National Hospital Week in Bohol 2026

 I had always promised my Lola Sising that I would be a good girl!

Bohol Bee Farm may be far from the convenience of city life but they serve a mean salad with fresh greens and microgreens and colorful flowers.

Ms Chona wakes me up early with "wakey wakey Ms Koala..." so instead of a slow morning, we had a hearty breakfast of unique concoctions like cassava fries, squash bread and homemade ham.

Governance toolbox - our annual learning development intervention.

SCALE WHAT WORKS AND STOP WHAT DOESN’T!

 parking this here, when inspirational messages hit a spot!

INSPIRATIONAL MESSAGE

2^nd Quarter Maternal-Perinatal Statistics Conference

July 16, 2026 | 9:00AM | VSMMC Auditorium

·       THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CENTRAL VISAYAS CENTER FOR HEALTH DEVELOPMENT,

·       THE DEPARTMENT OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY OF VICENTE SOTTO MEMORIAL MEDICAL CENTER LED BY DR. MARY BETH NICHELLE DE LOS SANTOS,

·       REPRESENTATIVES FROM OUR PARTNER HOSPITALS AND HEALTHCARE FACILITIES,

·       COLLEAGUES, GUESTS, FRIENDS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, GOOD MORNING.

·       WE GATHER NOT AS SPECTATORS OF NUMBERS BUT AS STEWARDS OF LIVES.

·       EVERY DATA POINT ON OUR DASHBOARDS REPRESENTS A MOTHER WHOSE FUTURE CAN BE DIFFERENT, A NEWBORN WHOSE FIRST BREATH CAN BE SAFER.

·       WHEN WE TREAT STATISTICS AS STORIES AND CHARTS AS CALLS TO ACTION, WE TURN MEASUREMENT INTO MOMENTUM.

·       LEADERS IN PERINATAL QUALITY HAVE REMINDED US THAT PROGRESS DEPENDS ON THREE THINGS: RIGOROUS DATA, STRONGER PARTNERSHIPS, AND RAPID TRANSLATION OF EVIDENCE INTO PRACTICE.

·       THESE ARE NOT ABSTRACT IDEALS — THEY ARE THE PRACTICAL LEVERS THAT MOVE MORTALITY AND MORBIDITY CURVES DOWNWARD.

·       RECENT GATHERINGS IN OUR FIELD HAVE EMPHASIZED NAVIGATING FORWARD THROUGH DATA-DRIVEN INNOVATION AND COLLECTIVE ACTION TO SCALE PROVEN INTERVENTIONS.

·       SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR US, RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW?

·       MEASURE WITH PURPOSE.

·       LET EVERY INDICATOR WE TRACK BE TIED TO AN INTERVENTION WE CAN IMPLEMENT, EVALUATE, AND IMPROVE.

·       SHARE WITH HUMILITY.

·       OPEN DATA AND SHARED LEARNING ACCELERATE SOLUTIONS; YOUR LESSONS LEARNED ARE SOMEONE ELSE’S BREAKTHROUGH.

·       ACT WITH URGENCY.

·       EVIDENCE WITHOUT IMPLEMENTATION IS A MISSED OPPORTUNITY; SCALE WHAT WORKS AND STOP WHAT DOESN’T.

·       WE ALSO FACE HARD REALITIES: CONSTRAINED FINANCING, WORKFORCE STRAIN, AND PERSISTENT INEQUITIES THAT SHAPE OUTCOMES LONG BEFORE A WOMAN REACHES A CLINIC.

·       THE GLOBAL CONVERSATION HAS SHIFTED FROM COMMITMENTS TO IMPLEMENTATION, URGING STRONGER DOMESTIC INVESTMENT AND PRACTICAL, CONTEXT‑SENSITIVE SOLUTIONS.

·       OUR STATISTICS MUST THEREFORE INFORM POLICY AND FINANCING DECISIONS AS MUCH AS CLINICAL PRACTICE.

·       TODAY, LET US CHALLENGE ONE ANOTHER TO MAKE THREE CONCRETE PROMISES:

·       ONE DATASET WE WILL CLEAN AND PUBLISH THIS QUARTER SO PARTNERS CAN ACT ON IT.

