NewsMakers
Globe, ACCESS Health provide access to maternal, child care services via ICT
Dubbed as E-Aksyon tungo sa Kalusugang Pangkalahatan (e-AKaP), the ACCESS Health project is being piloted in about 6,000 households under the jurisdiction of three Caloocan City health stations, involving 100 health workers and community health team (CHT) partners. It may be later on expanded to other barangays, cities and municipalities.

As Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) in the country continues to increase due to lack of knowledge and medical attention, leading telecommunications company Globe Telecom and ACCESS Health International have decided to join hands for better healthcare delivery services to mothers and children particularly in underprivileged areas.

Dr. Laila Celino, Municipal Health Officer of Caloocan City talks about the important role of electronic data gathering in addressing health-related issues
“We want to help find a solution to health problems plaguing the country, particularly mothers and children in the lower income group. So through the use of technology, we hope to determine how to give them access to quality health care services,” said Fernando Esguerra, OIC, Globe Corporate Social Responsibility.
Dubbed as E-Aksyon tungo sa Kalusugang Pangkalahatan (e-AKaP), the ACCESS Health project is being piloted in about 6,000 households under the jurisdiction of three Caloocan City health stations, involving 100 health workers and community health team (CHT) partners. It may be later on expanded to other barangays, cities and municipalities.
e-AKap uses a computer application known as Intelligent Community Health Team (iCHT) for identification of health risks and formulation of specific health plans for mothers and children, follow up of scheduled visits, and status updates through electronic reporting. The application is pre-loaded in the 25 tablet computers provided by Globe which also donated Tattoo broadband sticks with Globe Prepaid load for internet access.
“Bilang frontliners sa paghahatid ng mga serbisyong pangkalusugan, nag-iikot po kami na bitbit ang napakaraming mga forms, health plans, at guides. Sa e-AKaP, tinuruan po kaming gumamit ng tablet. Nasa tablet na po lahat ang mga health messages na babasahin namin sa mga households. May reminder din kung sino ang pupunta sa center sa bawat petsa. Mas napapadali po ang aming trabaho at mas marami po ang natuturuan namin na maging aware sa mga risk factors lalo na sa mga bata at buntis (As frontliners in the delivery of health services, we go around bringing a lot of forms, health plans and guides. With e-AKap, we were taught how to use a tablet. It contains all the health messages which we read to the households. There’s also a reminder on who should go to the health center on a specific date. Our work becomes easier now so we are able to teach more people especially the children and pregnant mothers to be aware of the risk factors),” said Sonata Sadsad, a CHT partner.
Dr. Laila Celino, municipal health officer, also expressed gratitude that e-AKaP was first introduced in Caloocan City.
“If we can conduct a fast assessment of the health situation in the community, we can also address the problem promptly. In Bagong Silang alone, there are only six doctors for a population of 300,000, thus, it is impossible to reach every one. But now, with the help of the CHT partners and electronic monitoring, bringing health service right at the people’s doorstep would be much quicker,” she said.
According to her, since the tablets are turned over to the health center by the CHT partners, data is updated every day. Once the information is validated by the doctors they can easily identify who are those in need of medical attention.
“Usually, the people only visit us when the problem is already worse. They try to avoid going to the health center maybe because they were afraid, shy, or simply couldn’t leave work. Now that we have empowered the community, they help bring the patients to us or we can go to them if necessary. The community health team uses the tablet to teach the people and make them realize that they will suffer and spend more if they allow their health to deteriorate,” Celino added.
Latest statistics show that despite the government’s focused efforts to improve maternal and child health, the Maternal Mortality Rate (MRR) in the Philippines still rose by 35 percent from 162 out of 100,000 live births in 2009 to 211 in 2011.
ACCESS (Affordable, Comprehensive, Cost-Effective, Sustainable and Scalable) Health International, Inc. is a non-profit organization committed to providing global access to affordable and quality healthcare via innovative solutions, implementation research and knowledge transfer.
NewsMakers
5 Tips to upgrade your sleep
Sleep contributes to better brain function, memory, concentration and lower stress. According to the National Institutes of Health, most adults need 7-9 hours of sleep every night to achieve maximum health benefits.

Good sleep isn’t just about waking up feeling rested and ready for the day. Quality sleep, and plenty of it, is important for your overall health. While you sleep, your body naturally recharges itself, which puts you at lower risk for cardiovascular problems and chronic conditions like diabetes, as well as improving your immune system.
Sleep also contributes to better brain function, memory, concentration and lower stress. According to the National Institutes of Health, most adults need 7-9 hours of sleep every night to achieve maximum health benefits.
If you’re falling short of the recommended amount of sleep, you may be able to make some adjustments that help you reap the health benefits of better rest. Learn what you can do to improve your sleep with these tips from the experts in safer, healthier sleep at Naturepedic.
Reduce Light Exposure
Your body’s natural circadian rhythms are closely aligned with light and dark. When your body senses light, it sends signals to your brain that it’s time to be awake. Light also suppresses your body’s production of melatonin, a hormone linked to sleep. Cutting back on bright lights and avoiding devices at least an hour before bed can tell your body it’s time to wind down, and sleeping in a dark room promotes better rest.
Invest in the Right Mattress
Your mattress plays a major role in your comfort through the night, so making sure it fits your needs is an important step toward getting better rest. Take control of your comfort with a quality mattress such as Naturepedic’s EOS (Ergonomic Organic Sleep) mattress, which is handcrafted and made without polyurethane foam, formaldehyde, flame retardants or fiberglass. The breathable layers of certified organic cotton, wool and GOTS-approved latex ensure better temperature regulation while naturally contouring the body. An added feature is the ability to customize each side of the bed by opening the zippers and adjusting the layered components for the perfect comfort combination.
Find the Right Sheets
Sheets that are too stiff, scratchy or otherwise unpleasant make it nearly impossible to settle in for a good night’s rest. Higher thread counts tend to be softer, higher quality sheets. However, you may need to experiment to find which material suits you best.
Set a Comfortable Temperature
When you’re too hot or cold, your mind tends to focus on those sensations rather than allowing you to slip into a slumber. Set your thermostat at a comfortable temperature, adding fans or adjusting the layers of bedding as necessary to achieve the perfect level of cozy comfort.
Use a Sound Machine
If you’re a light sleeper, noise can wreak havoc on your rest. Many people find sound machines offer two key benefits: They provide a soothing sound, such as rain or ocean waves, that allows you to relax and ease into slumber and constant background noise, so additional sounds are less disruptive.
Find more solutions for achieving better sleep at Naturepedic.com.
NewsMakers
What you should know about IBD
Two common conditions are irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). They’re often confused for one another, but these are actually two different GI disorders.

It may not be something you like to talk about, but if you have gastrointestinal (GI) problems, your symptoms may be far more common than you think. According to data from the American Gastroenterological Association, 60-70 million people living in the United States have gut health concerns.
Two common conditions are irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). They’re often confused for one another, but these are actually two different GI disorders.
IBS is a syndrome; it is defined by a group of symptoms, does not cause inflammation and rarely requires hospitalization or surgery. IBD, on the other hand, is an umbrella term used to describe disorders that cause chronic inflammation of your GI tract.
The disease is more common than you may realize; a study led by the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation found nearly 1 in 100 people living in the U.S. have IBD. The two most common forms of IBD are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
Understanding IBD Symptoms
Because it poses serious health risks and can cause permanent damage to your intestines, it’s important to be aware of what IBD is and recognize the symptoms. