Why we should support She Matters Cervical Cancer Foundation, Inc.

It has been months that I last attended an event but I thought that a cervical cancer awareness-related event was really worth supporting so I carried my feet to Choi City to learn more about She Matters Cervical Cancer Foundation, Incorporated (SMCCFI), a Cebu-based foundation.

Reaching the venue, I was glad to see that the group was able to successfully invite a good number of young bloggers who hopefully can spread the message that cervical cancer is preventable and something can be done about it.

It was my first time to meet their founder, Ms. Emee Y. Aquino. Nope, she is not a relative of Kris Aquino but like Kris, she is a good communicator. Her presentation conveyed to the young audience all the basic things one should know about cervical cancer, especially the prevention aspect. Miss Emee is a sister of a patient who succumbed to cervical cancer at age 41. Listening to Miss Emee, you can feel that she is really passionate about her advocacy. And what she's doing is not actually easy, mind you.

Ms. Emee Aquino addressing the young audience

Most of the attention when it comes to cancer awareness among women appears to be on breast cancer awareness where many OB-HYN doctors are already very actively involved. There is actually local support also for cervical cancer awareness among various groups but it is not yet as big as breast cancer's.

For one, it is hard to let cervical cancer survivors to talk as there perhaps for fear of being talked about falsely as having multiple sex partners. But one has to remember that anyone who has ever had sex may be at risk, even if one had only one sexual partner in his or her lifetime.

In Cebu, SMCCFI (to my knowledge) is the only foundation specifically for cervical cancer awareness. It is still a young foundation and it needs everyone's support -- from doctors, mothers, students and the community. Their page enumerates ways on how you can help SMCCFI.

So why should we care? Why should we support SMCCFI?

• Because cervical cancer, next to breast cancer is the most common cancer among women between age 15 to 44 claiming 12 Filipina's lives everyday.
• Because cervical cancer is often detected in the later stages when little can be done and mortality rate is high so that spreading awareness for prevention and means for early detection (Pap smear, HPV test) can greatly help lower the number of cases.
• Because cervical cancer may affect you and your loved ones directly or indirectly.
• Because cervical cancer which has an infectious etiology can be prevented and the means are available(example: vaccines).
• Because SMCCFI with its dynamic and passionate core group can accomplish more things with your support.

 For more information about SMCCFI, visit their website and Facebook account.

For more info about human papillomavirus (HPV), the cause of cervical cancer, visit the CDC HPV website.

Read more about the basics of cervical cancer here.

Philippine Elections 2013: Some sites to help you decide who to vote for as senator

In this edition of my blog, let me talk Philippine elections. Physicians and medical students are so busy with their profession or studies that they find little time to research for candidates' backgrounds. In this post I will provide some links to sites that may be good resource for knowing more the senatorial candidates at least.

In this elections, there are familiar names because the candidate is a relative of a current senator or major government official past or present. Well, you might decide to vote for them because of the winnability factor - because they are popular in the surveys, because they belong to a prominent family, because they are already famous, etc. But I say why not vote who you feel will best contribute to the betterment of the country even if you feel others will not vote for him or her. Let not surveys dictate who you will vote for. Nevermind if he or she is winnable or not. If everybody thinks this way (vote not according to popularity or winnability) then perhaps we will get the right people in power, don't you think?

So here is a site to acquaint yourself with lesser known candidates in Facebook.

You might want to vote candidates based on qualifications and experience, not popularity. There was a time that senators were selected among the most qualified. See for yourself this list of previous senators the likes of Jovito Salonga.

You might want to see their previous record in lawmaking or simply their attendance. There might be candidates who were known absentees in Congress so what will you expect from them in the Senate? Here is one news item about the absentees in Congress. Check the names of the absentees.

There might be candidates who are hiding something.

Some have been linked to offshore accounts and the possession of such are considered by some as "turn-offs" for voting a certain candidate.

A lot of candidates avoid discussing issues, debates, TV or media guestings or forums. They fear perhaps that their ignorance in certain issues will be revealed or they might encounter a "slip in the tongue" and their true selves will be revealed. Speaking of TV guestings, here is one that early on before the election campaign period started, invited senatorial candidates to their programs. Questions from panelists coming from the TV network, the audience and social media were asked these candidates and perhaps their answers will help you decide if you will vote for them. Just search "GMA Hiritan" in Google or go here.

There are other TV interviews and programs that you might want to watch. You might want to visit ABS-CBN or Rappler Election websites for example.

So there you have it. My simple election-related post to help physicians and busy persons know their candidates. Vote according to your conscience. Vote for who you really want. Vote NOT based on popularity and winnability. Vote wisely this coming election.

Lose Weight, Get Active, Fight Diabetes

Diabetes is here and now. Many are affected by it. There is no need to deny it. It is better to battle it head on.

The Philippine Diabetic Athletes (PDAT), a non-stock, non-profit organization seeks to inspire, educate, and encourage Filipino diabetics to manage their disease through a healthy and active lifestyle with a series of events entitled "Lose Weight, Get Active... Fight Diabetes where they bring in notable doctors, nutritionists and coaches.

On February 23, 2013, the second leg of this series will be at the Ayala Mall Activity Center from 10 AM to 5 PM. Diabetics, those at risk for diabetes, and their families are invited to take part in this event.

This event is free to the public.

