Overwhelmed

When the load given to one person exceeds his carrying capacity, that person is bound to be overwhelmed.  The best strategy for this is to attack the problem at hand one task at a time.

 

Our MOTHER is our first healthcare provider!

Mother’s Day, a holiday in honor of mothers that is celebrated in countries throughout the world. In its modern form the holiday originated in the United States, where it is observed on the second Sunday in May.  Anna Jarvis of Philadelphia, whose mother had organized women’s groups to promote friendship and health, originated Mother’s Day.   On May 12, 1907, she held a memorial service at her late mother’s church in Grafton, West Virginia. Within five years virtually every state was observing the day, and in 1914 U.S. President Woodrow Wilson made it a national holiday.

The Philippine tradition of honoring mothers started in 1921.  Mother’s Day in the Philippines is celebrated by most people on the second Sunday of May.  Mother’s Day is kind of a big day here in the Philippines. This is largely due to the large place of mothers in Filipino culture. Mum is called the “ilaw ng tahanan”, which means “the light of the home” due to the love, cheer, and brightness she brings to the family.

Mothers are our first caregivers and healthcare service providers.  In this day ang age of women empowerment, mothers juggle several hats as community leader, company worker, household manager, child educator, and family healthcare provider.  Often, motherhood is a 24/7 thankless job, often efforts taken for granted.  Mother's Day is an opportunity for husbands/fathers and children to appreciate the contribution of the mother to family life and nation building.

Join us tonight at 9PM MLA time on #HealthXPH tweetchat on X to discuss an appreciation of our mothers:

T1.  Tell us what you like most about your mother? 

T2.  How does your mother take care of your family?

T3.  How can you take care of your mother's health?

Revenge is sweet

Revenge is sweet, but karma is sweeter.  Instead of taking revenge, smother them with kindness.

Misunderstand me

The goal is to learn how NOT TO CARE, at least not too much...

Just stand up for your own truth.  Start where you are, do what you can, and use what you have.

My senior once told me:  you don't need to please everybody, and you can't anyway.  So better to identify the people whose opinion matters to you so that you can aim to please these people instead.

My truth

It is getting more and more obvious to me that people talk about me.  They already have a pre-conceived notion of me even before they meet me.

I don't feel any need to correct this image they have of me that is dissonant with the truth.  The important thing is that I know who I am and I stand for my truth.

Funding for Research to improve Health Outcomes

I gave a lecture today on the crucial role of research in improving health outcomes during the successfully concluded Public Health Forum 2024.  I gave examples of how research improves health outcomes such as in terms of technology development and new treatments, funding for financial risk protection, health worker welfare, patient-centered care, policy and health systems research.

I asked AI ChatGPT for its opinion on the topic:

Research plays a crucial role in improving health outcomes in several ways:

1.  Developing new treatments and therapies: Research helps in the discovery and development of new drugs, medical procedures, and therapies that can improve outcomes for various health conditions.

2.  Identifying risk factors and causes of diseases: Through research, scientists can identify the underlying causes and risk factors of diseases, leading to better prevention and management strategies to improve health outcomes.

3.  Improving diagnosis and early detection: Research helps in developing new diagnostic tools and techniques that can lead to early detection of diseases, allowing for timely treatment and better outcomes.

4.  Enhancing personalized medicine: Research in genomics and personalized medicine allows for tailored treatment plans based on individual genetic makeup, leading to more effective and targeted therapies and improved health outcomes.

5.  Informing evidence-based practice: Research provides the foundation for evidence-based practice in healthcare, ensuring that medical decisions and interventions are based on scientific evidence and research findings to improve patient outcomes.

6.  Addressing healthcare disparities: Research helps in identifying and addressing healthcare disparities among different populations, leading to interventions and policies that can improve outcomes for marginalized and underserved communities.

7.  Promoting preventive measures: Research into preventive medicine and public health interventions can lead to strategies for promoting healthy behaviors, preventing diseases, and ultimately improving overall health outcomes.

8.  Informing policy decisions: Research findings can inform healthcare policies and decisions to improve the quality of healthcare delivery, access to care, and overall health outcomes for populations.

Overall, research is essential in advancing medical knowledge, improving healthcare practices, and ultimately leading to better health outcomes for individuals and communities.

During the open forum, the speakers lamented that students and residents engage in research activities merely for compliance.  One student asked us, which I would like to extend to our discussion tonight on RESEARCH:

T1.  Are there political or administrative roadblocks to applying for research grant funding?

