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The 5^th Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS) Week was held at Bacolod City last August 10 - 12, 2011. The Western Visayas Health Research and Development Consortium (WVHRDC) hosted and organized the occasion.

 Pre-Conference Event: Day 1

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Approximately five hundred (500) people participated in the Pre-Conference activities:

Inter Regional Research Presentation

Fourteen (14) researches were presented, with diverse, interesting and relevant topics. Furthermore, these presented the unique health situation of each region and at the same time the lessons learned/research outputs are valuable inputs for a better and healthy society.

TITLES OF THE INTER REGIONAL RESEARCH PRESENTATION Health Worker Migration: Its Impact in the Delivery of Services to the DOH Retained Hospitals in Region 1. The Anti-Rabies Campaign in Cagayan and Isabela: An Assessment The Attitudinal and Behavioral Care-Giving Traits of the Nurses in the Hospitals of Puerto Princesa City: Basis for Nursing Curriculum Enhancement HV / AIDS - Related Risky Sexual Behaviors of Adults in Naga City Healthcare Service Competencies of Volunteer Nurses Preferred by Internal Clients in Surgical Department of the Zamboanga Medical Center. Health Promotion and Empowerment Among Local Migrant Workers in Cagayan de Oro City Oral Iron Supplementation: Effects on Maternal and Infant Iron Status on Breast Milk Iron Concentration The  - 590CT / IL4 Single - nucleotide Polymorphism as a Genetic Factor of Atopic Allergy Mobile E-health: A Monitoring System for Health Centers The Effect of Euphorbia Hirta Oral Decoction on the Mean Platelet Counts of Carboplatin-Induced Thrombocytopenic and Non-Induced Mice. Short-term Memory Enhancing Effect of Bacopa Monniera Derivate on Adult Male Albino Rats (Rattus norvegicus) As Measure by Rate of Learning in Radial 8-Arm Maze - A Randomized Controlled Trial Isolation and Screening of Microorganisms for the Production of Bioactive Compounds Against Food and Plant Pathogen A Prospective Randomized Double-Blind Controlled Trial of the Effect Centella Asiatica Cream and Silver Sulfadiazine on Acute Superficial Wounds of Patients at Southern Medical Philippines Medical Center. Characterization of P53 Gene Mutations among Patients with Colorectal Cancer in a Tertiary Hospital in Metro Manila.

1^st Student Research Competition

Ten (10) young researchers were selected to present their paper for the 1^st Student Research Competition. This activity highlighted the mentor - mentee relationship. Basically, firm research foundation is crucial. As one grows in research, mentor role is expected to be assumed.

Titles of the 1st Student Research Competition Effect of Taro (Clocasia Esculenta) on the growth of Lactic Acid Bacteria and Sensory Quality of Yogurt (Visayas State University) Barriers to Therapeutic Regimen Adherence of Type II Diabetes Mellitus in Iligan City (Mindanao State University) Effectiveness of End-Range Mobilization Versus Mobilization with Movement among Patients with Adhesive Capsulitis - A quasi Experimental Study (De La Salle University) Development and Evaluation of Eye Screeining Tool among Grade 1 Students of Public Elementary Schools in Zamboanga City (Ateneo de Zamboanga City) Level of Hope and Quality of Life of Prisoners in New Bilibid Prison, Muntilupa City (De La Salle University) In Vitro Determination of the Anti-Mitotic Activity of Gracilaria Salicornia(Marine Red Algae) on Tripneusters gratilla (sea urchin) embryos using Vincristin-e Sulfate as Control (Cebu Institute of Medicine) Drug-Drug Interaction of Monolaurin and Oxacillin Against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25293 (Tarlac State University) Inhibitory Effect of Alagaw (Premna Odorata) Bark Aqueous and Ethanol Extracts Against Escherichia Coli in-Vitro (Benguet State University) Cytotoxic activity of crude flavonoid extract from Molave (Vitex parviflora) leaves against human prostate cancer (PC-3) cells in vitro (Angeles University Foundation) The Potential of Strawberry Leaf Extract as an Alternative Wound Healing Agent (Benguet State University)

Focus Group Discussion on Media and Health

The FGD affirmed that media is an effective partner  for the research community including utilization. Therefore, it's important to find ways how researchers and media can appreciate each other work, so they can help each other communicate research to benefit the general public.

Focus Group Discussion on Research Utilization

To transform research outputs to concrete solutions (e.g. policy, diagnostics, vaccines, etc.) and to continue the transformation remains the primary goal of research utilization. RU committees of the consortia will work together to share good practices as well as put in place mechanisms, using new tools such as social networking to improve and increase outputs and translating them into policies.

