The Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD), the Regional Health Research and Development Consortium XI (RHRDC XI) and the ICT Davao Inc. altogether worked for the successful conduct of the Regional eHealth Forum last March 28, 2014 at the Marco Polo Hotel Davao. The event which was participated by approximately 140 participants from the ICT and Health sectors showcased the eHealth Marketplace where different budding eHealth Innovations in Davao region as well as the different eHealth programs and services offered by the government and health professional groups were featured. These eHealth Innovations and Programs aim to improve the health services and access to health information which will eventually propel towards improving the quality of health of Filipinos.
Aside from the government and industry participants, the eHealth Marketplace was also participated by young eHealth innovators coming from three Davao City academic institutions namely Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU), University of the Immaculate Conception (UIC) and University of Mindanao (UM).Aside from the government and industry participants, the eHealth Marketplace was also participated by young eHealth innovators coming from three Davao City academic institutions namely Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU), University of the Immaculate Conception (UIC) and University of Mindanao (UM).
The undergraduates from UM on the other hand, which was represented by Eva Grace Carlon and Faith Galope, displayed their tablet application that detects skin infection using image processing. The application provides series of functions such as infection list, gallery, infection, camera, infection captured, GPS tracking for the nearest dermatologist, accuracy percentage, source of information, and user profile which will help the end-user to be more knowledgeable about the skin infection they have incurred.
Herbal medicines was the target subject of UIC as Fatima Ledesma, Princess Lei Madriaga, Kevin Omiple and Exander Barrios developed an android application named “knowITHerbal” that enables the user to determine a herbal plant by simply capturing the image of its leaf. This application also provides other details of the herbal plant such as scientific name, common name, availability and its utilization which is beneficial especially to common people who seek to find cheaper alternative medicines.
These innovations validate that Davao City is indeed a burgeoning locale of young minds and that the local research culture should be nurtured to utilize science-based knowledge in addressing the leading priorities of our country, including the health of all Filipinos.
