Kidney: A Gift to New Lease of Life

by Noemi B. Edaga

Financial constrain, self medication, lack of medical awareness compounded an anthill problem into a stone: a kidney stone.

 Rufo Paitan, who is fondly called Pong by family and friends, works in a piggery farm as manager. At age 31, he was at the prime of his health. Robust and athletic.

Everything was well with his work; save that schistosomiasis is phenomenon in his job site. To shield him from getting the disease, he buys himself potable water when he goes downtown. For two years, he survived from schistosomiasis but landed in a hospital diagnosed with infection and stone in his left kidney.

Heal Thyself for 9 Years

With medication and therapy administered on Pong, sand-like matters were passed out trough his urine. After some time, the infection and stone bothered him no more. He felt fine and forgot about it.

In year 2000, arthritis inflicted him. He consulted his arthritic friends for medicine and opted to self- medication. Unsurprisingly, it alleviated his pain and healed him. Believing in the effectiveness of his friend’s prescription, Pong continued to self medicate during painful arthritic bouts; until he was 3 days down with fever.

Creatinine High in 2009

Blood chemistry and a visit to a nephrologist indicated that his creatinine was high at 875. Pong bought the prescription, felt good and defied what he called “the shocking truth of his going into dialysis sessions.”

Barely seven months after the doctor’s advice for dialysis, the defiant Pong was again admitted in a hospital, this time with creatinine recorded very high at of 1200.

Family’s Prodding

Concerned for his well-being, family members had successfully prodded him to submit for a dialysis, where he met a fellow kidney patient who referred him to Dr. Michael Abutazil, a nephrologist and team leader of the Western Mindanao Medical Center (WMMC) Renal Transplant Unit (RTU).

Dialysis has become a very costly tri-weekly thing for Pong. He said, his dialysis expenses range from P10,000 to P12,000.00 a week, covering maintenance and transportation expenses to and fro Calatunan, Sindangan, his residence in Zamboanga del Norte  and to Zamboanga City.

“The procedure, travel, maintenance cost and  the fear of harboring all sorts of infection as my immune system was low every after dialysis, made me entertain the thought of submitting myself to kidney transplantation,” Pong articulated in the dialect.

The WMMC and the Renal Transplant Unit (RTU)

Little did Pong know that he would be part of WMMC-RTUs  history as the kidney transplantation  patient who underwent the first ever renal transplantation done at WMMC of Zamboanga City with a sounding success.

Dr. Abutazil, WMMC-RTU Head, highlighted the national government’s effort to make renal transplantation accessible every citizen, saying, “the Department of Health, NKTI and partner agencies have bonded together to make renal patient treatment more accessible in the Zamboanga Peninsula and the neighboring regions.”

Zamboanga City Mayor Celso L. Lobregat and Dr. Abutazil were one in saying that the success of the first ever renal transplantation in WMMC is a milestone in medical tourism and will help promote Zamboanga City as venue for renal transplantation in the future.

The WMMC Renal Transplant Team’s Good Job

On October 1, 2011, at age 45, Pong prayerfully tendered himself to God and to the expertise of the WMMC’s Renal Transplant Unit composed of Doctors Abutazil, John Ahalajal (transplant surgeon), Jayson Sangkula (transplant surgeon), Paterno Cabrera III (surgeon for the donor), Henry Ratag (surgeon for the patient), Tatad Kalbit (urologist) and Albert Tan and Neil Gallenegro (anaesthesiologists), who all did a very good job.

Road to Recovery Wisdom

After the tough ordeal, Pong advices friends, family and love ones to practice a healthy lifestyle and abide by the doctor’s prescription.

To date, Pong still sees Dr. Abutazil for the monthly check-up. All the time since he was diagnosed with a kidney disease until now on post-operation; he and his family is still on a steep financial climb to sustain his fight against infection and organ rejection.

He is ever grateful to his friends and family; wife, Lolot; siblings Dodong Tirso (Dodong), Quirino (Jr.) and Ropisa (Omping) who financially support him through; more so to his cousin, Virgilio Solito, who gifted him with his kidney for a lease of new life.

“Get rid of vices as it would harm our body, abide by the doctor’s prescription because repentance always comes last,” Pong added in closing.

