Nonagenarian Duterte speaks about Alzheimer’s disease in Davao City


DAVAO CITY, Sept. 20 (PNA) – The 90-year-old Soledad Duterte will be one of the speakers in the 8th Annual convention of the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorder here from Oct. 7 to 8 at the Marco Polo Hotel Davao.

Nanay Soleng, as fondly called by Dabawenyos, is the grandmother of Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, the mother of Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

The old Duterte will talk about “How Ready Are We with Nursing Homes in the Philippines”. Vice Mayor Duterte is the Keynote Speaker.

Dr. Eva Aranas-Angel, member of the board of Dementia Society of the Philippines (DSP), said the convention would center on the Holistic Dementia Care where topics would include, among others, The Molecular Basis of Learning and Memory, Medical and Environmental Conditions That Affect Memory, Cognitive Symptoms of Dementia, Activities of Daily Living in Dementia, Neurobehavioral Indicators of Dementia, Diagnosis of Dementia Syndrome, Pharmacologic Strategies in the Management of Dementia, Music Therapy, Aromatherapy, Reality Orientation, Interdisciplinary Approach to Dementia Care, The Community Awareness Program of the DSP, Dementia Care Pinoy Style, Dementia Policies in the Philippines.

The convention is also organized by the Allied Specialist Group in cooperation with the Philippine Neurological Association.

On the other hand, Angel said cases of alzheimer's disease in the Philippines has become alarming to family members.

However, she said they did not have yet data as to number of cases, but she got at least two new cases a week in her clinic.

Their data show that about 70 percent of Filipinos 60 years old and above manage to live good quality of life while the remaining 30 percent of them are vulnerable to dementia.

"It is sad to note that many don't get to see a doctor. And this can be prevented," she said.

Angel is the only doctor in Davao City that practices Geriatric Medicine and gets patients from as far as Lanao and the different parts of Mindanao.

Angel also said the higher the age the more dementia cases would be, adding that among the 70 years old, about 30 percent of them suffered dementia; while for the 80 years old, around 40 percent and in the 90 years old bracket, about 50 percent of them have dementia.

Aside from the attitude of not seeing a doctor, the other problem would be economic because of the difficulty of convincing the family to see a doctor as most of them declined due to the high cost of treatment.

Seeking treatment could reduce the problem but sustaining the treatment in order to bring back quality of life was another thing, she said.

"There is no price tag for quality of life but we could put price tag to bringing back memory of the patient," she said.

She advises people, who have the option to retire, not to proceed unless they have other similar activities outside of their usual routine while still working.

She said when out of work because of retirement, reading was not enough because what the person read had to be communicated to others for actual interaction.

She said one has to have continued intellectual stimulation and it was not enough by just watching TV or by reading.

The mind, she said, had to be active as what the Europeans popularized through the University of Life Long Learning.

There is one in the Philippines handled by St. Escolastica through the University of Life where their teachers are retired professors, career executive officers (CEOs) and other executives.

She said this kind of activity could help a lot because having an alzheimer patient in the family was painful.

"Many of the family members of my patients would say they pity their parents seeing them losing their memory," she said. (PNA)

RMA/Prix Digna D. Banzon/lvp

More blood donors needed in Davao City due to dengue cases, heart surgeries

A demand for more blood supply is needed in Davao City due to dengue cases as well as the operation of Mindanao Heart Center here.

City Councilor Bernie Al-Ag, council committee chair on health, said they need about 200 donors per day to sustain the increasing demand for blood.

Al-ag said for the dengue cases alone, almost all of the supplies are depleted and they wanted to immediately come up with reserve to address the pressing demand for blood supply.

With the operation of the Mindanao Heart Center here, Al-Ag said an open heart surgery would require a good amount of blood that is why they should be ready for these requirements.

He said related to the high demand for blood supply, they convened the Davao City Blood Council composed of multi-sectoral groups which organizations have a good number of members citing among them the Philippine Banana Growers and Employees Association (PBGEA) with 20,000, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Davao City government employees, Liga ng mga Barangay, the City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO) and others.

"What we want to do is for these members to plot their schedule of donating blood so that all of the days will be covered completing at least 200 donors per day," he said.

He said they need to extensively campaign for this as many Dabawenyos might not know this and would be willing to donate. Ideal donors are those between 18 to 56 years old. However, those with tattoos will not be accepted.

