University and college professors and students in region 10 converged in Cagayan de Oro City last June 13 to join the first regional health research competition with the theme, “Research and Innovation in Health for Disaster and Emergency Health Management.” It was held at Liceo de Cagayan University, Cagayan de Oro City and organized by the Northern Mindanao Consortium for Health Research and Development (NorminCoHRD).
After a grueling evaluation, the winners were revealed.
For the oral research presentation professional category, Xavier University-Jose P. Rizal School of Medicine’s research study on “The Epidemic Pattern of Immediate and Intermediate Health Effects of Flashfloods” grabbed the first place with a P6,000 cash prize. The research team is composed of Dr. Gina Itchon, Dexter Lo, Dr. Agaton Panopio Jr., Dr. Ruth Beltran, Maria Luisa Tan, Myra Maria Peralta, Sarah Belen Jacalan and Jeramell Gustilo. Second place winner for the oral presentation, professional category went to Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU -IIT) for their research, “Reproductive Age Mortality Studies: Estimation of Maternal Mortality Rate and Maternal Mortality Ratio in Iligan City and Selected Provinces in Northern Mindanao, Philippines” by Nimfa Bracamonte and Franco Teves won for them P3,000 cash prize. “Genotypic Analyses of HDL-related Apolipoprotein Genes in Atherosclerosis-Sensitive and Atherosclerosis-Resistant Mice: Implications for Atherogenesis” by Veneracion Cabana and Noel Lagunday of Mountain View College, Valencia, Bukidnon capped the third place with a P1,500 cash prize.
For the student category, oral presentation, first place winner, with a cash prize of P5,000 was the study on the “Effects of Pomegranate and Mixed Fruit Juice in Radiation-Exposed Female Webster White Mice by the team composed of Yvonne Karla Martinez, Elmer Dwight Mendoza and Fema Alyssa Ogabang of Liceo de Cagayan University. Second place with a cash prize of P2,000 was the study on the ‘Innovations Microbial Therapeutic: Synergistic Inhibitory Effect of Allium Sativum (Garlic), Capsicum frutescans (Chili) and Zingiberofficinale (Ginger) against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseumonas aeriginosa including drug-resistant strains” by John Ric Evangelista of Mountain View College. The study on “The Capacity of Selected Rural Health Units in Cagayan de Oro City in Providing Basic Emergency Obstetrics and Newborn Care Services: A Cross-sectoral Study” with a P1,000 cash prize went to Xavier University-Jose P. Rizal College of Medicine.
In the poster presentation, professional category, Liceo de Cagayan University’s “Metals in the Sediments and Waters of Cagayan de Oro River: Baseline Data for Metal Determination” by Amie Amalda Petalcorin and Bethe Jumalon won first with a cash prize of P5,000. On the other hand, Xavier University-Jose P. Rizal College of Medicine was second place with a cash prize of P3,000 composed of Dr. Gina Itchon, Dexter Lo, Dr. Agaton Panopio Jr., Dr. Ruth Beltran, Maria Luisa Tan, Myra Maria Peralta, Sarah Belen Jacalan and Jeramell Gustilo for their study, “The Epidemiologic Pattern of Immediate and Intermediate Health Effects of Flashfloods” with earned for them a cash prize of P1,500.
Liceo de Cagayan University’s research team composed of Kathlyn Cielo Borja, Ahre Jean Cuajao, Dexter John Dotillos, Sunshine Eduave, Rinah Lou Mascarinas and Rutchlle Ann Timtim for their study “Antifungal Activity of the Garlic Cloves and Oregano Leaf Extracts Against Trichophyton rubrum Causing Tinea Pedis” won first place with a cash prize of P3,000 for the poster presentation, student category while the study by Ed Bimbo Deoquino, Khin Khin Win and Sengpor Lao on the ‘Innovation for Community Health: Antibiotic Activity of Fresh Malunggay (moringa oleifera) Leaves Extract” was second place with a cash prize of P1,500. The team of James Theodore Retuya, Fatima Abduljalil, Lizalou Curig, Settie Jamalia Eppie, Dawn Medel, Francis Dominic Oliveros, Maneka Jazz Rago, Peter Santos, Kwen See Bem Tautho and Aizza Lyris Saab of Xavier University-Jose P. Rizal College of Medicine was third place with a cash prize of P1,000.
For the consortium poster, DOST Region 10’s entry won first place with a cash prize of P10,000 while Liceo de Cagayan University took the second place with a P5,000.
Health researches entered in the regional competition showcases the health research priorities under the National Unified Health Research Agenda (NUHRA for 2011-2016 of the Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS). It aims to provide focus and direction on health research and development efforts that will address the country’s health concerns for 2011-2016, serve as a guide where policy makers, funding and donor agencies and researchers from public and private sectors to ensure the health and productivity of the country, assist in providing evidence-based solutions to pressing national and local health concerns and to serve as basis to maximize resource utilization and minimize duplication of research efforts.
NUHRA’s priorities are on health financing, health service delivery, health technology development, and socio-environmental health concerns.
In Region 10, health research activities are being implemented by the NorMinCoHRD with the Department of Science and Technology Regional Office No. 10 (DOST-10) as the secretariat.
“The spirit of friendly competition on health research will push us to higher creativity to address the pressing health concerns in our region and of the country as whole,” DOST-10 regional director Alfonso Alamban stressed in his opening remarks. # (Tess Superioridad Baluyos, tsuperioridad.dost@yahoo.com)