·       ONE COLLABORATION WE WILL START OR DEEPEN—WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS, DATA SCIENTISTS, OR POLICYMAKERS—TO TRANSLATE NUMBERS INTO PROGRAMS.

·       ONE SMALL, MEASURABLE CHANGE WE WILL TEST IN THE NEXT 90 DAYS AND REPORT BACK AT OUR NEXT MEETING.

·       IF WE KEEP THESE PROMISES, OUR NEXT CONFERENCE WILL BE DIFFERENT NOT BECAUSE WE HAVE MORE SLIDES, BUT BECAUSE WE HAVE FEWER PREVENTABLE TRAGEDIES.

·       LET OUR WORK BE DEFINED BY THE LIVES IMPROVED, NOT THE PAGES OF OUR REPORTS.

·       IN CLOSING: LET US BE BRAVE WITH OUR DATA, GENEROUS WITH OUR LEARNING, AND RELENTLESS IN OUR FOLLOW‑THROUGH.

·       WE HAVE THE TOOLS, THE EVIDENCE, AND THE SHARED WILL—NOW LET US CONVERT STATISTICS INTO SUSTAINED, EQUITABLE SURVIVAL AND THRIVING FOR MOTHERS AND NEWBORNS.

·       WE ARE ALWAYS STANDING SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH OUR COLLEAGUES IN THIS ROOM BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IN OUR COLLECTIVE STRENGTH.

·       WE UNDERTAKE THESE ENDEAVORS SUCH AS TODAY KAY DINHI SA SOTTO, KALIDAD NGA SERBISYO, AMONG GARBO.

·       THANK YOU AND PLEASE ENJOY THE REST OF THE DAY.

PATH TO ZERO: Harmonizing Triple Elimination Strategies for HIV, Hepatitis B and Syphilis

 

Training on Technical Review

Today marks a vital step forward in strengthening our institutional research ecosystem. Technical review is not just an administrative milestone—it is the bedrock of scientific integrity, clinical safety, and impactful health policy.

To fully equip our board, this comprehensive workshop will cover a rigorous and diverse lineup of methodologies and essentials. Over the course of this training, we will dive into:

Core Study Designs: Epidemiological studies, experimental research, case reports, and the intricacies of qualitative and mixed methods.

Evidence Synthesis: The systematic approaches of meta-analyses and systematic reviews.

Operational Foundations: Advanced sampling designs, robust data collection, and rigorous data analysis.

Governance & Integrity: Ethics in health research and the foundational principles of effective research technical review itself.

The ultimate goal of this extensive curriculum is to cultivate an enabling environment for research to thrive. By sharpening our collective lens, we ensure that every protocol emerging from our institution is scientifically sound, ethically grounded, and ready to transform healthcare delivery.

Let us embark on this learning experience with a shared vision of excellence. Because here at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, we hold ourselves to the highest standards—kay dinhi sa Sotto, kalidad nga serbisyo among garbo!

Once again, a warm welcome to you all, and let us have a productive and insightful training workshop!

Turning DATA into Deliverables

​

Quarterly Maternal Perinatal Statistics (QMPS)

VSMMC Auditorium

​Colleagues, partners in health, and fellow champions for mothers and babies, good afternoon.

​As we bring today's Quarterly Maternal Perinatal Statistics conference to a close, I want to ground us in why we gathered here in the VSMMC Auditorium. We are not here simply to look at slides, analyze charts, or file away numbers.

​Behind every single data point we discussed today is a mother’s life, a family’s future, and a baby’s first breath.

​To truly move the needle and achieve our ultimate goal—reducing maternal, neonatal, and perinatal mortalities here in Cebu and the wider Central Visayas region—we must transition from passive observation to decisive action. Starting today, our approach shifts to a rigorous three-step framework:

​Our Three-Step Commitment

1.  Bravely Publish One Consolidated Data Set

Immediate

We will no longer keep our findings in silos. We commit to bravely publishing one unified, transparent data set. True progress begins with radical clinical honesty. By laying bare our actual numbers, we invite accountability and build a clear baseline for intervention.

2.  Strategically Execute One Unified Action Plan

Next 30 Days

We will design and implement a highly focused action plan specifically targeted to address the systemic and clinical gaps we identified today. This plan will outline clear responsibilities, practical clinical pathways, and direct interventions.