He said what is alarming in the dengue cases is the number of deaths where the figure for the first eight months this year is almost equal to the number of deaths in the entire 2009.

In 2009, cases of death for dengue totaled 64 while the number of deaths as of August 2010 already reached 63.

Meanwhile, Al-Ag said the Barangay Dengue Prevention Council had been activated.

The council which is also multi-sectoral aims to remove possible breeding sites of mosquitoes and the conduct of fogging activities.

He said they are more particular about the stocking of old tires and bottles as there are the common places where mosquitoes breed. As to the use of fogging machines, they want to control this because it could harm persons who have respiratory problems.

He said what is important is for the barangay folks to maintain cleanliness and eliminate structures that would be the causes of illnesses.

Al-Ag also said all residents are encouraged to practice the 4 o'clock habit. (PNA)
LAP/Digna D. Banzon/lvp

Doctors beef up campaign against prostate cancer in Davao City

A group of doctors has conducted symposium during a Prostate Cancer Awareness Day at SM City Davao Entertainment Center here.

The group also conducted consultation among males as their way of letting them understand the importance of having an examination.

Davao Cancer Society president Dr. Helen Grace Te-Santos, said prostate cases had turned out alarming because most of the male population did not submit themselves for check up.

“This kind of attitude is still common among males. That is why they deemed it urgent to call on all the males for an early detection check up,” Santos said.

She said with the increasing number of cases on prostate cancer, it is a must among males with ages 45 and above to submit for an annual check up as cases continue to increase because the male population does not want their selves examined for an early detection.

Prostate cancer is among the leading ailment in the Philippines, with lung cancer topping the list for overall cases followed by cancer of the breast, colon, liver, ovary and cervix.

"Our campaign will be continuing on cancer cases and next month we will delve on cases in the head and heart," she said.

Santos led a symposium with a group of doctors facilitating the discussion.

She said the examination of the prostate was the counterpart of the annual pap smear check up among women and this had to be a regular yearly check up.

Cancer of the prostate is the 6th most common for overall cancer cases but among males its 4th among males.

New cases, she said, in 2005 was at 4,254 and deaths at 2,571.

Citing the 2005 Philippine Cancer Facts and Estimates, she said the median survival was 52 months. About 43.14 percent of the cases survived in five years while 30.74 percent survived 10 years.

Prostate cancer cases have significantly increased and expected to continue as the disease begins to rise steeply beginning at 55 years old.

Proper education would correct misconception about the disease, she said.

She said for an early detection, a test to assay prostatic antigen (PSA) is accurate enough to be used to detect prostate cancer, either as a screening method in asymptomatic men or in symptomatic individuals.

"If positive, a diagnostic biopsy is performed and if PSA test is not available, biopsy or suspicious areas in the enlarged prostate, detected by rectal digital examination and/or transrectal ultrasound is done on symptomatic individuals. Annual transrectal digital rectal examination on asymptomatic men who are 50 years or older may detect early prostate and rectum cancer," she said.

She said increasing age is the most important risk factors and the increasing numbers of Filipino males who are 55 years and older is the main reason for the significant increase and expected continuing increase in incidence.

Males who start a healthy lifestyle early in life and are able to sustain the healthy habits throughout life may lower their individual risk of prostate cancer, she said. (PNA) PDB/lvp

10 Medical Tests Women Need This Year - Health.com

10 Medical Tests Women Need This Year - Health.com

In Davao, there is the MOVE

Spearheaded by the male employees of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) they organize a group they call MOVE ... Men Oppose to Violence Against Women.

MOVE undertakes series of capacity building sessions to better improve their lot and become better husbands, fathers, colleagues, sons and brothers for a much better family and a much better nation.

Complementing the MOVE is the Men Support Group (MSG) chair by Harry Arante of Barangay Centro Agdao which led the 42-member of DSWD Community-Based Rehabilitation Project for Perpetrators of Domestic Violence (CBRPPDV).  MSGs are vital elements in the war against domestic violence and helps snuff out the awful cycle of domestic violence.

MOVE is an organization of caring, pro-active and principled men committed to be actively involved in the elimination of VAW. Members come from various organizations, private and public.

