholders: MDG 4 Target

Disasters and inequality could stop the Philippines hitting child mortality MDG target, Save the Children says. 

MANILA, Philippines – Today marks 500 days until the Millennium Development Goals reach their conclusion and the Philippines looks set to miss the target for reducing preventable child deaths.

The 2015 MDG 4 target for Philippines is 20 deaths per 1,000 live births. Whilst there has been some improvement from the 60 deaths per 1000 in 1990, there has been little progress in cutting down neonatal mortality (deaths in the first month of life), which makes up almost half of all under-5 deaths.

Save the Children’s global study on newborn deaths released earlier this year reveals that Philippines is one of the top 10 countries in the world with the greatest gap in equality for newborn deaths between poorest and wealthiest, and between rural and urban households.  Babies born to the poorest and hardest to reach groups are most at risk of dying within few days after birth.

CAMP Asia joins World No Tobacco Day

Smoking is considered as the most avoidable cause of early disease and death nowadays, according to the 2009 Global Adult Tobacco Survey. In lieu of this, the Center for Asian Mission for Poor (CAMP) Asia, through the funding support of Community Chest of Korea joined the worldwide celebration of World No Tobacco Day on May 31, 2014. 

[PRESS RELEASE] Health Bloggers in for an Awesome Treat with Zoomanity Group

In this time and age of social media hype, it is truly no wonder that health professionals and advocates alike be tech savvies. If you've read my previous blog post regarding the recently concluded #iBlog10: The 10th Philippine Blogging Summit, you would remember the infamous Dr. Bien Nillos (@DocBIENevolent) who gave five reasons as to why doctors and health professionals should blog.

10 Quotables in the #iBlog10 (and Other Random Stuff)

For the second time in a row, the Philippine Health Bloggers Society have been part of the biggest blogging event in the Philippines - the iBlog: The Philippine Blogging Summit. 

We joined hundreds of bloggers from different niches and walks of life in a two-day free event held at the Malcolm Hall, UP College of Law, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City. Now on its 10th year, iBlog focused on "A Decade of Blogging and Moving Forward"

[PRESS RELEASE] Save the Children Launches Global Report

Save the Children is the leading independent organization creating lasting change in the lives of children in over 120 countries around the world. They are recognized for their commitment to accountability, innovation and collaboration, their work takes them into the heart of communities, where they help children and families help themselves. They work with other organizations, governments, non-profits and a variety of local partners while maintaining their own independence without political agenda or religious orientation. Save the Children’s mission is to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives. Save the Children currently implements programs in Child Protection, Education, CRC, Health and Nutrition, Food Security & Livelihood, Shelter, and Emergency Response throughout the country.

#Yes2RH: A Selfie Call to RH Law

Republic Act 10354, more commonly known as the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law of 2012 has been signed into law by President Benigno Aquino III last 21 December. After more than 14 years of struggles both in the streets and the cyberspace, the controversial bill was approved by the legislative branch with favorable votes of 113-104 and 13-8 in the Lower and Upper Houses respectively.

It has been more than a year now (19 March 2013) since the Supreme Court first issued a 120-day Status Quo Ante Order (SQAO) against the implementation of the RH Law. The said SQAO was extended indefinitely by the judiciary department last 16 July 2013. 

[HOW TO] Be Stress Free through TRE

Loboc Church, Bohol.
This is just one of the centuries-old church destroyed during the M7.2 earthquake.

Have you ever met an accident? Have you lost a relative or a family member? Have you ever witnessed or have been a victim of any crime? Where were you during the magnitude 7.2 Bohol earthquake? How about when Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) devastated Eastern Visayas? Or during the crisis in Zamboanga?

If you answered YES to the first three questions, how did you feel? Were you traumatized by the experience? Imagine if you were in the above-mentioned places during the times that the earthquake, typhoon and the crisis struck the area. How would you feel?

#BangonBohol: HHCL Goes to Bohol

12 out of the 17 HHCL Responders pose in
front of the boxes of relief goods while awaiting for the
PAF C-130 bound to Tagbilaran City.

Seventeen people. Three days. One group. One destination. One mission.

#BangonBohol

I am A Filipino Registered Nurse

"Why did I take up nursing in the first place?"

This could be one, if not the worst question a duly registered nurse in the Philippines would have to ask himself.

Given another chance, would you still take up nursing? Or would you rather choose another path?

Personally, NURSING has been my first choice back in college (Journalism ranked #2 on my list). I was never forced nor coerced by my parents or whoever Judas that is to take up the course.

I wholeheartedly choose to take up nursing.

Remembering You on Earth Day

It has been five long years since the day you bade us a permanent goodbye.

Five years has passed yet I can still visualize the entirety of your face - your chestnut colored hair, your sweet little innocent eyes, your not-so-pointed nose, and your soft lips. 

I can still vividly recall how you used to call me your "Kuya Jay".

LBK-KP on Wheels Invades Bulacan

Greetings from the Local Chief Executives of Bulacan

Calumpit, Bulacan – It was one fine Thursday of March 21 when the Department of Health’s Lakbay Buhay Kalusugan – Kalusugan Pangkalahatan on Wheels visited the municipality of Calumpit in the province of Bulacan.

In line with LBK’s mission of promoting health through a fun, festive and entertaining way, the LBK Bulacan team headed by Provincial Health Officer Dr. Jocelyn Gomez decorated the grounds of Northville 9, Iba O’Este with festive colored banderitas resembling that of the fiesta traditions the Philippines is well-known of.