3.  Deliver One Platform Accomplishment Report

At Day 90

Ninety days from now, we will document and present a formal accomplishment report. This will not be a report of intentions, but a hard-data record of tangible results, tracking exactly what changed because of our actions.

Completing the Circle of Care

​Data is only as powerful as the area it represents. To save every mother and child, we must see the whole picture.

​We extend an urgent and open invitation to our partners across the healthcare ecosystem to complete this circle of maternal and neonatal data in Central Visayas:

​Our Provincial and City Health Officers: To bridge hospital outcomes with community-level primary care.

​The POGS Representatives of Private Hospitals: To ensure that private sector clinical realities are integrated with public sector efforts.

​The Midwives Association: Whose members stand on the absolute front lines of maternal health, witnessing the first signs of complication.

​The Department of Health (DOH): We look forward to having our DOH representatives at the table to share their data and provide the high-level guidance necessary to align our regional interventions.

​Looking Forward: Concrete Next Steps

​We are not waiting to take action. We have two crucial milestones marked on our calendar:

​1. Preeclampsia Postgraduate Course & Workshop (October 22, 2026)

​Hypertensive complications of pregnancy remain one of our most formidable adversaries. This October, we will host a specialized postgraduate course and workshop dedicated entirely to managing preeclampsia. This clinical training will equip our doctors and midwives with the latest evidence-based protocols to intervene early and prevent avoidable tragedies.

​2. The Next QMPS (October 16, 2026)

​We will reconvene right here in the VSMMC Auditorium on October 16 for our next Quarterly Maternal Perinatal Statistics review. On that day, we will look at the direct impact of our 90-day progress report, evaluate our interventions, and welcome our expanded circle of partners.

​Thank you for your tireless dedication, your clinical excellence, and your refusal to accept preventable losses. Let’s bring this data to life, execute our plans, and work hand-in-hand.

​Let’s do this and save our mothers and babies!

Remembrance

These past few nights I've been dreaming of dead people: my paternal grandmother driving me around, my father driving me to New York harbor...

I am suddenly reminiscent of the 30-minute long phone calls with my seniors Dr Helen Amorin and Dr Kristina Dosdos, as I accidentally came across greeting cards that I received from them a few years back.  I took pictures so that I preserve the memory of their touching inspirational messages.

Behold the beautiful handwriting of Dr Helen Amorin.

See the artistic calligraphy of Dr Kristina Dosdos

Bakit maraming tao ayaw sa iyo?

Real talk lang...

 https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1CocUD954n/

Ang taong may purpose mahirap hilahin pababa...

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1B71yfzwhX/

You dont always need to share your side of the story...

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/17tLZcfAz2/

Reimagining Patient Satisfaction in a Digital Era

I had to ask AI for help with this #HealthXPH topic because I am absolutely exhausted after a day of testing patients for HIV today at Argao.  Counselling can be quite draining, but I hope the patients appreciate the effort we put in.  Tonight I wanted to discuss about SATISFACTION.

The topic of Patient Satisfaction is a gold mine because it sits right at the intersection of clinical outcomes, digital health, and the Filipino patient experience.  In healthcare, satisfaction isn't just about "service with a smile"; it’s a critical metric for adherence and health literacy. 

​🏥 Theme: Reimagining Patient Satisfaction in a Digital Era

T1.  How do we define patient satisfaction both from the patient side and the healthcare provider side?

​​Defining Satisfaction in the Local Context.  Is "Patient Satisfaction" the same as "Patient Experience"? In the Philippines, how much do cultural factors like malasakit (compassion) and pakikisama (getting along) outweigh technical efficiency in a patient's satisfaction score?

​The Healthcare Worker’s Side (Provider Satisfaction).  We often talk about the patient, but can we have satisfied patients if we have burnt-out clinicians? How do we balance the "Customer is Always Right" mentality with the well-being of doctors and nurses?

​T2.  What is the Role of Technology in Patient Satisfaction?

​Does the shift to telemedicine and health apps increase or decrease satisfaction for the Filipino patient?

​Pros: Less travel time, quicker access.

​Cons: The "digital divide" and the loss of physical touch/connection.

T3.  How do we measure patient satisfaction in terms of what truly matters to both patients and health care providers?

