13th NBS Convention: Enhancing Newborn Care, Nurturing Minds, Brightening the Future and Saving Lives

Written by Ram Christian Cossid, RN

Batch K4

13th NBS Convention. The 13th NBS convention gathered health
practitioners, technical experts and NBS advocates
(Photo: VMendoza, NSRC-NIH-UP Manila)

Newborn Screening or NBS is a routine test for newborns ideally done after the 24th hour of life, as mandated by the Newborn Screening Act of 2004 (Republic Act 9288). NBS is bound to detect metabolic disorders that may hamper a newborn from living life to the fullest. From the basic six tests – which screens for Phenylketonuria (PKU), Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH), G6PD Deficiency, Galactosemia, Congenital Hypothyroidism (CH) and Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD) – NBS has now expanded its scope by adding 22 more disorders to the panel, now commonly known as the Expanded Newborn Screening program or ENBS.

With this venture, NBS further fortifies its take on the 5th Millennium Development Goal to help abridge the incidence of worldwide infant mortality and to promote their wellness. Now, NBS facilities once again convened to discuss updates regarding the program’s expanding scope and coverage, as well as the challenges and noteworthy steps that are being assumed to save more lives.

The 13th Newborn Screening Convention with the theme, Enhancing Newborn Care, Nurturing Minds, Brightening the Future and Saving more Lives, was held on October 6 and 7 at the Manila Hotel. The convention was organized by the Newborn Screening Society of the Philippines and the Newborn Screening Reference Center-NIH, UP Manila. 

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VYLH celebrates 6th Founding Anniversary, launches “Dubsmash-for-a-Cause”

Last July 13-18, Volunteer Youth Leaders for Health (VYLH)-Philippines celebrated its 6th Founding Anniversary. The network held various social media activities: "Heart of a Volunteer Monday", "Advocacy Tuesday", "Jumpshot Wednesday", Dubsmash Thursday", "Fansign Friday" and "Skype Dinner Saturday". The Skype “Pasasalamat” Dinner is an annual dinner-celebration held in key cities such Manila, Cebu and Davao which are connected through Skype. 

#DubsmashForACause

How to join #DubsmashForACause
(Photo: VYLH-Philippines)

Dubsmash is a free video messaging application for smart phones. The application allows users to choose an audio recording and record a video of themselves dubbing the chosen piece. Volunteers were invited to use the popular app Dubsmash and post their videos through their social media accounts with the hashtags #DubsmashThursday, #DubsmashForACause and #TatakVYLH.

Since 2009, VYLH-Philippines has used social media and the internet in connecting the network and its volunteers. Every year, the network innovates and adapts to popular trends among social media users. This year's activity is an example on how a popular app can be used not only for entertainment, but also in the service of the advocacy.

Looking Back

Founded on July 18, 2009, VYLH-Philippines is the result of the collaboration between the Institute of Human Genetics (IHG)-NIH, UP Manila, the Department of Health and The UPLB Genetics Society, a student organization from UP Los Baños. VYLH-Philippines is a network of youth leaders and youth organizations based in schools and communities throughout the country that will champion in increasing public awareness on existing health programs and on the significance of a healthy lifestyle at an early age. 

Through the years, the network has conducted national leadership congresses, regional and island-wide youth camps, and youth leader orientations. As of present, VYLH-Philippines has trained more than 500 volunteer youth leaders representing more than 170 youth organizations nationwide. They conduct year-round health promotion and advocacy projects directed towards the promotion of folic acid supplementation, prematurity awareness and newborn screening. The network is also in the forefront of gathering public support for the passage of the Rare Disease Act, an act addressing the needs of Filipino rare disease patients.(RPascual)

Visit fb.com/vylhphilippines and vylhphilippines.blogspot.com for more details or follow us @vylhphilippines for updates.

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VYLH-Philippines celebrates Fifth Founding Anniversary

Written by Aple Dowanie Tadlas

Published Newborn Screening 

July-August 2014 Issue

Anchored on the theme “VYLH High Five: Educate, Empower, Engage and Experience,” the anniversary celebration was set to encourage every VYLH member to be updated with the current trends of being a volunteer youth. Coincidentally, July was also VYLH’s Organizational Orientation Month, a time when all member organizations are requested to reorient their members about VYLH-Philippines. Orientation sessions were held during the anniversary week and all of July.

Activities during the one-week celebration were not confined to the grounds, social media activity was also launched. The VYLH anniversary celebration used the official hashtags #HighFiveVYLH and #VYLH5thAnniversary, which volunteers could use on Facebook and Twitter. Volunteers were also invited to participate in social media campaigns such as High Five! (July 14), VYLH Five-orites (July 15), and IVolunteer (July 16).

Related: #HighFive: A Primer to the VYLH-Philippines 5th Founding Anniversary Celebration

Traditional Pasasalamat. Through the aid of technology, VYLH-Philippines has annually conducted a Skype session in concurrence with a simultaneous nationwide dinner held at key locations in the country. Participanting core groups include NCR, Visayas and Mindanao. 

Street Fashion and Zumba 5inco. The streets of Davao City on July 12, 2014, were host to the Street Fashion Photo Shoot, the kick off activity of the 5th Founding Anniversary of the VYLH-Philippines in Mindanao. Organized by Mindanao young volunteers, the photo shoot showcased a collection of VYLH-Philippines apparel and other souvenir items given throughout the different conferences and congresses since 2009. The rest of the activities were slated on July 14-18.

Together with the Newborn Screening Center–Mindanao, the volunteer youth leaders spearheaded the highlight of the celebration, the Zumba 5inco for Health, a Zumba dance exercise open to all healthy lifestyle enthusiasts in Davao City. The event was held at People’s Park, Davao City, from 5:30 to 6:30 in the morning and was attended by 142 joggers, youth volunteers, and students from University of Southeastern Philippines and Mindanao University. A brief presentation about the VYLH network and its advocacies was also conducted before the program started. A free blood pressure checkup booth was also installed near the activity grounds. Free water and bananas were also given to the participants.

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#HighFive: A Primer to the VYLH-Philippines 5th Founding Anniversary Celebration

Why do we celebrate July 18? 

It was on the night of July 18, 2009 when the pioneer batch of VYLs pledged their commitment to the network, and offer their voluntary service for the alleviation of health conditions, the alleviation of the public's awareness on the flagship advocacies of the network, and the mobilization of the Filipino youth for health.

On that night, VYLH-Philippines was born. 

Read more about the VYLH-Philippines story in our website.


Planned Activities #HighFive

National 

• Pasasalamat (The VYLH 2014 Skype-Dinner). A  simultaneous nationwide dinner held at key locations in the country. The Skype session will be held at 6:00 PM. 

• Organizational Orientation Month. All member organizations are requested to orient their members about VYLH-Philippines. Orientation sessions are suggested to be held during the Anniversary week and the succeeding days of July. Orientation materials (PowerPoint presentations and printed materials) are available by request.

Social Media (Week-long)

• Official Hashtags:  #HighFiveVYLH #VYLH5thAnniversary
• Tag our official social media accounts in Facebook and Twitter (@vylhphilippines)
  

• July 14 High Five! Prepare a fansign with “Happy High Five VYLH!” Invite 2 or more co-volunteers, friends, classmates, co-workers, neighbors, even strangers to have a groupie shot, holding your fansign. Make it as fun as you want it to be. Upload your photo on your Facebook Page, Twitter & Instagram accounts and include the official hashtags #HighFiveVYLH #VYLH5thAnniversary #VYLHFansignGroupie Don’t forget to tag the Volunteer Youth Leaders for Health Philippines Fan Page.

• July 15 VYLH Five-orites. What’s your favorite? Pick five (songs, music videos, news articles, photos) that remind you of your most memorable VYLH experiences. Share a short description for each pick. Post them on your fb wall and tag the Volunteer Youth Leaders for Health Philippines Fan Page. Use hashtags #HighFiveVYLH #VYLH5thAnniversary #VYLHFiveorites

• July 16 IVolunteer. Show some love! Upload a 5-10sec personal video sharing your biggest “why” in volunteering. Start your line with “I volunteer because __,” and end it with a greeting “Happy 5th Anniversary, VYLH!” Post your videos in social media sites using official hashtags #HighFiveVYLH #VYLH5thAnniversary #IVolunteerVYLH Also, tag the Volunteer Youth Leaders for Health Philippines Fan Page.

• July 17&18 Let’s go back to the beginning! Upload a photo(s) of your most memorable moment(s) throughout your VYLH journey. Post them in your fb wall, IG and Twitter and tag the Volunteer Youth Leaders for Health Philippines Fan Page. Don’t forget to use the anniversary hashtags #HighFiveVYLH #VYLH5thAnniversary #UltimateVYLHThrowbackThursday and #UltimateVYLHFlashbackFriday

Launch of the Online Petition for a Rare Disease Act of the Philippines

Since it's inception in 2009, VYLH-Philippines has been conducting activities designed to increase the public's awareness on the plight and fight of Filipino with orphan or rare disorders. These 

Persons (mostly children) afflicted with a rare genetic disease are "orphaned" by society. They suffer from social abandonment because of lack of existing network of support to aid them. Medical help is elusive under the conditions of the country's health priority. Because the nature of rare disease (otherwise known as orphan disorders) are long standing, life threatening, progressive and require multidisciplinary care, essential treatment and supportive care likewise require lifelong administration.

Persons born with and afflicted with rare or orphan disorders are a vulnerable and special population. Despite the small population, like any other Filipino citizen, they too have an equal right to life and and equal right to access health support.

The law will put in place a permanent and sustainable mechanism by which the State shall institutionalize a system that is comprehensive, integrative and sustainable, and will facilitate the collaboration of various stakeholders towards the provision of early and sustainable care of every person afflicted with rare or orphan disorders. 

SIGN NOW. Click this link to visit the Online Petition Site.

Activities for VYLH-Philippines members and member organization:

NCR-South Luzon

• VYLH-Philippines Orientation at De La Salle Lipa. About 150 students are expected to attend the said orientation. The activity was initiated by De La Salle-Lipa Biology Society which is one of the newly affiliated organizations of the network after their attendance to the VYLH-Philippines NCR- South Luzon Cluster Orientation held last May 3 (Rescheduled)
• Newborn Screening Center-NIH (NSC-NIH) Laboratory Tour
• Talk on Expanded Newborn Screening during the Anniversary Dinner celebration (Venue: TBA)

Visayas

• FlyFive. Symbolic release of balloons during the 5th Anniversary Celebration Pasasalamat Dinner.

Mindanao

• Zumba 5inco (Cinco for Wellness). A Zumba dance exercise event and invitational event for Zumba dance groups in Davao. Scheduled to be held at 5:30 in the morning, the dance exercise will be followed by a brief presentation of the network and its advocacies. A Free BP Check-up booth will also be set-up near the activity grounds. (Venue: TBA)
• Street Fashion/Passion Photoshoot of VYLH-Philippines Apparel. A collective of all VYLH-Philippines clothing and other souvenir items provided during conferences and congresses starting from 2009. 

Related Articles

Youth on Fire: VYLH marks four years of advocating health by Joan Barredo

Catalyst of Change: Making our mark in History by Daniel Canlobo

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VYLH-Philippines joins Buntis Day 2014

PHOTO NEWS

BUTUAN CITY - VYLH-Philippines joins the Buntis Day celebration at Barangay Ampayon, Butuan City last March 11, 2014. With permission from Dr. Leonardo Pedrosa and the assistance of the City Health Office of Butuan City, VYLH-Philippines CARAGA represented by volunteer Julius Guilde was able to distribute brochures on folic acid supplementation and newborn screening.

Photo: Julius Guilde

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VYLH-Philippines celebrates Rare Disease Week 2014: Join Together for Better Care

WHAT IS A RARE DISEASE?

A rare disease, otherwise called an orphan disorder is any health condition resulting from genetic defects that afflicts no more than 1 of every 20,000 individuals in the country. Rare disorders afflict babies in all socioeconomic levels. Besides the little information available about their nature, what makes dealing with rare disorders even harder is that they are long-standing, progressive, disabling and life threatening.

