Buko juice, piña not a cure to kidney disease, DOH-7 says
Cebu City (24 March) - Drinking coconut juice and eating pineapple may be good for one’s health but these are not alternative treatment to treat kidney disease.
Dr. Joyce Abellana, the Regional Program Coordinator of the Renal Disease Control Program (REDCOP) of the Department of Health (DOH) brushed aside notions that drinking buko juice and eating piña can cure renal problems.
“This is pure myth and definitely baseless,” according to Abellana during a recent PIA forum that tackled on kidney disease incidence.
The matter came up when one news reporter asked whether there is truth to such natural remedy as conveyed by old folks.
“Drinking coconut juice is good especially if one is dehydrated due to its electrolytes contents while eating pineapple and any fruit for that matter is good for the body,” Abellana said.
“But definitely it is not a treatment to renal problems,” Abellana clarified.
In order to prevent developing kidney problems, one must control hypertension and diabetes, two leading factors that contribute to the development of kidney disease, the DOH-7 official said.
Abellana said hypertension and diabetes are systemic illnesses affecting the human organs including the kidneys.
“If one is hypertensive or has diabetes or if such medical conditions are inherent in the family medical history, then the members of such family should be cautious for they are prone to developing kidney disease,” Abellana disclosed.
Abellana advised especially those who are at high risk to undergo urinalysis once a year.
Urinalysis examination to check for glucose and protein contents determine whether one is suffering from kidney dysfunction.
Dr. Susan Jorge, Assistant Program Manager of the National Kidney Transplant Institute (NKTI-REDCOP) said those with renal problems do not manifest symptoms and that the only initial way to check if one’s kidneys are really functioning is to undergo urinalysis exam.
“Urinalysis should result to zero glucose and protein contents and that any positive findings of these two substances will show that there is kidney dysfunction,” Jorge revealed.
Symptoms only surface during severe kidney dysfunction such as painful urination or blood in the urine or edema for that matter, Jorge said.
Jorge said any kidney problem should be treated early so that this would not progress to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) where dialysis is already a must to prolong one’s life.
“The number of Filipinos suffering from ESRD is getting higher every year with an average increase of 10 to 30 percent,” Jorge disclosed.
Jorge said that people suffering from ESRD, the maximum number of dialysis one undergoes is three times a week while the cost at a private dialysis center is about P5,000 per session. “So if you multiply P5,000 x 3 x 4 in a month then you need a total of P60,000 per month for dialysis alone. So it is very costly and only how many of us earn above P20,000 which is not even enough to cover such expenses,” Jorge further said.
In the United States, 50 out of 100 American patients suffering from ESRD who are on dialysis lengthen their life for about four years but in the Philippines, because of the huge costs involve 50 out of 100 Filipinos with ESRD prolong their life for only about 10 months because of the lack of money to pay for the dialysis treatment, Jorge bared.
Jorge said ESRD patients depending on the severity need renal transplant in order to live but this cost over a million pesos and needs lifetime maintenance of drugs which is very expensive.
“The best way to prevent kidney disease is to adopt a healthy lifestyle and control systemic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes, two leading diseases that affect the kidneys,” Jorge reiterated. (PIA-Cebu/Fayette C. Riñen)
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Communicating disaster risk information to the public,
Telcos' biggest challenge
by: Minerva BC Newman
Manila March 24 (PIA) -- One of the biggest challenges in making our country disaster-resilient is communicating risk information to the public.
According to the International Union, at least 75 percent of Filipinos have mobile phones. This area of communication can be used to equip the people with the necessary information they need to be safe against disasters.
Senator Loren Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change emphasized the importance of communication during and immediately after disasters.
Legarda called on telecommunication companies (Telcos) to see how they can contribute more to prepare for and lessen the impact of natural hazards.
“It is important that telecommunication companies ensure that their cables and buildings are safe when disasters occur not only because communication is vital during and immediately after disasters, but also to ensure that their facilities would be able to withstand a 7.2 magnitude earthquake,” the senator explained.
Legarda noted that telcos already have a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) to develop a scientific research and monitoring system to improve disaster preparedness efforts in the country.
Legarda said that aside from this project with PAGASA, the telcos might be willing to be part of the government’s information dissemination campaign.
Legarda added that telcos can coordinate with the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) for timely and accurate messages.
She also said that citizens, on the other hand, should avoid spreading invalidated or hoax messages so as not to create unnecessary worries or panic to the populace. (PIA-7/Minerva BC Newman with reports from the Office of Senator Legarda)
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Gov't-private sector partnership vital in disaster preparedness
by: Minerva BC Newman
Manila March 24 (PIA) -- Disaster risk reduction is everybody’s business. The national and local government units and the private sector must work together to ensure that the citizens in this country are ready to prevent hazards from turning into devastating disasters.
During the second hearing of the Senate Committee on Climate Change on the government’s disaster preparedness, Senator Loren Legarda, the committee chair, said that while the government puts in place various disaster risk reduction (DRR) measures, the private sector should take the initiative of doing their share in such effort.
Legarda stressed the importance of a strong partnership between the government and the private sector in disaster preparedness and resiliency.
