Tacloban City, April 21, 2017 -- The Eastern Visayas Health Research Development Consortium (EVHRDC) in coordination with the Department of Health (DOH) Region 8, has conducted for its third year, the Basic Research Methods Training last April 18 to 21, 2017. This was held at the Ambassador Hotel in Tacloban City.

The training was participated in by member institutions with submitted capsule research proposals and other possible research topics. Dr. Ophelia Mendoza of University of the Philippines, College of Public Health, and consultant for Philippine Council for Health Research and Development Consortium (PCHRDC) was the resource speaker of the activity.

In a statement given by Mr. Leonido Olobia, Research Program Manager for DOH 8 and chair of the executive committee of EVHRDC, he said that the purpose of the basic research methods training is to enhance the research knowledge and skills of potential research proponents who would eventually submit capsule research proposals for possible funding of the consortium.

Almost half of the training participants have already submitted capsule proposals, hence, the training would likewise help them improve their efforts in accordance to PCHRDC format.

Last year, there were about 18 health proposals submitted, of which nine were approved and funded. These are all products of the second basic research methodology training.

For this year, it is expected that the training would help make more approved health research proposals in the region, based on the Regional Unified Health Research Agenda (RUHRA).

The five-year RUHRA (2017 – 2021) is currently being updated for the region and organizers of the training has a list of potential titles submitted to consortium member institutions for possible health research proposals.

During the training, the participants were asked to formulate health proposals based on the priority programs on public health, particularly communicable and non-communicable diseases, maternal and child health, family planning, local health system particularly referral system and Inter Local Health Zone, HFEP, RLED, health promotion campaign, food and drug administrations, and priority clinical health researches for hospitals in the region such as the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC).

The health proposals that were presented during this year’s basic research methods training were likewise focused on research topics pertaining to evaluation on the implementation of dengue control policies and ordinances, food insecurity among families, nutritional status of children, effects of wound healing properties from blue crabs, occupational and home health hazards, non – communicable health diseases practices, fish preservative practices, eating preference of school children, and evaluation of health programs.

According to Dr. Mendoza, this year’s training is unique from the previous basic research training methodology because of the variety of health research proposals that focused on evaluation of policies and ordinances, case studies, communicable and non-communicable diseases, cross sectional studies and also qualitative researches. These proposals will be evaluated for funding by the executive committee of EVHRDC.

Participants for the training include Cherryl Adulante and Josie Rose Pilapil of Samar State University (SSU), Rona Alcera and Sarah Delorino of University of Eastern Philippines (UEP), Maria Dulce Alibangbang and Fermina Gensonof Visayas State University(VSU) – Tolosa , Garry Adriano of Department of Education, Elmer Ayuson of LPH – PHO, Jason Baldesco, Alena Gonzaga, and Lilibeth Miralles of Visayas State University (VSU) – Alang-alang, Monna Liza Bosqueand Annabelle Hufalarof Southern Leyte State Universtiy (SLSU).

Other trainees were identified as Miraluna Caturan of College of Maasin, Fideliza Cojuangco, of Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU) Ladie Ann Conde of PhilRootcrops – VSU, Annievel Del Pilar of NCC Region 8, Kathrina Destura of Divine Word Hospital, Ray Dominic Ladera of Eastern Samar State University (ESSU), Clive Ivan Mercado of St. Scholastica College of Tacloban, Inish Chris Mesias of DFST – VSU, Rolando Quilantang Sanitary Inspector of Ormoc City, Shiela Tante Epidemiologist from Alang-alang Leyte, and Gracia Verona of University of the Philippines, Tacloban.

The four-day training was facilitated by DOH and EVHRDC officials and personnel headed by Mr. Leonido Olobia, Program Manager for Research of DOH and Executive Committee Chair of EVHRDC, Dr. Lucia Dauz, EVHRDC Coordinator, Dr. Ernesto Granada, Assistant Director of DOST, Region 8, and staff and Secretariats Ms. Joy Sunneth Bacalla, Ms. Mary Joyce Hebrio and Mr. Jeffrey Hinampas.