BY: FERLIZA CALIZAR-CONTRATISTA
CEBU CITY, August 12 (PIA)--- The call for more researches related to various health impacts in relation to the recent disaster that hit the Philippines is emphasized in the celebration of the National Health Research System Week August 11-15 of every year.
Central Visayas Consortium for Health Research and Development (CVCHRD) chairman, Enrico Gruet said there are still a lot of areas that need to be covered with research following the occurrence of disasters.
“We still need studies on mental, social, physical health, on infection, diseases during and after the disasters,” Gruet said.
That is why, it is the aim of this year’s PNHRS week celebration to gather planners, academe, health practitioners and communicators to gain insights and ignite interests on how to go about the research.
Merlita Opena, chief research said it is the key role of science to provide accurate statistics necessary for proper planning and management.
“The Philippine National Health Research System’s role is to disseminate properly the research results bringing them down through a level of communication depending on the audience,” Opena said.
She said it is the first time that the PNHRS week is hosted in Cebu since its inception eight years ago.
PCHRD executive director, Jaime Montoya in an advance message said, that apart from the economic social and environmental implications, the recent catastrophes had a huge impact on the health and well being of Filipinos.
“Beyond resiliency, we want to be more prepared before disasters strike. We want ideas from across the spectrum, from within whichever field you work, for whatever community in which you live,” Montoya said.
Participants will come from all over the Philippines and speakers are of noted expertise in fields necessary for disaster management.
Opena said one of the highlights is the talk on the use of social media for disaster management and also health communication.
Topics of the two and half day event include Risk Communication on Typhoon, Rainfall and Storm Surges Warning system: a Post Assessment on Typhoon Yolanda; Immediate Effects of the Typhoon Among Socio Economically Disadvantaged Families in Leyte; Tohuko University and the Great East Japan Earthquake and Response to Natural and Manmade disasters.
There will also be presentations of results of health studies. Their keynote speaker is former Senator Panfilo Lacson who heads the rehabilitation efforts of the government. (mbcn/FCC/PIA-Cebu)