geriatricsphilippines.org Blog

Editorial by Dr Miguel Ramos
Philippine Journal of Internal Medicine 2011

Greetings! During the closing ceremony of the 41st Convention of PCP held last May 4, 2011 at SMX, some of us witnessed the birth of the Philippine College of Geriatric Medicine (PCGM). This was the result of the merger of two societies
namely the Philippine Society of Geriatric Medicine (PSGM), a component society of the PCP and the Philippine Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology (PSGG), an affiliate society of the PMA.

This coming together was long overdue but thanks to the brilliant mediation of PCP’s Dr. Oscar Cabahug it was finally realized.
In behalf of the officers of PCP I would like to WELCOME the board of Directors of PCGM led by its President Dr. Shelley de la Vega, VP
Dr. Innocencio Alejandro, Sec. Dr. Edwin Fortuno, Treasurer Dr. Teresita Castillo, Auditor Dr. Doris Camagay and Communications Officer Dr. Roy Cuizon.

With PCP’s support, we hope and pray that you deliver your vision and missions - that the PCGM can respond to the challenge of providing comprehensive quality health care to all elder Filipinos, which will include us in the near future.

Philippine Journal of Internal Medicine Editorial Allow me to take this opportunity to bid goodbye to PJIM as an editor for these past
10 years where I was fortunate enough to bear witness to some of the more relevant research outputs and publications of our time. First, I would like to thank past Chief Editors Drs. Esperanza
Cabral, Rafael Castillo and current Editor in Chief Dr. Linda Lim-Varona for giving me this opportunity and trusting me to do the job. I would also like to thank Ms. Connie Bayona , as she was instrumental in my joining the PJIM editorial board; and last but not the least, I would like to express my congratulations and gratitude to the contributing authors who have submitted their works for
publication to the journal. They are the real life of the journal, they who quietly, surely and sometimes unknowingly contribute to the much needed life sustaining push to maintain a culture of research in
our medical practice.

In the spirit of “publish or perish”, rest assured that I would pursue and continue to encourage the publication of relevant researches and outputs from our peers. Mabuhay

REFERENCES and LINKS:

Copy of House Bill 1071 Philippine Congress 2010

Copy of Senate Bill 1809

and

HelpAge International

During a recent forum on Policy for Older Persons held at the UP Manila-National Institutes of Health, Rep. David Koh, Senior Citizen’s Party List announced the good news that House Bill 1071 was approved at the Committee level. It now seeks approval from the Senate, as Senate Bill Number 1809.

The original bill, seeks to ensure that older persons and persons with disability are protected from institutional, community and domestic violence and sexual assault and to improve outreach efforts and other services available to persons victimized by such violence.

The original bill, “Older Filipino’s Protection from Violence Act” was authored by Rufus B. Rodriguez and Maximo B. Rodriguez Jr.

Senate Bill 1809 was authored by Senator Miriam D Santiago with Sen Lito Lapid as co-author. The bill is described as AN ACT TO ESTABLISH PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES TO AID VICTIMS OF ELDER ABUSE, AND PROVIDE TRAINING TO HEALTH AND GOVERNMENT PROFESSIONALS IN THE ASSISTANCE OF SUCH VICTIMS, It was read on first reading in September 2010 and was referred to the Committee(s) on SOCIAL JUSTICE, WELFARE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT and FINANCE.

In a similar action, HelpAge International calls for the following Actions:

• the 186 countries that have ratified CEDAW (UN Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women) meet their existing obligations to put in place systems, legal and other, to protect all women, young and old, from violence and abuse.

• data collection and disaggregation is improved to make the issue more visible.

• governments invest in training of health professionals, the judiciary and law enforcement agencies to recognise abuse

• more funding is allocated to community initiatives that change attitudes and tackle age discrimination and ageism.

Finally, a UN Convention of the Rights of Older People would ensure that all countries that ratify it had an obligation to put in place these protective legal systems.

June 15 is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

Philippine General Hospital (PGH) Director Jose “Jogon” Gonzales approves an additional 30% discount, on top of the 20% senior citizen’s discount, for retired PGH and UP Manila employees who seek medical attention in the outpatient clinics, or are admitted to the Philippine General Hospital.