​​The "Pandesal" Analogy: We could compare healthcare satisfaction to a local bakery—it’s not just about the bread (the medicine), but the warmth of the service and the accessibility of the shop.

Measuring What Matters.  Are traditional surveys (like Likert scales) effective in our setting, or do we need more narrative-driven feedback? How can we use Social Media (like #HealthXPH itself) to capture the real sentiment of the community?  Share one "Green Flag" (positive sign) that immediately makes them feel satisfied with a healthcare encounter.

Quarterly Maternal-Perinatal Statistics

We've been at this for 10 years.  It's time to look into the impact of our quarterly activities if it reduced maternal mortality and morbidity or if mothers and babies are simply dying elsewhere.

 

HIV Treatment Hubs

It is always nice to see fellow advocates of PLHIVs and 

With luminary Dr Elfleda Hernandez guiding us.

Integrated Women's Health Screening

It's the last few days of National Women's Month and a few days ago, I was at a "Bongga Ka Dai" women's empowerment activity where OBGYNs were called on to provide breast examination screening for breast cancer, cervical cancer screening with VIA and HIV screening.  I was asked on the spot to speak to convince the women to get screened, to avail of the free services we were offering.

Mainly, I told them that we cannot give what we do not have, so we need self care first before addressing the needs of others.  Free services are offered, considering doctors came out of the hospital and clinics just to serve - that should be reason enough to avail of integrated women's health screening.

I searched Gemini for Integrated Women's Health Screening and this is what it came up with.  Gemini said:

Integrated reproductive health screening for women has shifted toward a more holistic, "one-stop-shop" model in 2026. This approach moves away from siloed tests, instead combining reproductive, metabolic, and preventive screenings into a single clinical pathway.

The World Health Organization and local health departments now prioritize the integration of HIV/STI services with general reproductive health.

• Cervical Cancer (Updated 2026): For women aged 30–65, primary hrHPV testing every 5 years is the preferred standard. A major 2026 update now includes self-collection kits as a validated and recommended option for average-risk women.

• Breast Health: Annual clinical breast exams starting at age 20, with mammograms typically recommended every 1–2 years starting at age 40–50 (or earlier based on risk).

• Infectious Disease Integration: Screening for HIV, Syphilis, and Hepatitis B is increasingly bundled with prenatal care and routine family planning visits to reduce stigma and improve uptake.

• Metabolic & Hormonal: Integrated packages now frequently include Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS), Lipid Profiles, and Thyroid (TSH) testing, particularly for women experiencing irregular cycles or signs of PCOS.

The 2026 National Women's Month theme in the Philippines is "WE for Gender Equality and Inclusive Society" featuring the sub-theme "Lead Like the Babaylans, Filipinas!" Join us tonight as we discuss details on integrated women's health screening in commemoration of National Women's Month (March 2026):

T1. The "One-Stop-Shop" Model: What are the primary clinical and administrative barriers to providing cervical cancer screening, HIV testing, and maternal health services in a single visit?

T2. Inclusivity in Screening: How do current integrated screening protocols address the needs of marginalized groups, including transgender men, non-binary individuals, and sex workers?

T3. The Impact of Education: How can we evolve "Health Literacy" campaigns to move beyond just awareness and actually trigger the behavioral change needed for a woman to book her first screening?

Deflection Bias

Here is response to the questions posted by Doc Remo on the #HealthXPH chat:

T1. When do system constraints appropriately guide our decisions—and when do they begin shaping how we justify them?

T2. How often do we revisit decisions initially attributed to “limitations” and re-examine our clinical reasoning?

T3. In a constrained system, what does accountable decision-making actually look like in practice?

Biorisk Management Office

Good morning, everyone!

It is a privilege to welcome you all to this essential training on Biosafety and Biosecurity.

​Today marks a significant milestone for our institution. As we expand our capabilities in research and diagnostics, we also inherit the profound responsibility of managing biological risks with precision and care.  I would like to personally thank each and every one of you for taking up the challenge and being part of history in the making - the first ever Institutional Biosafety and Biosecurity Committer in Visayas and Mindanao!

​Before we dive into the technicalities, I would like to extend our deepest gratitude to our colleagues from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM).  Thank you for responding so graciously to our invitation. Your expertise is the gold standard in this country, and having your guidance as we move toward establishing our Institutional Biosafety and Biosecurity Committee (IBBC) is invaluable. We don't just want to "comply"; we want to build a culture of safety that protects our staff, our community, and the environment.