The goals of the group are to speak out against VAW; examine, propose and formulate total male involvement and actions in the elimination of VAW; form partnerships and linkages with similar groups working on VAW, locally and internationally; organize and conduct researches, studies and fora in recognition of the social effects of VAW for policy and program development; and establish resource network on VAW. 

The Davao MOVE will join with other groups in the country in a Planning Worshop on December 2 and 3 in Manila to further improve their capabilities.

To smoke or not to smoke .... what will happen to the cigarette ? what will happen to U?

If you are smoking and if you are not it would be good to know that cases of COPD or Chronic Obstruction Pulmonary Disease are on the rise.

Dr. Mervin Marcos, pulmonologist and member of the Philippine College of Chest Physicians-Southern Mindanao cited a study in the United States and the Philippines that at the rate of growth, COPD will dislodge heart disease as the number 5 or 6 top killer disease. 

Another pullmologist Dr. Jasper Ramos disclosed that the number one cause of COPD is cigarette smoking and exposure to air pollutants, in medical terms the cause of COPD is constant exposure to noxious stimuli causing injury to the lungs.

COPD is much like the symptoms of asthma, where affected persons experience persistent coughing and breathlessness. However a Spirometry test is used to determine if indeed the person has COPD. 

The doctors advised persons manifesting symptoms of COPD to immediately consult a physician so that proper tests can be done.

Given this people should start to think and think on what to do about smoking.  I for one could not stand that smoke and i don't hesitate asking the person near me who is smoking to put off that lighted stick because the smoke is hurting.  There's no battle about it. I just ask the person politely. I know there is hope.  It's just a matter of doing not to smoke again.  

Massive advocacy for diabetes control launch

The Philippine Center for Diabetes Education Foundation, Inc. embarks on massive advocacy campaign against diabetes. It recognizes diabetic patients through an Achievers Award for maintaining the disease without complication.

Dr. Tommy T. Willing, president of Philippine Diabetic Association (PDA) in a press conference at SM City Davao said the cases of diabetes is increasing and alarming where one of five adult population has diabetes.

He said the incidence is prevalent in Asia Pacific and in the coming years saying the bulk will be in this region and that includes the Philippines and this has something to do with genetic and lifestyle of people.

Data shared by Dr. Willing that he presented in Kyoto, Japan at the Asian Association for the Study of Diabetes among others showed that among the diabetic patients in the Philippines, 50.4 percent employed while 45.9 percent unemployed with those employed belonging to the income bracket of P5,000 to P10,000.

He said once the person with diabetes develops complication, the treatment is costly not included plus the high maintenance drugs that those under the low income bracket could not afford.

Same data showed that of those with diabetes, 30 percent pay their consultation fees while 29 percent is shouldered by the family or 60 percent of those surveyed pay their own fees with only 18 percent of them are shouldered by government and 14 percent by the industry.

With insurance, only one percent of them are covered and most of the expenses are borned out by the family and own self of 80 percent and a low of 11 percent by the industry sector.

Willing likewise said even with the symptoms, people still are into denial stage and mabuti pa ang langgam alam (the ant knows better) because it attacks urine, an indication that it is high in sugar.

He said cost for diabetes could either be direct which includes cost of care and prevention and indirectly due to loss of productivity and income. The other costs could be psychosocial or the intangible ones like pain, anxiety and loss of quality of life the moment complications sets in.

The PDA he said has beefed up its campaign and with the Diabetes Achievers Award this could motivate other people to take appropriate action. Although there is no cure of the disease, it could be controlled, he said.

"This will motivate other patients and realize that they could still live normal lives," he said.

In Davao City there are several awardees that will be conferred with the award on July 17, 2009 either bronze for maintaining the diseases without complication between 10 to 19 years, silver, for 20 to 29 years and gold medallon for 30 years and above.

Davao gold awardee Kaiben So who was diagnosed at age 23 with diabetes, since then has controlled the disease up to this time that he is 53 years old.

"I just religiously follow what the doctor tells me and by monitoring regularly my blood sugar plus exercise and eating the right food," he said.

But So told Dr. Willing that there has to be action taken on the cost for laboratory exams on Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS) because the low income patients cannot afford it.

Willing said the PDA is studying areas where this could be given appropriate concern even as he said that they are calling on government to also put more support on this. Although the government has included diabetes in their program the support is still minimal, he added.