Click image for details.

Numerous senior citizens and longterm care homes for the elderly are denied their 20% discount when purchasing vitamins and diapers from major drugstores or distributors.

The DOH and FDA have clarified that discounted drug and medicine purchases, now extend to vitamins and minerals specifically prescribed by doctors for senior citizens for purposes of prevention, treatment, or diagnosis of a disease or illness. However, they still exclude those classified as “food supplements with no approved therapeutic claim”.

Vitamins and drugs in the form of syrup/suspension initially intended for pediatric consumption are also included if prescribed by a physician to an elderly patient.

The 20% discount also extends to the purchase of essential medical supplies, accessories or equipment like eyeglasses, dentures, hearing aids, walkers or wheelchairs, and even to geriatric diapers.

Likewise, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) recently issued Resolution No. 23. Series of 2010 to serve as supplemental guidelines in the implementation of Republic Act No. 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010.

The ERC guidelines limits the discount privilege to the “exclusive use and enjoyment” of seniors. As such, senior citizens centers and residential facilities or groups homes must have a separate meter and must be strictly utilized by elderly clientele alone. For households, personal consumption of elderly residents is measured by a limitation of 100 kilowatt hours power utilization, and anything higher than 100 kwh will no longer qualify them for the 5% electricity discount.

Resources:
Department of Health AO 2010 0032 (signed 09 October 2010)

DSWD RA 9994 Frequently Asked Questions

Implementing Rules and Regulations RA 9994

DOH Guidelines to Implementing RA 9994

Philippine National Drug Formulary Vitamins

Meralco Electricity Senior Discount

WHEN: November 18-19, 2010

WHERE: San Lazaro Hospital Auditorium, Quiricada Street Sta. Cruz, Manila

The Vaccine Study Group, a research study group under the UP Manila – National Institutes of Health (NIH) has initiated and organized a Clinical Vaccinology Course for Health Care Providers, in cooperation of Philippine Foundation for Vaccination (PFV), Aging Study Group-NIH, San Lazaro Hospital and Society of Adolescent Medicine of the Philippines (SAMPI).

The main objective of the course is to give an overview and update in the field of vaccinology so that participants to the course will be confident to use vaccines both in clinical practice and as a public health intervention. The group believes that vaccination is the most effective control measure for diseases and would lead to an improvement of the health and economic status of communities and nations.

The course will be conducted by a group of distinguished professors, scientist and public health experts who have received basic and advanced vaccinology courses in France, Korea and other reputable vaccine institutions to enable them to give you what you would want to know most about vaccines.

HOW: Please contact the following to register (P2500.00 for two (2) days per registrant) or give a donation to our cause.

Dr Lulu C Bravo - Mobile No.: +6319189215998 or NIH 632-5254266 INTROP office: 5269167 PFV office: 567-2397.

Visit Link to Vaccinology Course Details

Philippine Society of Geriatric Medicine – Asia Pacific Geriatric Conference January 19-21, 2011, Cebu City, Philippines

The Organizing Committee through its Research Committee invites submission of abstracts in geriatrics and gerontology consistent with its theme, “Sharing and Integrating Best Practices in Geriatrics in the Asia Pacific Region.” These abstracts should be original and not be published elsewhere at the time of submission. A copy of the Institutional Review Board approval letter must be submitted for research abstracts.

Click here for Abstract submission detials

The Philippine Society of Geriatric Medicine will host the
4th Asia-Pacific Geriatric Network Conference, with the theme

“Sharing Best Practices in Geriatric Care in the Asia-Pacific Region”

Cebu CITY
January 19-21 2011

Click here to view the SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM and COMMITTEES

[caption id=”attachment_558″ align=”aligncenter” width=”231″ caption=”Convention Registration Fees 2011″][/caption]

Convention Hotel: Marco Polo Cebu City

Registration and Housing Dates and Deadlines:

1. Registration and housing opens July 15, 2010
2. Early bird registration closes September 30, 2010
3. Last date to cancel registration and receive a refund minus an administrative fee of $75 or (peso equivalent) November 22, 2010.
4. Housing deadline to make a new reservation or change : November 30, 2010
5. On-site registration opens on January 18, 1:00 pm, Philippine time at the venue.