​Why This Matters

​In the world of biological sciences, the line between discovery and danger can be thin. The establishment of an IBBC is not just a bureaucratic requirement; it is our "safety net."

• ​Biosafety ensures we protect ourselves from the agents we work with.
• ​Biosecurity ensures we protect the agents from those who might misuse them.

​Our Goals for This Training

1. ​Foundational Knowledge: Understanding the different Biosafety Levels (BSL) and the specific protocols required for each
2. ​Risk Assessment: Learning how to identify potential hazards before they become incidents.
3. ​Governance: Defining the roles and responsibilities of our upcoming IBBC to ensure oversight is consistent and rigorous.

​"Safety is not a gadget but a state of mind." – Eleanor Everet






 

​Let us approach today’s session with an open mind and a proactive spirit. We are here to learn from the best so that we can become the best stewards of biological safety in our region.

​Thank you, and let’s have a productive training session and I hope we have some fun while we're at it!

Differentiated Service Delivery for YKP

Knowledge = YOUTH-LED LEADERSHIP

Attitudes = REMOVAL OF STRUCTURAL BARRIERS, DIFFERENTIATED SSRVICE DELIVERY, STIGMA REDUCTION, YOUTH-FRIENDLY SERVICES, SAFE SPACES

Practices = DIGITAL INTEGRATION

95% of all people living with HIV are aware of their status = increase HIV case finding through expanded opt-out facility-based HIV screening, community mobile testing, index testing, social and sexual network testing, self-testing

Youth groups are enablers to HIV awareness campaign. 

Nothing about us without us!

95% of all diagnosed PLHIVs are on ART = intensive case management with multi-disciplinary team approach with case manager, social worker and nurse through personal healthcare team chat groups, SMS and calls, Facebook page and website, with monthly support group meetings

95% of all PLHIVs on ART are virally suppressed = enhanced ARV adherence counseling with HACT pharmacists during each dispensing, social workers following up interruption in treatment and nurses linking to care those lost to follow up.

Hence, we develop Differentiated Service Delivery for Young Key Population!

HOW DO WE REACH THE YOUNG KEY POPULATION TO STOP THE SPREAD OF HIV IN THE COUNTRY?

National Public Health Emergency.  In 2025, DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa called for declaring HIV a national public health emergency pointing to the 500% increase in reported cases over a 10-year period. Secretary Herbosa is quoted saying “Pag sinabing Public Health Emergency, hindi ibig sabihin lockdown. Ang ibig sabihin nun, yung mga resources ng gobyerno ay mas magagamit. Mas maraming ahensiya ang marerecruit at masasama.” (When we say a public health emergency, it doesn’t mean a lockdown. It means that the government’s resources will be utilized, more agencies and recruits will work together.)  HIV is no longer considered a death sentence, thanks to advances in treatment. Early testing remains the critical first step.  HIV counseling is the gateway to treatment, care, support and prevention.  The next question is how to effectively increase HIV case finding considering the stigma against HIV testing.

HIV Treatment Facilities.  A total of 338 facilities nationwide have been officially designated, comprising of 192 treatment hubs and 146 primary HIV care facilities, by virtue of DOH Department Circular No. 2026-0065: Updated Directory of DOH-Designated Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Treatment Hubs and Primary HIV Care Facilities in the Philippines as of December 31, 2025. The infrastructure

Philippines HIV Statistics.  The Department of Health - Epidemiology Bureau released the 2025 Quarter 4 HIV/AIDS & ART Surveillance of the Philippines (HASP) report. The latest Philippine HIV estimates show that by the end of 2025, there  would have been 252,800 estimated People Living with HIV (PLHIV) in the country. As of December 2025, 153,207 (61% of the estimated) PLHIV have been diagnosed or laboratory-confirmed. Further, 100,671 (66% of the diagnosed) PLHIV are currently on life-saving Antiretroviral Therapy (ART), of which 58,887 (59%) PLHIV have been tested for viral load (VL) in the past 12 months. 

