A group of third year medical students from the Davao Medical School Foundation, Inc. (DMSFI) namely Muhammad Razul Abdullah, Rechie Mae C. Abear, Sittie Jebrailyn Amilhasan, Sittie Soriena D. Kundo, Chris Dy, John Edward C. Padisio, Michael Jan Pimentel, Haris Rashid, Rus Cyan Josef E. Rodelas, Rodessa Charcey Tabunda, Ruth Kristine Tan and Dr. Herminia Nartatez (adviser) won the first place in the research poster exhibit contest during the recently conducted 5th Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS) Week at L'Fisher Hotel, Bacolod City on August 10-12, 2011. Their study entitled "Acute Toxicity Dose in Mice and Effective Dose (ED50) of Calabash (Crescentia cujete) Fruit Decoction as a Hypoglycemic Agent in Alloxan-induced Hyperglycemic Rabbits" was chosen among the eleven entries from the various regions. The poster was chosen by the Regional Health Research and Development Consortium XI (RHRDC XI) to represent the Davao Region for this year's PNHRS Week that has the theme Convergence in Divergence: Innovations for Better Health.
The PNHRS Week celebration provides a platform for the different stakeholders to interact, learn from each other, share information and experiences, voice concerns of respective regions and contribute research-based solutions to health problems, among other things.
The RHRDC XI was represented by Dr. Warlito C. Vicente - Chair of RHRDC XI, Dr. Anthony C. Sales - Co-chair and Regional Coordinator, Dr. Victoria T. Lupase - Chair of the Research Information and Utilization Sub-committee, Dr. Melinda C. Tagle - Convenor of the Traditional Medicine Research Program and presenter for the Inter-Regional Research Presentation and Sittie Jebrailyn Amilhasan - presenter for the Research Poster Exhibit.
Dr. Anthony C. Sales gave a comprehensive presentation on the perspective of the Davao Region on funding the National Unified Health Research Agenda (NUHRA) which was drafted during the activity.
The PNHRS Week celebration ended with a good news announced by Congressman Alfredo Marañon III, Chair of the Committee on Health and 2nd District Representative of Negros Occidental that the PNHRS Bill was already approved at the committee level in the 15th Congress. The PNHRS Bill, if passed, will institutionalize the PNHRS as a framework for cooperation and will provide a stable fund source to support health research. It will also enable the health and allied societies to contribute to research-based solutions to pressing health problems in the country.
The celebration was participated by more than 400 stakeholders nationwide.