WHY A RARE DISEASE DAY?

We constantly need to raise awareness on rare diseases among decision makers, health professionals and the general public.

Information is key to improving living conditions for rare disease patients; raising awareness is therefore one of our primary goals.

Read  more: VYLH-Philippines Primer to the Annual Rare Disease Week Celebration

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A Letter of Appreciation

Written by Louigie Boy "Jeb" Saludar
PYAP Davao, K4

Jeb Saludar

There’s much I have to say about my experiences to the Third National Leadership Congress of Volunteer Youth Leaders for Health Philippines, but first THANK YOU.

Thank you to Dr. Conchita (Tita Conch) Abarquez for inviting me to be a part of the 3rd Congress. Thank you to the entire Newborn Screening Center – Mindanao for believing in my capacity to do volunteerism in our advocacy. The sheer logistics of getting us all from one place to another, and with all the materials we needed such as the brochures, posters and others including moral and spiritual supports. Thank you to my co-delegates in Mindanao; Shane, Ram, Aple,  Sassy, Khen, Jash, Kuya Anthon, Zaldy, Kat, Mark and Robin who were willing to get in a plane or car and travel great distances to hear what I have to say and see how I work  with rare orphan disorders in the community. I really felt their warm welcome and was able to communicate and relate with one another as we share the same goals in achieving our advocacy. They were not only open-minded people, but were also able to resist as necessary with their incisive questions in order to improve our efforts. An added bonus was the one of a kind experience having been in the country’s famous hotels and dined in first class restaurants especially the Shangri-La Hotel and Spa. It was an amazing experience to be with you all. 

As the congress went by, I really felt the presence of the almighty God, amidst the ranging surge brought by super typhoon Yolanda and damaging the island’s natural beauty. He provided us the safer place to stay upon and brought us warmth and comfort through our Tito’s and Tita’s. After what had happened, I really believed that our prayer is more powerful than any other tool, its water proof and cannot be overpowered. 

VYLH-Mindanao volunteers together with Dr. Conchita Abarques

Finally, on the last day some of the VYLH delegates went home. Thanks to the March of Dimes and Institute of Human Genetics for choosing me as one of the Philippine Delegates for the International Conference of Birth Defects and Disability in the Developing World on the same venue. The conference theme was Embedding Birth Defects in the Continuum of Care on November 10-13, 2013.  I had a wonderful experience meeting foreign delegates from other countries and the Global Networks of Newborn Screening Centers, attending workshops with wholly calibrated speakers. Of course, I have had met different medical professionals including the infamous father of Birth Defect Surveillance, Prof. Pierpaolo Mastroiacovo. I was also able to befriend with Dr. Sely Akbar from Indonesia, who have been closest to me for the entire conference. 

I felt a lot of heart and overwhelming compassion in the said event; And so, in behalf of the City Government of Davao and the Office of the Department Head II of City Social Services and Development Office, Thank you so much for the loaded experience and surely we will continue to advocate “Kabataang Dabawenyo, Kabataang Pinoy!”. Maraming Salamat Po!

_____________

Jeb Saludar is currently employed as a Technical Staff at the City Social Services and Development Office of the City Government of Davao. He is also one of the Regional Lead Conveners of the 10th National Youth Parliament and the current Secretary-General of PAG-ASA Youth Association of the Philippines (PYAP) in Davao City. Jeb became affiliated to the network during the Mindanao Island-wide Youth Camp held in 2010.

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VYLH-Philippines Takes NBS Week 2013 Coast to Coast

Written by Christine Querubin
Cluster Coordinator
VYLH-Philippines NCR-South Luzon

It was truly a nationwide event.

The Volunteer Youth Leaders for Health (VLYH)–Philippines kicked off this year’s Newborn Screening
(NBS) Week with a bang as volunteers from all over the country united via social media campaigns and
simultaneous distribution of NBS pink brochures.

