Aiming to disseminate health research in the region, the Eastern Visayas Regional Health Research and Development Consortium (EVHRDC) organized a two-day Regional Health Research Symposium on November 9 to 10, 2022, at Summit Hotel, Marasbaras, Tacloban City.
An average of 58 on-site, 64 zoom, and 137 FB live participants from the different member institutions, LGUs, and Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) joined the symposium, which started with a plenary session for four speakers on day 1 and research competitions on day 2.
The hybrid activity started with opening remarks by the Chairperson of EXECOM and Regional Director of DOH-EVCHD, Dr. Exuperia B. Sabalberino. The Research Utilization Committee (RUC) Chair and, at the same time, the Executive Director for Research at Samar State University, Dr. Sherrie Ann C. Labid, delivered the rationale of the activity.
This year’s theme, “Health Research: Responding to Challenges Towards National Recovery and Resiliency.” was highlighted through the keynote address given by the Executive Director of PCHRD, Dr. Jaime C. Montoya, who addressed the DOST’s role in the COVID-19 recovery and resiliency and noted, “We believe that the sustained ability of communities to adapt and recover from health-related adversities is crucial in our efforts to build an inclusive, resilient and strong health care system.”
Plenary sessions were followed accordingly, with the chief of the Health Systems Strengthening Division and Disease Prevention and Control Bureau of DOH- Central Office, Dr. Gabriel R. Borlongan as the first plenary speaker, discussing “Recovery and Improving Access to Healthcare in the Philippines.” He was joined by Dr. Katerina N. Abiertas, President of the AMHP Western Samar Chapter.
Plenary session 2 was spearheaded by Dr. Julie Mart C. Rubite, Medical Officer of the Diseases Prevention and Control Bureau of DOH-Central Office, tab on the study “Tropical diseases and Monkeypox: Are We in Control?” His reactor was Angelita C. Jaya, Assistant 7 of the UPM-SHS.
Dr. Tarjani Shukla of the Department of Biological Sciences of the University of Texas at Dallas discussed “Pharmacological Regulation of Protein Translation in Fragile X Syndrome.” Dr. Rolly Fuentes of the University of the Philippines Visayas-Tacloban Campus provided a reaction to her presentation.
Day 1 of the symposium was concluded with a research result presentation on Updates on the Mechanism and Treatment of Chemotherapy-Induces Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN). The DOST-Balik Scientist Postdoctoral research fellow from the Department of Anesthesiology School of Medicine and Public Health University of Wisconsin-Madison, Dr. June Bryan De la Peῆa, presented this. The Dean of College and the concurrent Research Director of Scholastica’s College of Tacloban, Dr. Antonio E. Lim, Jr., shared his knowledge and experience-based reaction on the topic.
The second day of the symposium was allotted for the presentation of health research for the oral and poster competition for professional and student categories.
