#childrightsPH

November is Children's Month and this year's theme is

"Sama-samang itaguyod ang karapatan ng bawat bata sa panahon ng pandemya"

The Share A Child Movement Inc usually conducts monthly meetings with the 40 or so scholars at the office, however with the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdowns, the children were safely isolated in their homes.  With the loosening of strict quarantine protocols, we were able to assemble 5 scholars per group to conduct virtual meetings via facebook live, maximizing the use of technology to keep them connected.

With struggles as they started Facebook LIVE programs, April and Federicee discussed their ideas on TRANSFORM as they discussed Children's Rights last November 7, 2020.

This Saturday, November 14, 2020  Carlito, Revie and Marife discussed their points of views on children's rights.  

The SUPACA President Vida Marie Panangin also guested on DYRC with Bill Felisan and myself, sharing how SHARE A CHILD MOVEMENT INC started out as an NGO promoting preventive measures to ensure children's rights thru educational assistance and advocacy programs.

#HCSMPH2020

Yesterday, we had the first installment of the 6th Healthcare Social Media Summit Philippines 2020 #HCSMPH2020 with a lecture by Dr Iris Thiele Isip-Tan on establishing a professional social media presence followed by a panel discussion with #HealthXPH 

Later that same evening, the #HealthXPH tweetchat was like an extension of the #HCSMPH2020 session with the tweetchat allowing the community to answer the same questions in the panel.  Here are some of the tweets that caught my eye.

T1.  What advice would you give for researchers wanting to start a blog as an online portfolio?

T2.  In what ways has Twitter been useful for you in the research process?

T3.  What tips can you give for those who are new to Twitter?  Who should they follow? Do you have criteria?  How can you grow your personal learning network?

Elizabeth Pacheco advised to follow people who make you smile!  I am glad that #HealthXPH is a safe space where one can de-stress after a hectic week and just verbalize and vent and people will accept and support you, so follow #HealthXPH!

Jerome Cleofas called for people to PARTICIPATE.  yes, I would agree that one simply has to engage and be willing to try something new to be able to maximize use of social media and gain social capital.  Go out there and talk with people.  On twitter, my students learn how to communicate professionally, both to patients, policy makers and to consultants.  That's the beauty of twitter connecting people regardless of station, rank, religion or nationality.

Hope to see everyone in Cebu livetweeting the activities of the Central Visayas Health Research and Innovation Conference from November 16-20, 2020 on #hcsmph2020 so that we can evaluate the success of the virtual conference this year, as we move forward and adapt to living with COVID-19 in the new normal. 

See you again next week for the 2nd part of #hcsmph2020 as we discuss about conducting social media research with Dr Narciso Tapia.  register on bit.ly/HCSMPH2020.

In any case, it was happy to see all of #HealthXPH in one monitor screen virtual is next best thing to face to face.

Gawad Bayaning Kalusugan

Thank you to the Gawad Bayaning Kalusugan organizers for the recognition of our work and choosing me as finalist in the individual category.  I now know how it feels to be a Miss COVID-19 Universe Philippines candidate.

These were my questions, and I would like to answer them in the comfort of my downtime, while reflecting the more profound answers I would have given in a parallel universe.

1. How do you think the cost of treatment for COVID-19 can go down? 

Quoting ARD Dr Guy Perez: The right patient to the right facility, at the right time, all the time!

By centralizing severe and critical cases of COVID-19 to a COVID-19 referral hospital, you allow specialized care with adequate equipment, facilities, supplies and manpower to manage complications of COVID-19 instead of spreading thin your shared resources.

Also, focus on the minimum health standards for infection prevention and control. Health risk communication has an essential role in empowering the community regarding prevention of transmission and identification of pathognomonic signs and symptoms for early detection and control.  Prevention is better than cure!

2. How do you take care of yourself during this COVID-19 Pandemic?

Good nutrition, healthy diet, regular exercise (one hour per day) and maintaining mental health by shouting out to all frontline healthcare workers and asking people "how are you?" because it takes a whole team to beat COVID-19.  We need to walk the talk and practice what we preach.  No ONE hospital or healthcare worker can do it alone.  Our health has to be a team effort.

3. As a maternal health advocate, how do you keep mothers admitted to your hospital safe?

Engineering and administrative controls, innovations for droplet protection, algorithms for triage and hospital zoning, swab testing for SARS COV2 to ensure patients are managed appropriately, COVID19 case managers for psychosocial counselling of both the mother and the family.  Being in a transitional change in the life of a woman is stressful enough.  Having a new baby, going thru the extreme pain of labor, experiencing physical changes in your body is traumatic enough for a woman.  Getting separated with no physical, mental, social and emotional support because of COVID-19 infection can be grueling with the added stigma and discrimination to grapple with.  This should be provided sufficient attention by healthcare workers.

LOVE in the Time of COVID-19

This is where it all began: facebook SOTTO LIVE as an intelligent conversation among colleagues agreeing to disagree on some discussion points but willing to continue communicating altogether for the benefit of public information dissemination. 

Our first ever episode discussed
responsible social media use, with Dr Van Phillip Baton as special guest on loan from the Department of Health CHD7. 

Today as we aired our 142nd episode of the SOTTO LIVE, we have our most special guest Dr Van Phillip Baton debunking myths about LOVE in the Time of Coronavirus!

At one point in our discussion we dissected the myth that fighting can doom the relationship, but just like my personal relationship with doc Van, we can argue our points of views and opinion into the wee hours of morning in heated tones, but at the end of it all, we still greet each other "good night" as friends and agree to disagree.

After all, it takes two to tango and building relationship need work and dedication.  LOVE is a choice, more than just a feeling.  LOVE is a conscious choice to make sacrifices, putting the other person's needs before your own.  LOVE is making time for the otherperson despite the quarantine, the isolation, the geographic barriers and the slow internet speed.  LOVE in the time of coronavirus changed it ways of expression: staying at home, avoiding kisses and hugs and bless, being more online than offline, and sending airhugs and flying kisses to your loved ones, making sure they don't feel alone.

Rest, if you must

 

It has been a long fast-paced day today. 

Waking up early for surgery then catching up with the MSGC presentation.  I remembered stopping at lunchtime to squeeze in my not-so low impact core work-out in between meetings. 

After rushing back to finish paperworks, sign documents, resolve arguments, attend meetings then prepared for #TatakSOTTO FB Live program, I had to speedwalk to the training office to join my OBGYN "team" to support the interview for Gawad Bayaning Kalusugan team category.

Slowing down for the night, stopping to smell the roses/beautiful plants, we say THANK YOU for all our blessings despite of or because of all the challenges we face daily.  I need to remember to rest.  Good night!