A two-day Agenda Setting and Writeshop on Climate Change headed by the Climate Change and Disaster-Related Health Research and Development Technical Working Group (TWG) of Regional Health Research and Development Consortium XI (RHRDC XI) in coordination with Ateneo de Davao University- University Research Council (AdDU-URC) was conducted last September 9-10, 2015 at the Media Presentation Room, Xavier Hall, Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU). The activity, which aimed to equip and urge researchers from different fields to conduct researches regarding the effects of climate change to human health, was participated by a total of 33 researchers from different institutions.
Guest speaker Fr. Daniel McNamara, of AdDU’s B.S. Environmental Science Program shared his knowledge regarding the effects of Climate Change to Human Health and elaborated calamities brought by this phenomenon. He also challenged the participants by quoting from Pope Benedict XVI’s book entitled “If You Want to Cultivate Peace, Protect Creation” which says “Can we remain indifferent before the problems associated with such realities as climate change, desertification, the deterioration and loss of productivity in vast agricultural areas, the pollution of rivers and aquifers, the loss of biodiversity, the increase of natural catastrophes and the deforestation of equatorial and tropical regions? Can we disregard the growing phenomenon of 'environmental refugees', people who are forced by the degradation of their natural habitat to forsake it - and often their possessions as well - in order to face the dangers and uncertainties of forced displacement?"
Mr. Paul Ernest De Leon, OIC-Chief R&D Management Division of DOST-PCHRD and Ms. Keziah Camille Terrado, Science Research Specialist II of DOST-PCHRD also discussed the National Unified Health Research Agenda (NUHRA) 2011-2016 and the on-going and completed PCHRD funded projects pertaining with climate change.
Participants were also guided on how to develop proposals which are related to climate change and its effect to human health with Dr. Rosalinda Tomas acting as the workshop facilitator. The participants came up with individual or collaborative proposals which were then presented to experts/panelists. Seven concept proposals were presented to the panelists- Mr. Paul Ernest De Leon and Dr. Alvin Concha, SPMC-CERC Chair for their comments and suggestions.
Climate Change and Disaster-Related Health Research and Development TWG urged the participants to improve these proposals to qualify for the regional funding.
Powerpoint Presentations of the guest speakers can be downloaded at http://region11.healthresearch.ph/ Downloads Section.
