Left to right: Mr. Ray-an Talatala (host & moderator), Dr. Klarc Patrick Gontiñas, Ms. Karen Kaye Alcesto, Ms. Rosemarie Bajao, and Ms. Wilma Santos

The Northern Mindanao Consortium for Health Research and Development (NorMinCoHRD) hosted a Health Research Forum on Substance Abuse at N Hotel, Cagayan de Oro City on November 29, 2018.

The forum aims to identify research gaps that will encourage researchers to engage in research that addresses Substance abuse, a vital heath issue in Region X. This problem was identified as top priority in the Regional Unified Health Research Agenda (RUHRA) and is one of the major thrusts of the current administration. However, there have been very few researches conducted on the various facets of this health issue. To address this concern, NorMinCoHRD invited speakers who are notable in this field.

Ms. Rosemarie Bajao and Dr. Klarc Patrick Gontiñas, resource speakers from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and DOH – Treatment and Rehabilitation Center, respectively, graced the event with their inputs on the different aspects of illegal drugs and its treatment. Ms. Karen Kaye Alcesto of the Department of Health Region X and Ms. Wilma Santos of the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) also discussed on research opportunities to encourage researchers in conducting studies associated to substance abuse and other health-related areas.

A total of one hundred and twenty-three (123) participants composed of students, researchers, HEI faculty and staff, and NorMinCoHRD members attended the forum. The forum is one of the activities of the Research Information, Communication and Utilization Committee (RICUC) of NorMinCoHRD. (Hadassah Lois Matito, DOST-X)