Program:

• 10:30 am. - 11:30 a.m.  Early Detection and Prevention of Diabetes Through Active Living
• Dr. Marian K. Denopol – Diabetologist.
•  11:30 a.m. - 12:30 a.m.  Proper Nutrition for Diabetics who Want to Lose Weight.
• Dr. Marissa Garcia – Endocrinologist.
•  1:30 a.m. - 2:30 a.m.      What Diabetics Need to Know when Getting into Sports or Weight Loss
• Dr. Albert L. Chu – Doctor for Internal Medicine – Endocrinology.
•  2:30 a.m. - 3:30 a.m.      Running Basics
• Coach Noy Jopson - Running Coach.
•  3:30 a.m. - 4:30 a.m.      Sports Related Injuries and Precautions for Diabetics
• Dr. Joefrey Arbatin - Orthopedic Surgeon.
•  4:30 a.m. - 5:30 a.m.     Starting a Commitment to an Active Lifestyle.
• Dr. Raymund "Reel" Bontol – Internist Physician in Adult Pulmonology, Founding Member of Team Reborn.

 For more information you may email triabetics@gmail.com and look for Ms. Alisa Cruz, PDAT Secretariat.

Free, Discreet, Confidential HIV Testing in Cebu City

On February 23, 2013, there will be free, discrete and very confidential HIV testing in Cebu City. If you feel you are at risk for HIV and want to make sure, check-in and register online at  http://go.loveyourself.ph/cebu. In that link you will also learn more details.

This event is brought to you by Love Yourself, Inc.

CebuMD supports activities promoting health including HIV awareness, diagnosis and treatment.

Sponsor a child thru World Vision Philippines

No child should ever suffer due to poverty and sickness. They should be able to enjoy their childhood. They should be able to smile and play and not worry about what they will eat for tonight.

World Vision is an international partnership of Christians whose call is to serve others and whose vision for every child is life in all its fullness. Their prayer, the will to make it so.

World Vision is a global organization which serve the poorest children helping transform their lives in nearly 100 countries including the Philippines. In the country, they help more than 120,000 children in 33 provinces and 44 cities nationwide.

You too can help one of these children thru World Vision Philippines.

For P20 a day or P600 a month or P7,200 a year, you can sponsor a child to make sure they are in good health and can go to school. They can also be better equipped for life's challenges through skills training and livelihood assistance. With your support, the child is taught value formation, provided with proper nutrition and safe water. Your sponsorship can change the kids' lives and even yours forever.

To learn more about World Vision and its child sponsorship program, visit their website at http://worldvision.org.ph/sponsor-a-child/know-more-about-child-sponsorship.

You can also visit their Facebook page. There you will notice that they are also helping in relief efforts due to Typhoon Pablo.

For this coming Christmas, you can also give the poor children a Noche Buena gift thru World Vision.

Let us support World Vision and share what you have to the less fortunate.

This blog supports World Blogathon 2012, an initiative of Cebu Bloggers Society with the help of Andy's Hotel and Smart.

MIND7, Nutrition Advocates among media practitioners in Region 7

You don't need to look far in order to see that malnutrition does exist in our communities. When you go out on the streets, you see street children which appear very thin. On the other hand, entering a fastfood chain, you will see obese persons. Both are forms of malnutrition -- undernourished and overnourished. And a certain group is not content doing nothing. This group does not wait for the government to convince them to act on the problem of nutrition. And they are battling malnutrition by doing what they do best.

MIND7 which stands for Media Information Network for Nutrition and Development for Region 7 is a group which consists of legitimate media practitioners from TV, radio, print and even the social media or blogging community which aims to "serve as a vehicle to strengthen the flow of food and nutrition information" something which is much needed. They help the National Nutrition Council, local government units and other government agencies in this aspect.

Their past activities included promoting breast feeding, information campaigns on handwashing, establishment of home gardens and many more.

I just hope more and more media personalities and even bloggers will have nutrition as one of their advocacies for believe it or not, the country's future is affected by nutrition.

You can follow MIND7 via the NutritionAdvocates PH Facebook page or via their Twitter @NutriAdvocates.

Worldblogathon supports MIND7. This post was made during the Worldblogathon brought to you by the Cebu Bloggers Society, Smart and Andy Hotel.

Loveyourself Cebu, helping in the battle to prevent HIV

Image courtesy of: Loveyourself.ph

Among those with the highest risk of acquiring HIV/AIDS are those men having sex with men (MSM) so that the MSM group is a very important group to target also with regards to education, counseling and awareness.  And peers can be the best teachers in this case.

Loveyourself may just have the people to best connect to MSMs as many members may be considered peers. According to their website, "Love Yourself Inc. (for the Youth & LGBT-MSM) is a non-stock, non-profit SEC organization that aims to reach out to the community to propagate ideas, attitudes, and practices that encourage loving oneself -- to DARE to be oneself, to CARE for oneself, and to SHARE oneself as a way to multiplying joy."

Loveyourself gives assistance to those who want to be tested for HIV and they assure your anonymity and confidentiality. They are partners with the Department of Health (DOH). They have trained HIV educators and counselors that can be approached by anyone who has certain concerns related to HIV. They organize activities that help promote HIV awareness and provide support to high-risk groups like the youth and MSMs which the DOH might have difficulty reaching or connecting.

A Loveyourself Cebu Team has just been established quite recently and during World Aids Day (WAD), they organized a WAD Parade. This is a welcome development as Cebu is one of the HIV concern areas in the country and the group's entry could boost efforts to lower HIV incidence here. Perhaps if you have patients (for doctors) or if you have friends or relatives who want somebody to talk to regarding their condition, a HIV support group of sorts, you may want to refer them to The Loveyourself Cebu Team.

The Loveyourself team also accepts volunteers and contributions.

You can connect with them also thru Twitter by the way.

Worldblogathon supports Loveyourself Cebu. This post was made during the Worldblogathon brought to you by the Cebu Bloggers Society, Smart and Andy Hotel.