Young key affected population.  Of 4,277 newly reported cases for the 4th quarter 2025, 94% were males, 1,361 (32%) were 15–24 years old, 1,929 (45%) were 25–34 years old.  The trend by age group is that diagnosed cases are getting younger as predominant age group shifted to 25-34 years old starting 2006, and the proportion of cases among 15-24 years old has reached 30% as of 2025.  Rapid changes in sexual norms and behaviors, and increased mobility may have created a “risk situation” for the spread of HIV. Concerns are raised about the appropriateness and the scope of government and non-governmental approaches to the exploding HIV and STD epidemics.  Reaching young key affected populations (YKPs) including young men who have sex with men, transgender youth, young people who inject drugs and young sex workers, requires moving beyond traditional clinic-based models.

HOW DO WE REACH THE YOUNG KEY POPULATION TO STOP THE SPREAD OF HIV? Global strategy emphasizes youth-led leadership, digital integration and the removal of structural barriers.

Generation gap.  The "generation gap," a term popularized in the 1960s, describes the disconnect between different generations, particularly as they reach adulthood.  Baby Boomers (1946–1964) often value loyalty, stability, and traditional work structures.  Generation X (1965–1980) generally value independence, self-reliance, and balance.  Millennials (1981–1996) known for being tech-savvy, valuing flexibility, and open-mindedness.  Generation Z (1997–2012) often characterized as digitally native, socially conscious, and valuing diversity.  Miscommunication between older (face-to-face) and younger (digital/text) generations can cause tension in workplaces and families. Active efforts to understand different perspectives, fostering open communication, and showing respect for differing views.  This may be a challenge for a Gen X-er like me to reach out and connect with Gen Z and Gen Alpha adolescents.

YOUTH-LED LEADERSHIP.  Considering the challenges of the generation gap, peers are often the most trusted sources of information because they share lived experiences and reduce the fear of judgement. Young people should be "active agents of change" such that trained peer educators can navigate "hard-to-reach" spaces, provide psychosocial support and help peers navigate the healthcare system.

T1.  How do we empower young people to become active agents of change to advocate for sexual health needs and STI/HIV prevention?

DIGITAL INTEGRATION.  Knowing that young people are on social media these days point to social media as a powerful tool to reaching  YKPs who are made "invisible" due to stigma in physical spaces.  An innovative NIH-funded study reduced new HIV cases by 70% in rural populations by pairing digital tools with tailored HIV services delivered by community health workers and clinicians.  This strategy of leveraging existing healthcare infrastructure with available HIV prevention and treatment options could become a model for reducing HIV incidence in other settings.

The intervention had three components:

First, trained community health workers employed by the government visited each home to offer adults HIV testing. The workers referred adults who tested HIV-positive to their local health center for HIV treatment and referred adults who tested HIV-negative but said they were at risk for the virus to HIV prevention products and services. 

Second, healthcare providers at local health centers were trained to deliver personalized HIV prevention and care in a manner that was sensitive and responsive to the choices and preferences of their clients. 

Finally, enhanced use of a ministry of health-compatible app on handheld devices linked health workers in the communities with clinicians, medical records and services in health centers, facilitating follow-up with clients and community-based delivery of prevention medications. 

T2.  How can we utilize social media to offer prevention and treatment options to reduce HIV incidence?

REMOVAL OF STRUCTURAL BARRIERS.  If we hope for different results, we need to change our approach from traditional clinic-based services to "youth friendly" health services.  To increase uptake, differentiated service delivery must be provided considering the evolving capacities of youth - offering flexible hours, confidential testing and non-judgemental staff.  Integrating care and bundling HIV testing with other services such as STI management, mental health support and gender-affirming care like for expanded opt-out facility-based HIV screening -  makes to de-stigmatize and normalize HIV testing.  Setting up a one-stop shop for harm reduction, prevention interventions and peer support address time and effort costs of accessing health care.

T3.  What sustainable service innovations can we suggest to remove structural barriers and increase uptake of HIV testing?

 

Join us tonight at 9PM MLA time for our #HealthXPH tweetchat on Blue Sky at https://bsky.app as we discuss how we can reach the young key population to stop the spread of HIV in the country.  Log on to your Blue Sky account then search #HealthXPH and follow the prompts of the moderator.  Don't forget to type in #HealthXPH with your messages so they can be viewed by other people joining the tweetchat.