The Network’s members changed their profile pictures to an NBS-themed photo on Facebook and tweeted daily posts about NBS with the hashtag #NBSsaves on Twitter and other social media platforms from October 1 to 5. (Related Post: NBS Week 2013 Activities)

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VYLH-Philippines pilots a Hospital-based organization: The VSH experience

Written by Robin Charles Ramos

It has been the mission of the Volunteer Youth Leaders for Health-Philippines to expand its network all over the country. Likewise, it has been the desire of every volunteer to help in involving additional youth leaders and organizations to the advocacy. In the past, the network has focused on reaching to school and community-based organizations.

With these, I sought the opportunity to orient and train the nurses of Valencia Sanitarium and Hospital Foundation, Inc. (VSH) and  to create an NBS Team in the hospital. Through their active participation, the plan to pilot a hospital-based organization, a VYLH-Philippines Hospital Chapter, materialized. This type of local network of volunteers and health providers aims to empower its members in influencing the whole community of Valencia and its neighboring municipalities in Bukidnon. This will be possible in the participation of volunteers in the medical outreach and strategic programs conducted by the hospital. Through these ride-on activities, volunteers can easily promote not only newborn screening but also other advocacies of the Network, such as folic acid supplementation and support to Filipinos with rare disorders.
(Read more on VYLH-Philippines Advocacies).

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Promoting NBS Awareness through Hospital-based Strategies

Written by Robin Charles Ramos 

Saving the future of our babies lies in our hands.

Undergoing newborns to the newborn screening test (NBS) partially fulfills what has been agreed in the Fourth Millenium Development Goal (MDG) – Reduce Child Mortality. Through the program, we can save lives of our children through early detection of metabolic disorders. Congenital metabolic disorders are genetic diseases which do not physically manifest at birth but can lead to detrimental effects to the child such as mental retardation or death. These effects can only be averted with early detection and therapy. 

As a VYLH-Philippines volunteer, my active involvement in the advocacy, since I was trained to educate people especially the youth about the program, has allowed me to find my niche. Though I am not a medical or health professional, I see the importance of participation by playing an important role in educating the community about the program and its importance. I believe that relevant and basic information is the key towards successfully reaching zero-rate newborn fatality and a hundred percent newborn screening coverage.

Valencia Sanitarium and Hospital Foundation in Valencia City, Bukidnon
(Photo Credits: VSH Facebook Page)

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Valencia Sanitarium and Hospital spearheads G6PD Forum

Written by Robin Charles Ramos
Originally Published in VSH's Lifeline Weekly Vo. 1 No. 15

Sixty-five parents and their children participated in the 1st G6PD Forum spearheaded by VSH on August 29, 2013 at the VSH Conference Room. Out of the 80 VSH G6PD deficiency cases confirmed through newborn screening, 30 were being represented by either a parent or a close relative. The rest of the 65 participants came from other health facilities within Valencia City.

“We felt a great need to promote newborn screening and at the same time answer the many questions lingering in the minds of parents with G6PD deficient children. And we felt that organizing this forum will be a big help", Mrs. Lylibeth Halasan, the VSH Chief Medtech and one of the main organizers of the program explained". As such, we invited Dr. Conchita G. Abarquez, a pediatrician and the only geneticist in Mindanao to be our guest speaker", she added. Dr. Abarquez currently heads the Newborn Screening Center – Mindanao based in Davao City.

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VYLH-PHL joins"Jean/Gene" Ribbon Campaign: Raising awareness to the fullest

February marks another milestone for the Volunteer Youth Leaders for Health -Philippines after the network successfully participated in the 4th Rare Disease Awareness Week and the 6th International Rare Disease Day last February 28,2013.

The dynamic volunteers of VYLH-Mindanao led the advocacy campaign in different areas as far as the provinces of Surigao del Sur, Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon and Davao. Schools, communities and even the public and private sectors were engaged in this noble act of advocating. Among the activities conducted were radio plugging and airing of Philippine Society for Orphan Disorders or PSOD’s theme song “Lalaban Kami” in Radyo ni Juan, signature campaign for the enactment of Rare Disease Act of the Philippines, display of PSOD’s slogans and posters to various institutions as well as group lectures and room-to-room orientation to selected students of Xavier University, Central Mindanao University and community high schools in Davao. The event’s highlight was the denim ribbon distribution and wearing of maong jeans in solidarity with the Global Genes Project‘s “Wear that you Care” campaign during the Rare Disease Day.

