Maniolas

MANILA, Philippines – Filipina psychiatrist Dr. Lourdes Ignacio is the latest recipient of the 2014 Lifetime Asia Achievement Award from the Asian Federation of Psychiatric Associations (AFPA). This is the first time in the history of the Philippine Psychiatric Association (PPA) that one of its members ranked among the most celebrated psychiatrists in the Asian region. According to PPA, the AFPA Lifetime Achievement Award is given to a “select male or female senior psychiatrist who has devoted (himself or herself) by working very hard for the betterment of mental health services for the mentally ill, not only in (his or her) own country, but also in other Asian countries.” The award was granted by AFPA president Pichet Udomratn who in his speech highlighted Ignacio’s remarkable achievements, which include her extensive involvement in various international agencies and organizations, such as the World Health Organization and the World Association for Psychosocial Rehabilitation. “In presenting the AFPA Lifetime Achievement Award 2014, we are proud to recognize Dr. Lourdes Ladrido-Ignacio as a psychiatrist who has shown sustained excellence as a teacher, researcher in psychiatry and mental health, and committed involvement in community psychiatry and mental health programs of high social relevance, both in her country as well as internationally,” said Udomratn. A medical degree holder from the University of the Philippines, Ignacio has been recognized for her works in the fields of research, teaching, mental health advocacy, and community service, throughout her medical practice.  Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 “As Read More …

Filipino and Vietnamese forces are scheduled to hold on Sunday friendly games in an island occupied by Vietnam in the disputed Spratly Islands in the West Philippine Sea or South China Sea, multiple sources said on Wednesday. A security official said the games will be held at the Southwest Cay some four to five nautical miles from the Northeast East Cay, occupied by Philippine troops. “This is the first interaction between the ground troops,” said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “There have been many interactions with other countries at the (Navy) headquarters level, even with the Vietnamese Navy. This time, its ground troops who are interacting with each other,” he added. The Southwest Cay was previously occupied by Filipino forces but was seized by Vietnamese troops some 40 years ago, when the Filipinos left their post for a short period. The official said the plan was for Filipino and Vietnamese troops occupying the two islands to engage in sports. Another official said the games will either be football or volleyball while yet another source said the games could include volleyball, basketball and tug-of-war. The security official said the Philippines and Vietnam sides began discussions on the friendly competitions ins 2013. This is the first time claimant-countries countries will interact in the Spratly Islands.  The disputed territory is also claimed by China, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei.  The security official said the games are meant for the two sides to “have a good working relations…this is to foster camaraderie Read More …

The National Kidney and Transplant Institute on Friday closed its hemodialysis center after 44 patients suffered chills when they used its 31 dialysis machines, GMA News’ “24 Oras” reported on Wednesday. Twenty patients that experienced chills are still under observation at the hospital. “Susubaybayan (at) tutulungan namin (sila) hanggang sa sila’y gumaling. Sasagutin po namin ang pagpapagaling sa kanila,” NKTI Executive Director Dr. Jose Dante P. Dator said. NKTI doctors said experiencing chills wasn’t dangerous, but added they were investigating what may have caused it. Dr. Romina Danguilan, the head of the hemodialysis unit, said NKTI was conducting tests on all hemodialysis machines to determine if they have been contaminated. While the machines are undergoing tests, the NKTI will give patients referrals to other private dialysis centers. They have also offered transportation to these centers. “The patients will pay for their dialysis po dito sa NKTI, then (we’ll) be the one to arrange kung saan po sila magdi-dialysis and we’ll transport them there,” Danguilan said. NKTI outpatients may return to their hemodialysis center once the problem with their machines have been resolved. A total of 120 outpatients undergo hemodialysis daily at the NKTI. -Rie Takumi/NB, GMA News

Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. and Consul General Mario De Leon with Dr. Bernardo Villegas and members of the delegation and organizers of the Philadelphia leg of the 3rd Private Sector-Led Philippine Investment Mission: First row, left to right are Brad Baldia; Deputy Consul General Zaldy Patron; Rainerio Borja; Benjamin Philip Romualdez Jr.; Martin Pascual; Alfredo Austria; and Dr. Rommel Rivera. Second Row, left to right, First Secretary and Consul Lilibeth Almonte-Arbez; Dr. Aida Rivera;Elisa von Lange; and Michael von Lange. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO WASHINGTON, DC — The visit to Manila of a high-level business delegation from the United States led by Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker underscores the growing international interest in the economic prospects of the Philippines, the Philippine Ambassador to the US said. “The visit of Secretary Pritzer goes to show that the Philippines is in the radar screen of American investors,” Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. said. Secretary Pritzker who arrived in Manila on Monday, with and a delegation of senior American corporate executives will join the US-ASEAN Business Council in meetings with Philippine officials and business leaders as part of Washington’s efforts to strengthen partnerships with long-established trading partners like the Philippines. Pritzker’s visit comes a few days after the successful conclusion of the 3rd Philippines Private Sector-Led Investment Roadshow led by Cuisia and noted Filipino economist Dr. Bernardo Villegas as part of economic diplomacy efforts being undertaken by the Philippine Embassy and the Consulates General in the US. Cuisia said the roadshow, which was participated in by Alfredo Read More …

Stanford doctor Vyjeyanthi “V.J.” Periyakoil, lead author of a new study on end-of-life care. PHOTO BY RICHARD SPRINGER/INDIA WEST SAN FRANCISCO, California — A new study questions whether doctors providing end-of-life care are “prolonging life, or are we prolonging the dying process,” said lead researcher V.J. Periyakoil, MD, who directs Stanford Medical School’s Palliative Care Education and Training program. The study, titled “Do Unto Others,” reveals that even though an overwhelming majority of physicians Stanford surveyed (88.3 percent) would reject unnecessarily invasive treatment for themselves and opt instead for comfort care, patients in the United States continue to spend their last days receiving high-intensity care that is often ineffective and sometimes ordered contrary to patients’ wishes. The nearly 1,100 doctors who participated—over half of them women physicians and nearly half of them from immigrant and minority communities—were also highly supportive of patients filling out advance directives that state whether they’d prefer intensive treatment or palliative comfort care, if they become incapacitated at life’s end.   Doctors, patients want the same care The Stanford study, published last week in the respected journal PLOS One, cites research showing that most Americans want the same care doctors do for themselves: “More than 80 percent of patients say that they wish to avoid hospitalizations and high-intensity care at the end-of-life, but their wishes are often overridden.” Despite that knowledge, says the Stanford report, high-tech treatments have increased dramatically in recent years. Medical data show a 12 percent jump just from 2003 to 2007, in Read More …