RTU and PhilHealth Work at Best

Zamboanga’s RTU continues to serve its purpose. After Pong, two more had successful kidney transplantation in March and June. Another is scheduled on July 2012.

On the other hand, Dr. Abutazil said during the recent launch of the PIA Media Forum in Zamboanga City that the  Health Department and concurrent Philhealth Chair Dr. Enrique T. Ona announced they will subsidize 70%  of  the kidney transplantation costs, making it extremely affordable for patients to undergo renal transplant.

 “We’re very glad that effective June, we will be receiving P628,000 subsidy coming from Philhealth for each transplanted kidney thus the patient only needs to shell out P160,000 as the package at WMCC costs P850,000,” Dr. Abutazil said. (ALT/NBE/PIA9)

Philippine Red Cross calls for more blood donors

by Felipo David G. Malcampo

ZAMBOANGA CITY, June 29 (PIA) – Philippine Red Cross (PRC) – Zamboanga City Blood Bank Manager Dr. Kelly Geronimo called on the public to donate blood to ensure regular supply for those in need.

In an interview with Dr. Geronimo during the PIA Media Forum, he said there is a need for more blood donors to effectively serve the public as blood demand increased dramatically after Philippine Red Cross-Zamboanga City was declared the Regional Blood Bank.

“We noted an increase in the demand for blood since we now also serve Sulu, Basilan, and Zamboanga Sibugay, our three big neighboring provinces. Actually, the demand has tripled. The challenge here is how to meet the demand, and so we are reaching out to others for more donation”, Dr. Geronimo said.

However, Dr. Geronimo clarified that there is enough supply in the blood bank.

“We have enough supply of blood. But we need to have consistent blood donation to make sure we can serve those in need. Our advocacy is for more people to donate blood”, he said.

PRC-Zamboanga City Administrator Vic Liozo said they have intensified their education campaign on blood donation.

“We are going to barangays to educate the public on blood donation. In fact, we assigned a Donor Equipment Officer whose sole function is to encourage people to donate blood”, Mr. Liozo said.

As a result of their advocacy, PRC noted an increase in the number of voluntary blood donation in the city.

“From, 2010 to 2011, and even up to the first half of this year, we have noted an increase in the number of voluntary blood donation here. It’s actually a good improvement, and we hope to sustain this momentum”, Dr. Geronimo said.
 
Mr. Liozo added that their advocacy program now extends even to elementary pupils.

“We are inculcating in the minds of these young children the importance of donating blood. We tap them to recruit blood donors. It can be their parents, brothers or relatives who are qualified to donate blood”, Liozo said.

Since July is Blood Donors’ Month, the Red Cross has scheduled lots of blood-letting donation for the entire month in schools and other offices here.

“We have lined up blood-letting activities for the whole month of July. This will ensure that we will have enough, or even excess supply of blood in our bank. There will be simultaneous blood-letting activities in the entire country. There will be saturation of blood-letting activities next month", Liozo said. (FDM/PIA-ZBST)

Red Cross to conduct Mass Blood Donation on July 1

By Alma L. Tingcang

PAGADIAN CITY, June 29  - -  Every month of July, the Philippine Red Cross  celebrates  “Blood Donor’s Month.” This year’s theme, “Every Donor is a Hero” focuses on the idea that every one of us can become a hero simply by donating blood.   

Ms. Hildaliza F. Munoz, PRC chapter administrator said by choosing to donate blood voluntarily, blood donors commit a “heroic” act, a gesture of human solidarity with the power to save lives.

To celebrate the event, there will be a motorcade around the city to commence at Plaza Luz, 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, July 1 and end at the City Commercial Center (C3) where a brief program and the Mass Blood Donation will be held. This will be participated by the barangays in the city, government and non-government organizations, and other sectors of society.

Munoz urged the public and all eligible donors to take part in the mass blood donation drive by donating a pint of their blood and help save lives.

She aired the appeal to preempt shortage of blood supply to cater to the needs of patients and to immediately respond in times of  pressing needs of the community. (ALT-PIA9/Zambo Sur)

SEA-K changing lives, improving homes

by Franklin P. Gumapon

SIBUTAD, Zamboanga del Norte - - Definitely shanties are no decent homes by any standard. But these are common sights in the countryside.

