Featured Videos
Latest News
- Details
- Written by Mary Grace P. Tariao, DOST VIII, Project Technical Assistant III
- Category: Latest News
- Hits: 693
The Eastern Visayas Health and Research Development Consortium (EVHRDC) conducted its 1st Quarter Executive Committee and Committee Chairs Meeting on January 8, 2024, at Hotel Alejandro, Tacloban City where it was attended by the Regional Director of the Department of Science and Technology Region VIII, Engr. Ernesto M. Granada.
Aside from the presence of the EVHRDC Secretariat with its Consortium Director and Coordinator, Dr. Lucia P. Dauz and Jean Gay O. Ragub, respectively, the committees have also been well-represented. The Regional Director of National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Region VIII, and Executive Committee member, Meylene C. Rosales has temporarily presided over the meeting wherein the agenda being highlighted is the approval of the CY 2024 Work and Financial Plan (WFP), and the presentation of the created Philippine National Health Research (PNHRS) Survey Tool for easy consolidation of its data.
Moreover, as part of the program, the EVHRDC hosted a tribute to its Co-chairperson, Engr. Ernesto M. Granada's retirement from DOST VIII takes effect on January 15, 2024. Each member expressed their gratitude and well-wishes to RD Granada in person and on recorded videos. The EVHRDC EXECOM Chairperson and Department of Health (DOH) Region VIII Director Dr. Exuperia B. Sabalberino gave her message thru video recording while those who gave their messages in person were the acting presiding officer herself, Meylene C. Rosales first which was followed by then VSU President, Edgardo E. Tulin, wherein like everyone in the room, they both congratulated him for now having more time to travel, sleep, read, and focus more on his health and family. They have also given him tokens which made him known as someone fond of reading.
RD Granada is known for his calm and applauding accomplishments with all his various projects as the Regional Director of DOST 8 for about four (4) years. His involvement in EVHRDC started when he was still the DOST8 ARD for Technical Operations and was designated as a member of the Ethics Review Committee (ERC) of the consortium from 2015 until 2017.
In 2017, RD Granada was appointed by the EVHRDC EXECOM as the Consortium Director until his appointment as Director IV and DOST-8 Regional Director on March 9, 2020, on which date he also assumed as the EVHRDC Co-Chairperson. His former staff at the Office of the Regional Director, Jean Gay O. Ragub, who is now the coordinator of the EVHRDC, has highlighted her approach to work as something she has emulated from RD Granada who has been accordingly a meticulous and hard-working leader.
RD Granada has also expressed his gratitude to everyone for hosting a tribute for him. He shared how he has supposedly been retiring as early as September 2023 due to health issues but has extended after the gradual improvement in health conditions and work demands, making him reach the month of his official retirement date instead.
The DOST 8 Assistant Regional Director for Technical Operations, Ms. Marilyn O. Radam, and Supervising Science Research Specialist, Dr. Ramil T. Uy also attended the said meeting. Their presence gave room for RD Granada to announce the changes in DOST VIII administration following the Special Order No. 005, series of 2024 released by the office designating ARD-TO, Marilyn O. Radam as the DOST VIII OIC Regional Director for the period January 15, 2024 to March 15, 2024. Afterward, the Assistant Regional Director for Finance Administrative Section (ARD-FAS), Dr. Rufino E. Mengote will take over the position for the period of March 16, 2024, to May 15, 2024, and after his term, Dr. John Glenn D. Ocaña, the Provincial Science and Technology Director (PSTD) in the Province of Leyte will then take his turn as the OIC Regional Director from May 16, 2024, to July 15, 2024.
The “big bang” event for the year 2024 ended with a congratulatory toast for the successful conduct of the meeting, and the mandatory retirement from government service of RD Granada.
- Details
- Written by Sherrie Ann Cananua-Labid, Samar State University, Research Utilization Committee
- Category: Latest News
- Hits: 597
The project "FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH ADVERSE PREGNANCY OUTCOMES AMONG DELIVERIES IN HEALTHCARE FACILITIES IN SAMAR" has achieved significant milestones in its implementation, signifying a promising advancement in understanding and addressing adverse pregnancy outcomes in the province. With the finalization of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Province of Samar and the participating hospitals- Samar Provincial Hospital, Basey District Hospital, and Calbayog District Hospital, along with orientations and data-gathering efforts, the project is making remarkable progress toward its objectives.