Opening Ceremonies - Conference Proper: Day 1

In the Opening Ceremonies, officials both from the City and Provincial Government made a warm welcome to the delegates, participants of the 5^th PNHRS Week. The occasion also witnessed the renewal of commitment of the four core agencies: Department of Science and Technology, Department of Health, Commission on Higher Education and University of the Philippines, Manila.

In his keynote message, Cong. Alfredo D. Maranon III, Chair of the Committee on Health, House of Representatives vowed to help pass the PNHRS Bill in the 15^th Congress which will institutionalize the PNHRS as well as secure sustainable funding for health research.

Conference Proper, Day 2

An estimated 600 participants moved between six sessions which were equally relevant and interesting which brought experts from different fields:

Regional Health Research Systems: R&D Priorities, Accomplishments and Plans

• Strengthen HEIs (esp. GraduateProgram); research network
• Working towards more publication
• Focus on bigger projects for better impact on health of the regions
• Undertake programs in support of MDGs

Research Translation to Policy and Action

• Effective research translation needs political will, resource investment and leadership from health professionals.
• To achieve universal coverage it is important to expand coverage of good quality services and ensure adequate human resources.

Ethics: Patient Empowerment

• Changing the Perception of the Physician - Patient Relationship.
• Patient empowerment has a noble objective; however the rules of engagement should be clearly defined and acceptable.
• A lot of continuous groundwork, consultations, training, and socialization are still necessary. Today's "in" might be Tomorrow's "out" or Today's "out" might be Tomorrow's "in".

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Health

• Maximize available technology (e.g. internet, open access) to improve healthcare outcomes and health research management
• Establishment of a national health research registry that will build on HERDIN
• ICT4H is more than health information system
• There are many initiatives on health information systems but it seems many have not heard of these initiatives
• Improving health information system is a shared responsibility

Intellectual Property and Technology Commercialization

• Think Big! With the Tech Transfer Act, researchers and htheir intended end users both improve their lives.  (Researcher = recognition, royalty; End user = product consumption)
• Despite Tech Transfer Act, the challenge of securing a significant number of quality research proposals still remains.

Writing Your Research and Publishing It in Journal

• Assumption: More on polishing writing skills (e.g. adapting/adjusting to specific journal requirements, avoidance of plagiarism, flexibility, etc.)
• New Role to Take: As an author, editor and reviewer, are you willing to try and assume the responsibility?

 Fellowship Night - Day 2

 

"Talento sang mga Ilonggo" or Ilonggos got talent was the theme of the 5^th PNHRS Week Fellowship Night. The University of St. La Salle and Colegio de San Agustin showcased and shared their talents and skills in performing different intermission numbers. Furthermore, Mr. Cyrus Alcala, the emcee allured with his songs and change of costumes. The event also witnessed the launch of "Bulong," WVHRDC's Book of Abstracts.

Plenary Session 3 - Day 3

The third day of the PNHRS Week focused on how to strengthen our national health research registry; the draft National Health Research Agenda and how to fund the research topics contained in the agenda. It also awarded the winners of the following contests:

1^st Student Research Competition

1st Prize - Cytotoxic Activity of Crude Flavonoid Extract from Molave (Vitex parviflora)Leaves against Human Prostate Cancer (PC-3) Cells Vitro (Mark Stephen Roger Santos, ,et. al. Angeles University Foundation)

2nd Prize - Level of Hope and quality of life of prisonners in New Bilibid Prison, Muntinlupa City (Kenneth Benedict L. Bendo, et. al, De La Salle University)

3rd Prize - In Vitro Determination of the Anti-Mitotic Activity of Glacilaria Salicornia (Marine Red Algea) on tripneusters Gratilla (sea Urchin) Embryos Using Vincristine Sulfate as Control (Miguel Adonis Dajao, et. al, Cebu Institute of Medicine)

Poster Exhibit Contest

1^st Prize - Acute toxicity dose in mice and effective dose (ED 50) of calabash (Crescentia cujete) fruit decoction as a hypoglycemic agent in alloxan - induced hyperglycemic rabbits. (Sittie Jebrailyn Amilhasan, et. al. Davao Medical School Foundation)

2^nd Prize - Dietary supplement from Moringa oleifera (malunggay), Syzygium cumini (duhat) and Musa sappientum (saba). (Teresita S. Bonifacio, et. al. Industrial Technology Development Institute)

3^rd Prize - Effect of ulasimang bato (Peperomia pellucida) leaf decoction on the urine output of rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). (Ma. Edita M. Granada, et. al. University of St. La Salle)

Best Mentor Award

Dr. Jericho Thaddeus P. Luna
Associate Professor
UP-Philippine General Hospital
NCR - Luzon Cluster

Grand Winner

Dr. Patricio P. Palmes
Assistant Professor IV
West Visayas State University
Visayas Cluster

Dr. Franco G. Teves
Professor IV and Director for Research
Mindanao State University
Iligan Institute of Technology
Mindanao Cluster