Social Welfare and Development Team (SWADT) leader Alex Sabal brought the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) recently to the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Self-Employment Assistance-Kabuhayan (SEA-K) project at Minlasag, Sibutad Zamboanga del Norte to see how the recipients have benefited from it.

Negotiating the rough roads to this interior town, the PIA staff came to interview some SEA-K beneficiaries especially those who had received financial assistance under the basic shelter component of the program.

Upon reaching the place, Thelma Montano, the former president of the Minlasag SEA-K Association, met and ushered the group to the Sari-Sari store put up and managed by the association since 1994. Right there the interview between the beneficiaries and PIA staff was held.

It all started with the question, “What prompted them to form an association and put up a sari-sari store?” Montano and her colleagues bluntly told the PIA: “We were all plain housewives and jobless.”

A lively interaction ensued covering a variety of information – related and unrelated ones interspersed with laughter and sober talks.

Tita Garcia, the current president of the association, said the Minlasag SEA-K Association is composed of housewives belonging to the poorest of the poor. The group started its sari-sari store business in 1994 with a seed capital of P20 thousand loaned from the municipal government of Sibutad. In 1996, the DSWD also extended a loan assistance ofP150 thousand to augment the association’s working capital.

Individual members, on the other hand, have also availed themselves of some loan assistance called “seed capital” payable within two years for their livelihood projects. Those who were able to manage well their seed capital funds with some savings from their earning would be qualified to apply for another loan assistance under the SEA-Kabayan in the amount of P35 thousand of which P25 thousand would be used for home improvement and P10 thousand for livelihood projects.

Four of the 21 members of the Minlasag SEA-K Association have already built decent homes and one of them was Hermocilia Andog, 63, who together with her family was once living in a dilapidated one-room nipa hut that served as their living, dining and sleeping room.

With the help of SEA-K, Andog is now living in a two-bedroom concrete house complete with kitchen and comfort room.

A hardworking Andog is engaged in camote (sweet potato) farming and her produce is more than enough to pay for her loan and to answer her basic needs.

Thelma Montano, on the other hand, also expressed her gratitude for the SEA-Kabayan project that enabled her to improve her abode. Besides, she also got to finish her education degree through SEA-K’s livelihood assistance. She is now an elementary teacher of Minlasag Elementary School.

Today, the Minlasag SEA-K Association continues to operate its sari-sari store and a copra buying business with a working capital of more than P1 million. All of its 21 members also continue tending their respective livelihood ventures knowing that nobody can best help them but themselves. (FPG/PIA-Zamboanga del Norte)

DENR 9, LGUs inks MOA on PRS92 "Adopt-a-Mojon" project

by: Claro A. Lanipa

Pagadian City, June 28 (PIA) – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region IX in partnership with the local government units (LGUs) signed  a Memorandum of Agreement on the Philippine Reference System (PRS 92) “Adopt-a-Mojon’ Project on  Friday, June 22, 2012 at the Anastacia Pensionne House, this city.

PRS92 is a homogenous national network of geodetic control points (GCPs), marked by survey monuments or mojons, that have been established using Global Positioning System (GPS) technology. GPS is an all-weather, high precision, global satellite positioning system that revolutionized navigation and surveying operations.

By virtue of Executive Order 45, PRS92 became the standard reference system for all surveying and mapping activities in the Philippines. The order also mandated that all surveys and maps shall be referred to the new network and all old surveys shall be integrated into it.

DENR 9 Regional Executive Director Arleigh Adorable said, with the implementation of the unified PRS92 we will be able to establish control points in the whole country for all surveyors and everybody else who may use it as the only reference point. This is the reason why these mojons are very important to all of us.

Director Adorable further said, that with the implementation of PRS92, we will be able to perhaps know the exact political boundaries of a certain province, city, municipality or barangay. These monuments are very vital in the preparation of a comprehensive land use plan, no matter how big is your municipality. Setting aside areas for agriculture development , commercial or residential sites and other related purposes, these mojons will be made available as reference point in every municipality and that will be cascaded down to the barangays, he explained.

He said, aside from these mojons, DENR will also establish control points down to the barangay level. With the GPS, we can also determined where in the barangay are hazard prone areas, so this is a very important piece of stone that we have to take care and protect, Adorable challenged the chief executives.