Both sectors must unite to come up with an effective and widespread information campaign on disaster preparedness.
They must develop strategies that would help people understand natural hazards, identify the signs of an impending danger, and know what to do when disasters occur.
The Senator explained that national agencies such as the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), need the help of local government units and the private sector in providing timely and accurate information to the people.
“It is not enough that the government as an institution is prepared because no matter how up-to-date or high-tech the disaster prevention mechanisms are, they would be ineffective if the public remains uninformed or misinformed of what they have to do during disasters,” she pointed out.
Legarda dded that the regular conduct of fire and earthquake drills in schools, hospitals, malls, office buildings, condominium units and other establishments is essential to make the public more confident that they are equipped with the necessary information in dealing with disasters.
Good urban governance is key to earthquake safety. Local governments must relentlessly assess and rectify the vulnerability of public structures in their respective areas.
Meanwhile, administrators of office buildings and malls must also ensure earthquake safety in their premises and have contingency plans well in place and tested for preventing panic and stampede and handling the injured in the event of an earthquake, the senator added. (PIA-7/MBCN with reports from the Office of Senator Legarda)
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Filipinos to observe Earth Hour 2011
By: Hazel F. Gloria
Cebu City, March 24 (PIA)--People, businesses and communities from across the globe are urged to turn off their lights for one hour to send a message on taking action against global warming in observance of the Earth Hour 2011 on Saturday, March 26, from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. (local time).
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7 Regional Executive Director Maximo Dichoso encourages the public to switch off not only their lights but also other non-essential electrical appliances to relieve Planet Earth and its inhabitants of the destructive build-up of carbon stress.
For the past two years, the Philippines recorded the most number of participating towns and cities to Earth Hour.
More than an opportunity to create another record-breaking feat, however, Dichoso is calling on Filipinos to participate and reduce their carbon footprint by decreasing their electrical consumption for an hour, thus lessening emissions generated from carbon dioxide and fossil fuel, which greatly contribute to climate change.
Beyond the hour-long “sacrifice” of switching off power, the DENR-7 chief is also urging the Filipinos to mitigate the further effects of climate change by eliminating wasteful or inefficient consumption of electricity, using cleaner alternatives to fossil fuels, and incorporating clean development mechanisms for greener products and services.
We need an environmental citizenship that promotes a lifestyle of ecological responsibility and discipline that adheres to the principles of sustainable development so that we can reduce the upsurge of carbon stress, he said.
DENR Secretary Ramon JP Paje has issued a memorandum directing all lights in all DENR offices and their vicinities nationwide are switched off in support to Earth Hour.
He likewise called on all local government units, educational institutions, commercial establishments, outdoor advertisers, civic groups and households to do the same.
Earth Hour is considered one of the largest mass participation for the Earth. It was organized by the World Wildlife Fund for Nature in 2007 in Sydney, Australia, where 2.2 million homes and businesses turned their lights off for one hour to make a stand against climate change.
The Philippines topped last year’s participation with 15 million Filipinos in 1,076 towns and cities voluntarily plunged into darkness for Earth Hour.
The number of participating communities has steadily risen from 35 countries in 2008, to 88 countries in 2009, and 128 in 2010. (PIA-7/HFG with data from DENR-7/Ed Llamedo)
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PIA-NKTI initiates seminar on Kidney Disease prevention
By: Hazel F. Gloria
Cebu City, March 24 (PIA)--Almost a hundred government doctors from the various municipalities, provinces and cities in Central Visayas participated yesterday in the seminar on “Urinalysis: Maximizing the Used of a Basic Tool for Diagnosis and Prevention of Kidney Diseases” initiated by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) and the National Kidney Training Institute (NKTI).
The seminar aims to advocate a healthy lifestyle and empowered Filipinos by the year 2015, with reduced mortality and morbidity from kidney diseases and established modern health system that can efficiently and effectively address the current and emerging problems of the renal system.
NKTI-REDCOP asst. program manager Dr. Susan Jorge shares to the participants the objectives of this institution to work hand in hand with government in the achievement of good health for the Filipino people by providing specialized medical services, especially in the prevention and treatment of end stage renal diseases and other end stage organ failure through dialysis and transplantation.
Jorge encouraged the participants to live a healthy lifestyle and she also emphasized that sleeping is the best ‘stress-buster’.
The seminar also took up the Basic Anatomy Urinalysis and Approach to the Diagnosis of Kidney Diseases: The 10 Renal Syndrome by Dr. John Li, Adult Nephrology Consultant.
Dr. Li urged the participants to undergo several laboratory tests based on various renal symptoms in order to get the right result.
“We should also advocate to the patient and teach them the right procedures in undergoing urinalysis examination,” he continued.
In the same event, Dr Jorge discussed the Urinalysis and the 10 Clinical Syndromes in Nephrology to allow the nephrologists to narrow down diagnostic and management options.
“Although majority of urine abnormalities will be UTI, just as with hypertension, you earn your points when you pick out and correctly diagnose urine abnormalities due to other conditions, she concluded.
Lastly on her message, she said, “Be Healthy.” (PIA-7/HFG)