The Newborn Screening Center-Mindanao employees, spearheaded by Dr. Abarquez, once again showed their support for the occasion by marking the special day as an official blue jeans day! The wearing of maong jeans and the pinning of denim ribbons signified the personnel’s call-for–solidarity with the campaign. The Southern Philippines Medical Center staff and employees and patients also joined the week-long PSOD video film showing, signature campaign, and lectures in the different areas like the OPD, SPMC lobby, OB and Pedia wards. With the theme “Rare Disorders without Borders”, this year’s main objective was to create awareness on the different orphan and rare disorders, not only locally but globally as well.

[For updating]

_________________

Contributors: Aple Tadlas, RN (VYLH-Philippines Mindanao Secretariat)

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A Day for Saved Babies

Ryan John Pascual (NCR-South Luzon), Ramzy Nuique (Visayas), Robin Charles Ramos (Mindanao)

"Saved babies" or the children with a genetic condition detected through newborn screening and consequently saved from death and mental retardation upon receiving the right and continuous treatment, were gathered in Quezon City, Dumaguete City and Davao City for the annual Reunion of Saved Babies. The event was organized by the respective Cluster Newborn Screening Centers (National Institutes of Health (NIH), Visayas, and Mindanao) in order to have a thanksgiving celebration with program partners, stakeholders, and beneficiaries for another year of continuous promotion of the government's newborn screening program.

The Philippine Newborn Screening Program supports the United Nations' Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 4 - reduction of child mortality.

Reunion of Saved Babies Visayas

Reunion of Saved Babies NCR-South Luzon

Reunion of Saved Babies Mindanao

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NBS Week 2012: A VYLH-Philippines Primer

For the past three years, VYLH-Philippines continues to uphold its commitment on one of its flagship advocacies – the promotion of public’s awareness on Newborn Screening  and its importance on saving babies from mental retardation. This is highly reflected in the activities conducted by the network in the national and local level. This primer aims to summarize the previous gains of the network related to its NBS advocacy, as well as present national and local plans for this year's NBS Week Celebration.

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VYLH Turns 3!

Written by Renz Marione M. Bulseco*

Last July 18, youth volunteers and advocates from different points of the Philippines celebrated the third founding anniversary of the Volunteer Youth Leaders for Health (VYLH) Philippines.

And the theme for the third anniversary of VYLH: V3 - Visible. Vigorous. Viral.

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I am Rare. I am Limited.

Written by Gian Carlo Abellana, RN*

It has been two years now since we huddled the stress, deadlines, busy schedules and less night life in college. I can barely recall sleeping for an hour and then prepare myself for another hectic day. A lot of people say that college life is full of  twists and turns- a great roller coaster ride.

One thing I would not forget when I was still in college is being part of the pioneering members of the Volunteer Youth Leaders for Health- Philippines (VYLH-Philippines). The said organization aims to mobilize youth towards health advocacies and among these are: Newborn Screening, Folic Acid Supplementation Campaign, and Rare or Orphan Disorders. VYLH is a network of leaders from different youth organizations based in universities and communities in the country. As part of the network, I was able to organize an information drive amongst my fellow students, imparting them awareness to such health issues in our country today. Remarkably, I did gained support from my classmates, friends, family, supervising clinical instructors, program coordinators, program dean and the rest of the populace in my university with my vision as a VYLH member.

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VYLH, NSCs celebrate Araw ng Buntis 2012

Written by Ryan John Pascual, Marian Cuenca, RN , Anna Leah Millares, RN, and Jasper Jover, RN

 

In celebration of the National Pregnant Women’s Day last March 10, VYLH-Philippines in partnership with Newborn Screening Center – NIH, Visayas and Mindanao joined the Philippine Obstetrics and Gynecological Society (POGS) in their “Araw ng Buntis” activity with the theme “Maabilidad na P-nay, Malusog na Nanay”. This annual event is pursuant to Presidential Proclamation 569 which was signed in 2004.