Adorable also urged the municipal mayors to  help and assist DENR in protecting and guarding these mojons, as stipulated  in  the rationale of the  agreement. He also asked the  chief executives to pass an ordinance to adopt these mojons and even perhaps put some penalties for those who will tamper or destroy the mojons. And come up with a campaign to disseminate the information to the barangay officials the importance of these mojons, and that they have to protect it.

Adorable was optimistic, that this will signal the start of the lasting partnership between the DENR and LGUs. All of us will be benefited from this project including other government agencies who engage in survey activities.

The MOA signing was entered into between the DENR 9 represented by RED Arleigh Adorable, Mayor Allan Damas of Kumalarang, Canuto Enerio of Lakewood and Ace William Cerilles of Dumalinao all of Zamboanga del Sur, Payao Mayor Joeper Mendoza and Richard Tiu, Sr. of Alicia, Zamboanga Sibugay.

After the MOA signing a certificate of appreciation were also given to the five municipal mayors for their invaluable support to the program. (CAL/PIA9)

Malakanyang nanalipod sa gipahulam nga $1-B sa IMF

ni Alfonso T. Ruda

DIPOLOG CITY, JUNE 27(PIA)---Gidepensahan sa Malakanyang ang disisyon sa Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas nga pagpahulam ug 1 ka bilyon  ka dolyar sa International Monetary Fund (IMF) aron gamiton pagtabang sa mga nasod, ilabi na kadtong atua sa Europa nga naapektuhan sa krisis sa kalibutanong ekonomiya.

Sa usa ka briefing sa Malakanyang, ang tigpamaba sa Palasyo nga si Edwin Lacierda nagkanayon nga atong interes nga tabangan ang daghanang mga trabahanteng Filipino nga tua nagpuyo ug nagtrabaho sa Europa.

Midugang pa si Lacierda nga ma-apaketuhan ug dako ang mga OFWs kon padayong mahugno ang ekonomiya sa nasod diin sila nagpuyo ug nagtrabaho.

“Atong interes nga panalipdan ug tabangan ang ilang ekonomiya tungod kay duna kitay daghang mga kaigsoonang Filipino nga tua didtong dapita,” matod pa ni Lacierda.

“Ang tan-awon na lang nato nga kung mahugno. Kung ang simpleng pagkahugno sa dolyar batok sa peso, daghan na ang nabalaka, unsa na kaha kung kalit lang mawala ang atong mga OFWs didtong dapita ug gipapauli dinhi sa Pilipinas tungod kay wala nay ikahatag nga trabaho ang Espanya ug Italya?” dason pa ni Lacierda.

Iya pang gipasalig sa mga Filipino nga ang pagpahulam dili usa ka pag-usik-usik sa kwarta, tungod kay nagtumong man kini nga tabangan ang ubang mga nasod nga nanginahanglan.

“Wala nato kini gisayang. Wala nato usik-usiki ang atong kwarta. Utang kini. Bayran kita sa IMF, apan dili pinaagi sa kwarta. Ila kitang tabangan tungod kay ila usab nga tabangan ang ekonomiya sa Europa,” matod pa mi Lacierda.(ATR/PCOO/PIA9-Zambo Norte)     

Military benefits from OCD’s “First Responder Course”

by Rene V. Carbayas

ISABELA CITY, Basilan, June 27 (PIA) – Members of the 4th Civil Relations Group, Civil Relations Service, Armed Forces of the Philippines and Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) benefited from the recently concluded 5-day training on Emergency Scene Management: First Responder Course conducted by the Office of the Civil Defense-BASULTA from June 1-7, 2012.

  

In a press release, Lieutenant Colonel Erwin A. Alea (GSC) Philippine Army, Group Commander of the 4th Civil Relations Group, Civil Relations Service, AFP said the objective of the training is to equip personnel with skills on pre-hospital care concept and disaster awareness which will be useful especially in times of disasters and calamities. 

The course was held at the headquarters of 4th CRG where the training staff from OCD-Basulta demonstrated the proper way to do cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), bandaging techniques, mouth to mouth resuscitation, spinal and bone fracture immobilization to the participants.

“Being a first responder means that one is more skilled than someone who is trained in basic first aid, however, this does not mean that they can act as substitutes for advanced medical care rendered by emergency medical technicians (EMTs), emergency physicians, nurses or paramedics.” Alea clarified.

