On its Fourth National Leadership Congress, the Volunteer Youth Leaders for Health (VYLH)-Philippines fittingly highlighted the launching of its 4th principal advocacy. Joining expanded newborn screening (eNBS) promotion, folic acid awareness campaign, and rare disease support in the roster of the network’s advocacies is the Preconception health campaign.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), preconception health, refers to the "provision of biomedical, behavioural and social health interventions to women and couples before conception occurs. It aims at improving their health status, and reducing behaviours and individual and environmental factors that contribute to poor maternal and child health outcomes."
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), preconception health, refers to the "provision of biomedical, behavioural and social health interventions to women and couples before conception occurs. It aims at improving their health status, and reducing behaviours and individual and environmental factors that contribute to poor maternal and child health outcomes."
With the theme “Padayon: Empowering the Next Generation of Volunteer Youth Leaders for Health in the Era of Genomics”, the three-day Asia Pacific Conference on Human Genetics post-conference event centered on the network's advocacies and the youth’s role in promoting health. Held last November 9-11, 2019 at the Makati Shangri-la Hotel, nearly 100 proactive volunteer youth leaders from all over the country were gathered in celebration of the VYLH-Philippines’ 10th Founding Anniversary. The event was made possible with the support from the Department of Health, Institute of Human Genetics - NIH-UP Manila, March of Dimes, Asia Pacific Society of Human Genetics, Newborn Screening Reference Center-NIH, UP Manila, and the country's Newborn Screening Centers (NSCs).
The Fourth National Leadership Congress kicked-off with a special talk on Volunteerism and Transformational Leadership by University of the Philippines System Pahinungod Director Dr. Grace Aguiling-Dalisay. Team building activities facilitated by IHG and NSRC staff members were also held during the congress' first night
The second day of the congress was packed with health talks from experts and key personalities in the field of birth defects. Lectures included the Genetics of Birth Defects and Preterm Births, Expanded Newborn Screening in the Philippines and Understanding the ABC’s of Rare Disease and the Law from no less than Dr. Eva Cutiongco-de la Paz, Dr. Mary Ann Abacan and Dr. Carmencita Padilla, respectively.
March of Dimes Vice President for Global Programs Dr. Salimah Walani graced the congress as the keynote speaker in the discussion of preconception health’s importance in the prevention of birth defects and preterm births. She emphasized that intervening only after a woman is pregnant is already too late and it is high time that we put forward preconception health in improving the lives of mothers and children in the country. As mentioned, the VYLH-Philippines has formally accepted its role in promoting preconception health by launching it as a national initiative. Volunteers attending the event affirmed their support to the campaign through a pledge led by Mr. Christian Emmanuel Enriquez.
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| March of Dimes VP for Global Programs Dr. Salimah Walani (center) receives a plaque of appreciation from the VYLH-Philippines. Also in the photo are (left to right) NSC Mindanao Unit Head Dr. Conchita Abarquez, VYLH President Emmanuel Enriquez, VYLH National Adviser Dr. Carmencita Padilla and Visayas Cluster Adviser Dr. Barbara Cavan. |
One of the goals of the congress was to facilitate exchange of learning and experiences in the promotional work of the network. Discussions on the best practices in advocating eNBS and rare diseases were facilitated by Mr. Floyd Edrea and Mr. Edbert Jasper Jover. An award-winning program initiated by Ms. Ruth Basas, Kabilin Kalusugan for LB Nanays, opened new doors and enriched thinking for more innovative and better-quality advocacy programs. VYLH-Philippines also did not go short-handed in terms of utilizing technology to impact community mobilization as the successes of the social media campaigns, like #FolicAcidPh and #WorldBDDay, done by the network were appreciated in Mr. Ryan John Pascual’s report in the congress. Future plans on the folic acid awareness and preconception health campaign were presented by Mr. Rufus Thomas Adducul, while opportunities in the rare disease advocacy were discussed by Ms. Karen Panol.
The Cultural Night, like in the past three congresses, was the highlight of the event. It was not only a night of fellowship among volunteer youth leaders nationwide, but a showcase of talents and unity amidst diversity among the four clusters representing the different island groups: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. The night also paid tribute to the the unwavering support of the network's partners and the significant contributions of Professor David Sillence in the field of Genetics. This year, the night was also even brighter because of the radiance shining off of the stars of the night – the recipients of the Outstanding and Exemplary Volunteer Awards in the last 10 years. Awarded as outstanding volunteers were Katrina Dee Guro, Anthony Toralba, John Paul Oira, Edbert Jasper Jover, Ramonito Nuique and Christian Emmanuel Enriquez. While Ryan John Pascual and Floyd Edrea were awarded as exemplary volunteers of the decade.
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| Receiving the Outstanding Volunteer Awards are (left to right) Ram Nuique, Edbert Jasper Jover, Emmanuel Enriquez, Katrina Dee Guro, John Paul Oira and Anthony Toralba. |
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| Dr Carmencita Padilla hands over Exemplary Volunteer awards to Floyd Edrea (left) and Ryan John Pascual (right). |
In addition to the network's advocacies, the congress was also an avenue to discuss global developments and emerging advocacies such as the SDGs or the Sustainable Development Goals and the importance of mental health. On the third day of the congress, the work of two national youth organizations namely the 2030 Youth Force in the Philippines and the Youth for Mental Health Coalition were presented by Mr. Brex Arevalo and Ms. Alyannah Ysabel Lagasca, respectively.
The congress concluded with the proclamation of the fresh roll of national officers led by the third national president Rufus Thomas Adducul. The four vice presidents elected for North and Central Luzon, NCR and South Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao were Ameel Bartolazo, Jean Ruth Basas, Marielle Buscato and Shane Paul Baula, respectively. Other newly elected national officers were: Charity Hope Ponce (Secretary), Ram Nuique (Treasurer), Melboy Bulan (Auditor), Trisha Isabel Guioguio (Public Information and Relations Officer), and Stephanie Kate Pepino (Membership Officer).
With another set of empowered national officers and younger batch of new volunteer youth leaders, the VYLH-Philippines will continue to lead the youth in its role in nation-building with renewed courage and burning desire to effect change in our country. Mr. Emmanuel Enriquez, the network’s Immediate Past President, challenged the new breed of leaders to end the congress, saying “If you are called to be there, make sure your presence has an impact.”#
Written by Trisha Isabel F. Guioguio, RN, MAN
(K4, Public Information and Relations Officer)
Edited by RPascual
(K4, Public Information and Relations Officer)
Edited by RPascual