VYLH-Philippines was able to participate in three key locations nationwide – Cuneta Astrodome, Pasay City; Robinsons Iloilo, Iloilo City; and Ateneo de Davao University – Grade School Campus, Matina, Davao City. Hundreds of pregnant women in these key locations were able to attend the said event. POGS was kind enough to provide a booth for VYLH-Philippines where volunteers were able to present and distribute information and promotional materials on the importance of Folic acid supplementation in the prevention of birth defects, and Newborn Screening. A signature campaign for the enactment of a Rare Disease Act was also done during the event. 

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Promoting NBS, Rare Disorders to High School Students

Written by Ryan John Pascual
Pictures from VYLH-Philippines Volunteers

In the continued service and passion to the advocacy, VYLH-Philippines volunteers targeted high school students and teachers as the recipients of their information, education and communication (IEC) campaign activities on newborn screening (NBS) and rare disorders during the First Quarter of 2012. Among these activities were the Genetics Camp of The UPLB Genetics Society and "Schools for Rare" Campaign of VYLH-Philippines.

Schools for Rare at Luray II National High School in Toledo City, Cebu

High school students, being in their formative years, are viable partners in the advocacy since it is during the secondary level of education where students start to build their career path and pick the fields in which they will participate in the future. Imparting the advocacy allows students to be conscious of the health concerns that they will encounter as parents and leaders in the future. These students are also highly capable of disseminating information among their peers, friends and family.  Aside from students, engaging secondary school teachers to advocate our health concerns allows the integration of these health topics in their future classroom discussions.

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VYLH Speaks: Testimonials and Anecdotes of Youth Leaders

Compiled by the VYLH-Philippines Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental Chapter.

"VYLH has changed my views about volunteerism. At first, I thought it was a tiring act because one has to do those things for free. But then again, it doesn't really matter whether if you're paid or not. The happiness of the people benefiting from our volunteer works is really heart-warming. It is all worth it. Being a part of VYLH is one of the best experiences of my life. I met new friends across the country and as well as helped those people who needed help." - Renz Marione Bulseco, University of the Philippines Mindanao

How VYLH changed my life? Well, it changed my life in several aspects. I learn to advocate and help to spread information about rare diseases, folic acid awareness and on new born screening. It helped me to gain much self confidence, esp. when i am talking about my advocacy. Lastly, right now as a teacher, it made me realize that my concern to my students will not focus only on the academic aspect but also on their health in which my advocacy on VYLH are involved. - Reyjean Porras, West Visayas State University, Iloilo

  

There will always be days when I wake up and find myself depressed, feeling like I'm worthless; that there is too much going on in the world and that I'm doing nothing, absolutely nothing to somehow make a difference.  But one day, it dawned upon me that I could not change the world on my own but nonetheless, I can make a difference. I can, in my own little way contribute to the change that I want to see in the world and that is how Volunteer Youth Leaders for Health helped me.  VYLH made me realize that I can't be a superhero and save the world from every bad circumstance that might occur but I can be a "super me" that is devoted to work for a worthy cause.  Indeed, working for Newborn Screening Promotion, Folic Acid Awareness and Care for Rare Orphan Disorders are causes worth waking up in the morning to fight for. - Christine Querubin, Ateneo de Zamboanga University

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VYLH joins 2011 VisMin Reunion of Saved Babies

Written by DJ Buensalido (NSCV) and P Bermudez (NSCMin)
(Original title: 2011 Reunion of Saved Babies)

Pictures by VYLH-Philippines Volunteers
Originally published in the Newborn Screening Newsletter
Official Publication of the Newborn Screening Reference Center
Vol. 15 Issue No. 4. October - December 2011

More than 45,000 babies have been saved from death, mental retardation and other associated disabilities in affected infants since 1996, when newborn screening was introduced as a pilot project and subsequently mandated by Republic Act No 9288 or the Newborn Screening Act of 2004.

In line with the celebration of Newborn Screening Week, the Newborn Screening Centers organized Reunions of Saved Babies in Mindanao and Visayas on October 10 and 27, respectively. It was the first reunion held in Mindanao while second in Visayas.

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