This kind of training is in line with the paradigm shift of the AFPs current thrust, the Internal Peace and Security Plan “Bayanihan” which aims to equip soldiers not only expertise in combat trainings but as well as in performing other deeds that are useful at times of disasters, be it man-made or natural calamities. 

Alea further encouraged citizens to attend training such as this as disasters are always uncertain and unpredictable.

“We are encouraging everyone to grab this kind of opportunity if training such as this is offered because this is useful especially during emergencies and this is timely since no one knows when accidents will occur,” he said.

In his message, Philippine Information Agency-ZAMBASULTA Infocenter Manager Felipo Dave Malcampo pointed out that “in times of disaster and calamities, the likas na matulungin na pinoy would readily come forward and volunteer to help.”

“However, while we always welcome volunteers, trained volunteers are always preferable because they know how to properly assist the injured… and how to improvise in a given situation…. to mobilize (transport) the victims with the various techniques they are trained to do,” he said.

An advocate of the “sari-sari” principle, Malcampo encouraged the trainees of the First Responder Course to learn more and gain more skills along their chosen profession. “A multi-skilled personnel is always an asset not only to the institution you work with, but also to the community you serve, and your respective families,” he added.

  

Malcampo recalled that since his college days, he was a Red Cross Youth volunteer, and a certified Specialized Volunteer Service (SVS) instructor in first aid, and have had conducted numerous first aid training course with various sectoral groups, including military personnel (RVC/PIA9-ZBST)

City’s education investment reaches P940.24M

By: Sheila Covarrubias

ZAMBOANGA CITY, June 27 (PIA)- - The City Government’s education investment has reached P940.24 million from 2007 to May 31, 2012, proof that the present administration is committed and steadfast in its resolve to help the education sector.

Through Mayor Celso Lobregat’s initiative, the city government considers education a high priority as the Department of Education (DEPED) cannot sufficiently provide for the maintenance and operation expenditures specifically the school building program of the different schools in the country.

“As we all know the priority responsibility of public education is lodged with the Department of Education which receives the biggest budget from the national government. Yet, almost 90% of that budget goes to the payment of teachers’ salaries, allowances, benefits and the like”, the mayor elaborated.

With very little left for maintenance and operation expenditures, most public schools in the country face acute shortage of classrooms, school desks, teachers and books, he said. “And if we will wait for DEPED, the problem will get worse and we will be waiting forever for almost nothing”.

The city’s investment covers the construction and repair of school buildings, fences, comfort rooms, stage facilities, covered courts and other education-related projects in public schools in the city. “This is why, our administration, because of sound fiscal management, is taking the cudgels to ensure quality education for our young people.”

Very prominent in the city’s education projects is the enormous school buildings constructed or repaired to tackle the classroom shortage issue. Since 2007, scores of buildings have been undertaken and due to space limitation in huge school campuses, the school building program has gone much bigger and higher. These include the 3-storey 15 classroom building at the Zamboanga City High School-West; the 3-storey 21 classroom building at the Talon-talon Elementary School; the 3-storey 23 classroom building at the Tugbungan Elementary School and the soon to be inaugurated 3-storey 27 classroom building amounting to P22.4 million at the Zamboanga City High School-main.

Not only public elementary and secondary schools benefit from the city’s massive school building program but also higher institutions. Today, the city government will unveil and turn over a 17-door apartment-type dormitory complex at the Zamboanga City State College of Marine Sciences and Technology.

Bidding for a modern multi-purpose building to replace the old and dilapidated gymnasium at the Zamboanga City State Polytechnic College is also under process.

Aside from the school building and other infrastructure program, the city government also helps the education sector in other forms such as the opening of new schools to make education accessible to all children; hiring of teachers through the Local School Board; granting of allowances to teachers; donation of computer units, chairs and desks and even the conduct of literacy and skills trainings and the production of chabacano workbooks to assist in DEPED’s mother-tongue program and at the same time to pursue the city’s advocacy to preserve and propagate the chabacano language.

Mayor Lobregat shared the city’s best practices in education during a focus group discussion on Education for All Assessment and Catch Up Plan organized by the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Regional Center for Educational Innovation and Technology (SEAMEO-INNOTECH) for educators in Zamboanga Peninsula and the Autonomous Region recently.

The mayor said the city’s education investment will reach over P1 billion by 2013.  (JPA/SC/CIO/PIA9-ZBST)