The Research Office of the University of Negros Occidental – Recoletos co-hosted the Orientation to the Academe and the community of the University of the Philippines Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs Emerging Interdisciplinary Research (UP-OVPAA EIDR) Project (C3-007) entitled “Towards an Enhanced Health Care System by Community Managed Health Programs to Achieve Better Health Outcomes: A Community Participatory Research for Advocacy to LGUs, DOH, PITAHC and Philhealth”. This is in preparation for the data gathering to be conducted by the Local Research team in the municipalities of Murcia and Isabela in the period of November 15 to December 9, 2015. The Local Research Team is composed of the Senior Faculty: Mona Freda Secondes, the Director of the Research Office, eight Junior Faculty: Celo Magallanes (Head, Social Science Dept.) and Richelle Verdeprado of CAS, Rose Lamig and Anthony Velayo of CONAHS, Gladys Estrellanes of CCJE, Joenard Urbanozo of COE, Rommel Adricula of CIT, and Ma. Cecilia Mercado of the Research Office. With them are the 22 enumerators, a number of which are alumni of UNO-R. The UP Research Team is headed by Dr. Hilton Lam, Dr. Ruben Caragay, and Dr. Jennifer Madamba. With them are the UP System Research assistants and support staff Ms. Jofti Villena, Lavia Oliveros, Sahreen Dee Tumbagahan, Marcielle Mae Mendones, and Mr. Jesus Lopez. The participants were welcomed by Rev. Fr. Albert Pellazar, OAR in his welcome remarks during the opening of the orientation. The orientation for Murcia happened on the first two days, Nov. 9 and 10. Representatives from the Murcia local government and health units were also present to give support to the project. Barangay Captains Eduardo Reosura (Blumentrit), Antonio Luis Gonzaga (Caliban), Edmundo Roxas (Damsite), and Kagawad Teddy Canete (Minoyan) lead the deletgation. Together with them are the barangay midwives under the leadership of Dr. Raymund Maguad, Municipal Health Officer. Health workers, midwives, and the organized and trained Community Managed Health Program volunteers. Representatives from Isabela were as follows: Barangay Captains Oscar Sancover, Sr. (Tinongan), Joerlan Tambong (Panaquiao), Renato Nicolas (Camang-Camang), Eva Iturriaga (Bulad). Some of their corresponding barangay midwives and BNS also actively participated in the discussion. Municipal Helath Officer, Dr. Maria Rama Espinosa, and other health agency officials of Isabela, Honorable Rene Iturriaga (SB on Health), and Mary Kay Abano (Municipal nurse) also attended the event. Municipal Administrator Ms. Lennie Schultz represented the Mayor of Isabela. Since this research is geared towards policy formulation to prove that research with intervention, using CMHPs, will have an impact for better/effective health outcome of the communities, Ms. Ma. Christina de Guzman of the Department of Health Region 6 and Dr. Ernell Tumimbang of the Provincial Health Office Negros Occidental were also present in the event to witness the discussions and extend the Department’s support to this endeavor. The orientation covered the brief history of the UP-OVPA-EIDR Project, the objectives, significance, scope and delimitations, and the study and sampling design. The research instrument was presented and discussed, and a dry run of the interview was conducted by the UNOR enumerators with the community partners. Based on the analysis of observations, suggestions were made by the local research team and some revisions were carried out to improve the research instrument. On the second days of each orientation, the roles and commitments of each was expressed and discussed. The four role players are as follows: The UNO-R local Research Team, The LGUs and the Health Agency Partners, The Community Partners (Community health workers and CMHPs), and the UP EIDR Team. After this meeting, final plans were laid out and schedule of data gathering was finalized. The last part of the orientation was the signing of contracts and the discussion of the necessary documentation of itineraries and finances. A highlight of this event, which happened on November 10, was the Ceremonial Signing of the Agreement between UNO-R and UP, participated by our Father President Rev. Fr. Eduardo Celiz, Jr., UP Professors Dr. Hilton Lam, and Dr. Ruben Caragay. Community and Government partners also expressed their cooperation by signing on the tarpaulin of the project. The data gathering will be conducted for 25 days, and data will be processed and analyzed by the research office, the junior faculty, and other local experts including Ms. Mely Flores, UCDO Supervisor, and Dr. Shiela Arnibal, CONAHS Dean, who also joined the orientation. (Research Office)
- 07 Dec
- 2015