On November 30, 2023, the MOA was successfully concluded between Samar State University (SSU), the Province of Samar, and three key healthcare facilities: Samar Provincial Hospital (SPH), Calbayog District Hospital (CDH), and Basey District Hospital (BDH). This collaborative agreement solidifies the commitment of all parties involved in supporting the research project and facilitating access to vital data and resources.
To ensure the seamless execution of the project, successive orientations were conducted for the research enumerators and research field supervisors. These sessions equipped the team members with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively gather accurate data while upholding ethical guidelines and ensuring participants' privacy and confidentiality.
The diligent efforts of the research team have yielded significant results, as data gathering for the SPH was ongoing and shall be done within four months. This extensive data collection period will provide valuable insights into the factors associated with pregnancy outcomes in the hospital setting within the province. The initial data obtained from the said hospital is undergoing a thorough review to ensure its accuracy and completeness. The research team carefully examines the gathered information to uncover essential insights into the factors associated with pregnancy outcomes in the hospital setting.
Simultaneously, data gathering at BDH has also commenced. This data collection phase will contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing adverse pregnancy outcomes across different healthcare facilities in Samar.
This Php 622,250 project funded by EVHRDC and SSU is a collaborative endeavor aimed at improving maternal and fetal health outcomes in the Province. By identifying and analyzing the factors contributing to adverse pregnancy outcomes, the research team strives to develop evidence-based interventions and policies that will drive positive changes in healthcare practices.
The research team, led by Dr. Sherrie Ann Cananua-Labid, holds the position of the Executive Director for Research at SSU and serves as the concurrent Chair of the EVHRDC’s Research Utilization Committee. Comprising the team are members: Dr. Sheriah Laine de Paz-Silava, an Associate Professor from the College of Public Health, UP-Manila, and Dr. Leodoro J. Labrague, a Clinical Assistant Professor at Loyola University Chicago. Notably, both de Paz-Silava and Labrague previously resided in the Province of Samar for an extensive period before relocating to other places.
EVHRDC Capacity Building Committee (CBC) Conducts Orientation on Participatory Action Research (PAR)
- Details
- Written by Jeremy V. Jusay, EVHRDC - RMC Secretariat
- Category: Latest News
- Hits: 578
Tacloban City — The EVHRDC Capacity Building Committee (CBC) in coordination with the Research Management Committee (RMC) spearheaded the Orientation on Participatory Action Research (PAR) last October 10, 2023, at Hotel Alejandro, Tacloban City, and via Zoom platform. This activity is an initiative of the Consortium to add another aspect of health research to consider in next year’s Call for Proposals. PAR, which involves the participation of the personnel from partner Local Government Units (LGUs) and other stakeholders, aims to develop evidence-based interventions and health policies for the identified community.
The morning session focused on the discussions of the resource speakers- Dr. Gloria E. Fabrigas, the Assistant City Health Officer of Tacloban City, and Mr. Leonido P. Olobia, Chairperson of RMC and Research and Development Program Coordinator of the Department of Health- Eastern Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH-EV CHD).
Dr. Fabrigas highlighted that the results of the PAR studies are presented to the partner community for validation and are transformed into program designs or health promotion awareness programs. Also part of her discussion are the three elements of PAR, namely: People, Power, and Praxis. PAR is people-centered, in the sense that it considers the needs of the community involved. PAR is also about power as power is knowledge that creates truth and is crucial to reality construction. Lastly, PAR is all about Praxis which is practicing and realizing the results of the study in the partner community.
Mr. Olobia emphasized that even though PAR is a low-cost study with a short implementation duration and only involves one to two research locales, its impact is crucial to the health status of the community. He discussed the funding opportunities provided by EVHRDC as well as the 2023-2028 Regional Unified Health Research Agenda (RUHRA) which could serve as a basis for researchers in selecting topics for PAR.
A workshop was conducted in the afternoon wherein the on-site and virtual participants were divided into groups and were asked to identify and present at least 2 health gaps that could qualify as PAR topics. The session was moderated by RMC member and University of the Philippines Manila- School of Health Sciences Professor and Research Coordinator Dr. Meredith D. Labarda.
- Details
- Written by Sherrie Ann Cananua-Labid, Samar State University, Research Utilization Committee
- Category: Latest News
- Hits: 474
In a display of commitment to regional healthcare advancement, the Eastern Visayas Health Research and Development Consortium (EVHRDC) recently hosted a Stakeholders' and Community Dissemination Forum. Held on November 10, 2023, at the Robinson's Mall Expansion Activity Area in Tacloban City, the event was pivotal for acknowledging groundbreaking research projects and their potential impact on the region's health landscape.