T2.  How can research outputs be utilized for evidence-based policies and practices?

T3.  How can we make research grants and funding more accessible to interested parties?

See you tonight at 9PM MLA TIME to discuss Funding for Research to improve health outcomes.

Suportahan Tika! All about Patient Support Groups online

The HIV treatment hub where I work with people living with HIV (PLHIVs) has been organizing monthly support groups for women in collaboration with a non-government organization since 2014.  The COVID19 pandemic didn't stop this support group as they turned to social media groups to stay connected.

Illnesses like HIV/AIDS, drug addiction, tuberculosis and/or leprosy may continue to be stigmatized such that patients remain vulnerable to discrimination.  Support groups provide safe spaces to share one's feelings openly and to be accepted with dignity.

Let us talk about how patient support groups help manage mental health problems related to stigmatizing chronic illnesses, tonight on #HealthXPH at 9PM MLA time.

T1.  Share your personal experiences with support groups.

T2.  How do support groups help manage mental health problems related to illnesses?

T3.  What is the role of social media in patient support groups?

What are you willing to do for your job?

There are a lot of things we do for our work that are beyond the scope of our job description.  Since we work in health service delivery, we ofteb have to think out of the box to ensure that our patients have access to our services, that processes are convenient for them and that we listen to their feedback for improvement.

"Love, PAHS" florist for a day

Valentine's Day came and went with our initial venture into "Love, PAHS" Valentine's Day booth selling flowers, chocolates and serenade packages for VSMMC employees.  For a day, I felt like Cupid bringing loved ones together and helping the shy ones express their feelings of admiration and appreciation.

INTEGRITY

Integrity is the word of the day.

For me, INTEGRITY means doing the right thing even when nobody is watching.

 

 

You are destined to be a guiding light

 

The Role of Faith and Devotion in Health and Wellness

This weekend we Filipinos are celebrating the Feast of the Senior Santo Nino, the Child Jesus.  In Cebu, this is a big festival of faith and devotion called SINULOG where everyone shouts "Viva Pit Senyor!" and devotees sing Batobalani sa Gugma (Magnet of Love) and wave to the Sto Nino during masses and processions.

Penitential Walk with Mary

The volume of devotees who continue to join the penitential walk with Mary on the dawn Friday and the solemn foot procession on Saturday afternoon speaks about the faith of the Cebuano people in the Sto Nino.  

Devotees from all over the Philippines and even beyond flock to Cebu every January to pay tribute to the Child Jesus, praying the rosary, waving in churches and walking long foot processions - many to atone for their sins, others to pray for healing from illnesses and others for their own personal intentions.

As a doctor, we are taught not to impose our own culture and beliefs on patients.  Whatever works to benefit the patient's health status and well-being should be respected and accepted.  Some articles point that religious coping can significantly improve treatment outcomes.  The article on Prayer and healing: a medical and scientific perspective to randomized controlled trials seems to tell us that research will always be constrained by scientific limitations. 

Join us tonight as we discuss about the role of faith and devotion in health and wellness:

T1.  Share a personal experience about faith, devotion or religious practice.

T2.  How does faith and devotion affect health and wellness?

T3.  Does faith, devotion or religion interfere with health and wellness? 

Marital advice from a single ninang

Advice for Julito and Cyrenn

1.  PRIORITIZE each other.  Two have become one.  There are three people in this relationship.  The first person is God.  Pray for your spouse always. When your spouse makes a mistake, forgive and forgive quickly so that you can move forward.

2.  TRUST each other.  Believe in your promises.  Be mutually faithful.  Never make fun of your spouse's decisions because YOU are one of them.

3.  COMMUNICATE.  Learn to say thank you, i'm sorry and I love you. Your wife needs to be told that she is loved, that she is beautiful and that she is valuable.  Learn each other's love languages.

4.  TIME is the best gift you can give your spouse.  Once spent, time cannot be recovered or replaced.  Invest in TIME for each other.  

5.  Make SACRED the SPACE between you. This sacred space is where your relationship will grow and prosper.  This is where your children will learn to grow in love. May you have as many children as you can afford.

Anything and EVERYTHING can change in a blink of the eye.  Therefore, live in the moment.  If there is something you want to say, say it now.  If there is something you want to do, do it now.  Tomorrow may be too late.