More health studies needed, research body says

By Elsa S. Subong

Wednesday 4th of July 2012

ILOILO CITY, July 4 (PIA) -- More health studies are needed to generate relevant data to deal with health and other related problems in the country, according to the Western Visayas Health Research and Development Consortium (WVHRDC).

Rowen Gelonga, co-chair of the Consortium, said the body seeks to link researchers and institutions to facilitate health research activities attuned to the health needs in the region.

Dr. Aretha Liwag of the WVHRDC Research Management Committee said, health research today becomes important with the country’s commitment to the millennium development goal in improving the health of the people through prevention of diseases.

Liwag, who conducted an orientation on the need for more studies, urged medical professionals, professors and research institutions to come up with research proposals that can pave the way for development of local technologies to address prevalent diseases.

Twenty-six representatives from research institutions, the academe, medical and paramedical schools, hospitals and health agencies attended the orientation last June 27.

DOST-6 Information Officer Sol Salazar said the WVHRDC will conduct research proposals which address some priority health problems on maternal and child health, communicable diseases, non-communicable diseases, traditional and alternative medicine, environmental, health, special sectors, health service, substance abuse, innovations/new technologies, gender and health.

It is also prioritizing proposals which are relevant and sound and do not violate ethical standards for research activities.

Interested parties may contant the WVHRDC secretariat for queries through telephone number 320-0907 to have their studies funded.

DOST said each approved proposal will be provided with a budget support of P200,000. (DOST6/JSC/ESS-PIA6, Iloilo)