Migraine Headache

I've been having this migraine headache since Tuesday and today is Sunday.  I asked my neurologist if I should be worried, and she reassured me that it sounded still like migraine.

Linus warned that I might have brain cancer and if that's the case, I'd rather have a stroke.  Fast and sudden.  I don't like it to be like #BasyangPH where the wind speed was slow (not as destructive as #OdettePH) but still carrying with it volumes of rainfall that reeks havoc and destruction through flooding.  The one thing I fear in life is PAIN, but that is what I deal with everyday.

Pain serves a purpose in life.  

Expectation vs Reality

When caricatures are less threatening than real people, caricatures tend to make people seem cute and friendly with wide eyed smiling faces.

 

Opening Remarks for HIV Symposium for International Condom Day

 

Maayong hapon mga ka-AMBAG ug mga ka-TEACHCebu!

Distinguished guests, colleagues, and fellow advocates.

Welcome to today’s HIV symposium!

Ania ka karon for another educational discourse on the essentials of HIV diagnosis, treatment, care, support and prevention as we celebrate International Condom Day.  Along with abstinence, fidelity and pre-exposure prophylaxis, correct and consistent condom use is still one of our effective armamentarium against the spread of HIV.  Since 1990, condoms have averted an estimated 117 million new HIV infections.  Yet, as we lean into 2026, we face a paradox:  as our medical toolkit expands with PrEP and advanced ART, our reliance on the most cost-effective, dual-protection tool we have is wavering.

Ang pagsaulog sa International Condom Day (nga gihimo matag Pebrero 13, usa ka adlaw before Valentine’s Day) importante kayo isip pahinumdom sa pagmatngon sa sexual health.

Ania ang mga rason nganong angay kini saulogon:

1.  STI/HIV Prevention.  Proteksyon batok sa mga sexually transmitted infections.  Ang paggamot og condom mao ang usa sa labing epektibo nga laagi aron malikayan ang pagkatap sa HIV ug uban pang sexually transmitted infections.

2.  Prevention of unplanned pregnancy.  Paglikay sa dili planadong pagmabdos.  Importante kini alang sa family planning ug pagseguro nga andam ang magtiayo kon magkaanak.

3.  Safe Sex.  Responsableng paghigugma.  Isip “adlaw sa mga kasing-kasing” ang International Condom Day nagpahinumdom nga ang tinuod nga paghigugma naglakip sa pagprotektar sa kaugalingon ug sa partner.

4. Breaking Stigma.  Edukasyon sa pag break sa stigms.  Ang pagsaulog niini makatabang sa pag-edukar sa publiko ug pagwagtang sa kaulaw o stigma sa pagpalit ug paggamit og condom.

5.  Accessibility.  Sayon ug dali ra makuha ang condom.  Nay libre nga condom sa mga health centers, city social hygiene clinics ug sa mga HIV treatment hubs.  Ang mga condom dali ra makuha ug barato, naghimo niini nga sayon nga pamaagi sa pag-atiman sa panglawas.

 

Our goal today is RETHINK, REBUILD and RISE.  We must rethink our distribution strategies, rebuild the momentum for barrier protection, and rise above the stigma that still surrounds sexual health.  Let this symposium be the catalyst for a year where protection is not just available, but accessible to every individual, regardless of their zip code or status.

Our theme is "Strengthening Facility-Based HIV Case Finding and Integrated STI and Hepatitis Management" as the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center KAAMBAG Clinic celebrates International Condom Day with our fellow advocates, patients and stakeholders. We have prepared a good program for you with our expert resource persons.  

Dr Noreen Matig-a talks about Screening and Management of STIs to “Stay Safe, Stay Informed: Essential Facts on STI Testing and Care”

Dr Mitzi Inting will lecture on Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and Syphilis “The Invisible Trio: Why Safer is always SEXY"

Dr Lui Balbuena of the DOH will talk about the Epidemiology of HIV/AIDS "The CEBU HIV Profile:  From Concentrated Epidemic to Community Awareness"

Dr Jamaica dela Cruz discusses Increased HIV Case Finding “The Default Choice:  How Expanded Opt-Out Screening Increases Case Detection and Reduces Stigma"

Awareness is Key

Control is FREE

CEBU will #StopHIV