ZAMBOANGA CITY (PIA) – The 6th Regional Health Research Summit held here recently featured exceptional health research that promises to contribute to the health and safety of Filipinos, introduce new treatments, and enhance quality of life in communities.
Dr. Ellery Ivan E. Apolinario from Ciudad Medical Zamboanga, who won the Oral Research Paper Competition in the Professional Category, focuses his study on the plight of the caregivers of hemodialysis patients. His research title is: “Quality of Life and Caregiver Strain of Adult Informal Caregivers of Patients Undergoing Chronic Hemodialysis.”
“There are a lot of researchers in hemodialysis, but there is only a little research on caregivers. I am curious about the difficulty they face and their quality of life.” Dr. Apolinario hopes that through his study, the government may develop a program also for the caregiver of hemodialysis patients.
Meanwhile, Mr. Yousef T. Naeem, who secured the top place in the Poster Research Competition under the Professional Category, shared his goal “I want to help the people get access to clean safe drinking water as a basic human right.”
His research titled “The Acceptance of Chlorination, Boiling, Solar Disinfection, and Sawyer Water Filter as Methods of Water Purification in Barangay Sta. Cruz, Municipality of Mahayag, Zamboanga del Sur” addresses this critical issue.
In the Student category, Jonathan Atendido, a magna cum laude graduate of Bachelor of Science Major in Medical Biology from Western Mindanao State University, won and was recognized in the Oral Research Competition for his study entitled “In Vitro Litholytic and Nephrolithiasis Inhibition Potential of Asplenium nidus (birds nest fern) Leaves Methanolic Crude Extract”
“My study is inspired by my personal experience with my mother. When I was in grade six, she was subjected to a medical surgery due to severe accumulation of kidney stones in her body. I was extremely worried about her condition and reflecting about it now, millions of individuals share similar experiences. I believe this study will benefit individuals worldwide who have faced similar situations and diseases,” said Atendido.
In his research, Atendido examined Cabcabon plant for its medicinal application. They aim to utilize this plant as a possible treatment for kidney stones from the extract that they have gathered. They have found out it has indeed potential to cure kidney stones by integrating with existing crystals found in human body.
The Regional Health Research Summit is done every other year. The winners automatically become the official representatives of Zamboanga Peninsula at the upcoming Philippine National Health Research System Week Celebration, scheduled this year in August in Butuan City.
Mr. Ricardo J. Apolinario III, chief science research specialist of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-9, expresses hope that researchers from the region will receive funding support for their presented research projects at the national level.
“We create a broader avenue to disseminate research results effectively. The more stakeholders and interested parties we involve, the greater the opportunity to spread the word about our research projects,” Apolinario emphasized.
The 6th Regional Health Research Summit gathered researchers, faculty, and students from member institutions across the region.
The three-day activity was conducted by the DOST IX – Zamboanga City Health Research and Development Consortium in collaboration with DOST – Philippine Council for Health Research and Development and the Department of Health Zamboanga Peninsula – Center for Health. (EDT/CCP/PIA9)
