The problem lies in the delay in seeking action for medical concerns, according to experts from Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and the Philippines (MISP). Fact of the matter is adults do talk about their health, but nothing much comes out of it. The consistent postponement of seeing a doctor creates a bigger problem. By the time...
Category: Health
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The hidden struggles of people on the spectrum
Cheryl’s story begins in quiet worry, weighed down by the demand of raising her differently abled son in a world that prides itself in progress and praises innovation and inclusivity, but is quick to judge what it hardly understands. The single mother of Rusell, who has Level 3 autism spectrum disorder (ASD), tells her story...
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The wrong target: Why doctors’ fees are not the main driver of hospitalization costs in the Philippines
Rising hospitalization costs in the Philippines are a legitimate and urgent concern for policymakers, patients, and providers alike. The Department of Health is right to focus on the growing financial burden faced by Filipino families. However, the recent emphasis on physicians’ professional fees risks not only misdiagnosing the problem but also diverting attention from the...
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The pandemic exposed the cracks in the health system, and now is the time for rebuilding
Covid-19 was more than a worldwide health crisis. It was a stress test for every nation’s resilience. For the Philippines, the results were sobering. Hospitals overflowed, healthcare workers were stretched to exhaustion, and rural communities were rendered vulnerable and without access to doctors or medicines. Yet the pandemic also provided us clarity. It revealed not...
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Recalling my bout with Covid-19 and living my ‘Laudato Si’
I am at that age when many people I know, contemporaries as well as older relatives and friends, have passed on. Death is an inevitable part of life. Some say it ends life; others, that it leads to better, eternal life. I almost lost mine to Covid-19. For two days I had fever approaching 40°C....
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Where ‘taong grasa’ are rescued from the streets with compassion and dignity
BAGUIO CITY—In 2020, Nanay Calteya was taken off the streets of the country’s summer capital, which she had been roaming for years. Through the initiative of the local chapter of the Anxiety and Depression Support Group (ADSG) led by Ricky Ducas Jr., a team of emergency service, social work, and health service personnel conducted the...
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A support system, a voice, and a movement for women and girls with hemophilia
In observance of World Hemophilia Day today on April 17 and of National Hemophilia Awareness Month this April, stories like mine find the space and voice they deserve. This year’s theme, “Access for All: Women and Girls Bleed, Too,” cannot be more personal, more painful—or more powerful. For the longest time, hemophilia has been known...
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AI can cut tuberculosis screening time from 2 or 3 days to a minute
There is much debate concerning the uses of AI, but there is also something to be said about how it can be employed to make tuberculosis (TB) screening faster, more efficient, and more accessible, especially in the Philippines, which is flagged by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the 10 “high-burden” countries in...
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To help those with special needs navigate life
“What will happen when we’re too old [to take care of them] or when these children age out of the school system? They need places to go, employment, housing, and friends.” “They need a structure that helps them navigate life.” These are the sentiments and concerns commonly expressed by parents and family members of children...
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Securing the future of Creamline and Choco Mucho players and coaches
With volleyball growing in popularity as a pro sport in the Philippines, how can the players and their coaches be protected in terms of an insurance plan that fits their active lifestyle? Allianz PNB Life (AZPNBL) helps to secure the future of the Creamline Cool Smashers and Choco Mucho Flying Titans with its eAZy Health...