NOTE: Registration fee does not include housing or hotel accomodations!

For details, click this link to the Registration Page

In support of the Save the Ilog Pasig Project, thousands of runners (and walkers) flocked to the Mall of Asia today 10.10.10

The song Mutya ng Pasig by Nicanor Abelardo highlights a woman’s love for humanity, here beautifully sung by Conching Rosal in this You Tube video The photo montage (courtesy of Alfredo Villanueva) shows glimpses of the old beautiful Pasig River and Manila, from 1898 to 1930.

[caption id=”attachment_545″ align=”aligncenter” width=”288″ caption=”The old Pasig River”][/caption]
Kung gabing ang buwan sa langit ay nakadungaw
Tila ginigising ng habagat sa kanyang pagtulog sa tubig

Ito ang Mutya ng Pasig …… Ito ang Mutya ng Pasig!

Sa kanyang pagsiklot sa maputing bula
Kasabay ang awit, kasabay ang tula:

Dati akong paraluman sa kaharian ng pag-ibig
Ang pag-big nang mamatay,
Naglaho rin and kaharian

Ang lakas ko ay nalipat
Sa puso’t dibdib ng lahat

Kung nais niniyong ako’y mabuhay,
Pag-ibig ko’y inyong ibigay

Kung nais niniyong ako’y mabuhay,
Pag-ibig ko’y inyong ibigay!

May our passionate love for country save the Ilog Pasig and Mother Earth!

DSWD Secretary Corazon Soliman said the proposed 2011 budget for her department allows it to give the P500 pension only to those 80 years old and up, at least for next year. Only a small fraction of that amount is available for 2011, the social welfare agency admitted on Saturday.

Amid grumblings from some senior citizens’ groups, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) sought understanding for its “selective” P500 monthly pension because only P300 million is allotted for this fund next year.

On the other hand, a senior citizens’ organization said such a deferment of the full implementation is biased against the poor.

“I’m quite disappointed,” said Ed Gerlock of the NGO Coalition of Services of the Elderly (COSE), in an article on the Union of Catholic Asian News website.

He said most of the elderly are below 80 years old.

The UCAN article said 145,150 senior citizens are 80 years old and above — a mere three percent of some 4.1 million elderly people who are 60 years old and up.

“Poor people don’t live to be 80 years old. There are going to be very few desperately poor 80-year-olds,” Gerlock said.

Click here for complete coverage from GMA News

Excerpt from Marjorie Gorospe, loQal.ph

115-year-old I-Apayao native Rufina Daluyon reflects the healthy lifestyle of the I-Apayao tribe and despite her age, the centenarian shows no signs of serious illness.

Apo Rufina can still talk and can still walk but she only speaks Ilocano. She shares her stories to willing listeners through her great granddaughter Susan.

1. Lifelong Physical Activity
The I-Apayao tribe is related to Isneg tribe and both tribes are known as good farmers.

2. Diet - mostly vegetables
Susan says being a member of the I-Apayao tribe, Apo Rufina is very fond of vegetables.

3. Good Genes
Apo Rufina’s husband lived for 126 years. Apo Rufina has three children, but only one among the three is still alive at a still remarkable age of 90.

4. Spirituality and Gratitude

5. Discipline
“Napakahigpit nya (Rufina) lalo pagdating sa pag-uwi ng maaga sa bahay at tamang pagkain. (She is very strict, particularly on curfews and eating the right food),” says Susan in jest.

[caption id=”attachment_453″ align=”aligncenter” width=”300″ caption=”Centenarian Northern Philippines”][/caption]

“Minsan tinatanong na rin nya kung bakit di pa sya namamatay at mukha daw nalimutan na siya ni Lord sunduin. (She often wonders why she’s still alive and that the Lord probably has forgotten about her),” says Susan who often visits her great grandmother and gives her a shower.

For her part, Susan says she is thankful for the life that God has granted Apo Rufina.

But Susan admits that things are getting harder for Apo Rufina. Susan says all they can do is to give her the love that she deserves while she is still alive.