Dr. Exuperia B. Sabalberino, Chairperson of EVHRDC, and Mr. Leonido P. Olobia, Chairperson of the Research Management Committee (RMC), acknowledged the invaluable contributions of participants and researchers in advancing healthcare knowledge in the region. The forum culminated in an open discussion facilitated by Ms. Leslie Joy L. Calvo, EVHRDC Project Staff, fostering an engaging exchange of ideas and insights among attendees. The occasion not only celebrated the dedication of researchers but also served as a call to action.
Regional Director Engr. Ernesto Granada urged the researchers and other attendees to translate research findings into policies, interventions, and activities that can effect meaningful change in Eastern Visayas' health landscape. The showcased projects are poised to shape the region's healthcare trajectory, offering tangible pathways towards a healthier, more prosperous Eastern Visayas. Mahatma Gandhi once said, "It is health that is real wealth." The forum's success echoes this sentiment, laying the foundation for a future where health is the truest form of wealth for Eastern Visayas.
Dr. Sherrie Ann Labid, Chairperson of the Research Utilization Committee (RUC), delivered a stirring rationale, emphasizing, "The health of a nation is the wealth of a nation." Her words encapsulated the essence of the forum – a convergence of research, innovation, and actionable solutions aimed at fostering a healthier Eastern Visayas. The event highlighted diverse research initiatives funded by EVHRDC, showcasing pivotal studies dedicated to unraveling health complexities. Projects such as the study on conditionalities for 4Ps recipients, exploring traditional healing practices in Calbayog City's Sitio Peña 2, and investigating the determinants of health status among voluntary blood donors were unveiled. These studies underscored the importance of local research in addressing region-specific health challenges.
The EVHRDC forum is a testament to collaborative efforts, envisioning a region where health research illuminates the path to a brighter, healthier future.
- Details
- Written by Marko Jaise P. Perpiñan, EVHRDC - RUC Secretariat
- Category: Latest News
- Hits: 1046
TACLOBAN CITY — The recently conducted Science Journo Ako Training Workshop on September 25 - 27, 2023, at Hotel de Fides, Tacloban City, Leyte, spearheaded by the DOST - Science and Technology Information Institute with the theme "Science Journo ako goes to Tacloban City: Tips and Tricks in Creating Engaging Stories from Research Studies."
This 3-day workshop was participated by the DOST Regional Office, Consortium (EVHRDC), DOST Provincial Science and Technology Offices, and State University Colleges (SSU, LNU, BiPSU, EVSU and LNHS). Throughout the workshop, various topics were discussed, and different activities were held.
On the first day, Engr. Ernesto M. Granada, director of DOST Regional Office VIII, delivered his welcome remarks thanking the DOST - STII for making efforts to conduct this workshop in Region VIII. Furthermore, the DOST - STII Director Richard P. Burgos shared an inspirational message to all the participants to motivate them during the 3-day workshop. Mr. Timothy James Dimacali, head of UP Diliman College of Science - Science Communication Department, discussed the Basics of Science News and Article Writing. The participants also took part in article writing after the lecture and later presented their output to everyone.
On the second day, Ms. Jachin Jane Aberilla, Senior Lead-Corporate Communication of PA Properties, discussed tips and tricks for creating engaging social media content. After the lecture, the participants were tasked with creating a social media calendar on what they would post for October 2023, as well as creating social media content with complementary, relevant, and engaging stories.
On the third and final day of the Science Journo ako training workshop, Mr. Henry de Leon, a professional photojournalist of DOST - STII, discussed creating engaging stories using the camera lens. Mr. Henry de Leon shared essential tips and tricks on using smartphone cameras and DLSR Cameras during his Lecture. After the lecture, the participants visited projects funded by the DOST to capture images for the workshop. The participants were divided into two groups, one group was assigned to visit Mary's Delicacies in San Jose, Tacloban City, and the other group was assigned to visit the Artisinal Fisherfolks of Brgy. 83-A Tacloban City. At the end of the workshop, the outputs of each participant were evaluated, and awards were given to the top 3 most-voted output presentations.
To finish off the day, Dr. Ramil T. Uy, Supervising Science Research Specialist of DOST Regional Office VIII, delivered his closing remarks thanking DOST - STII, and especially the participants who actively participated in the 3-day activity. Dr. Ramil T. Uy is hopeful that everything they have learned shall be a guide to better and more effective science journalism.
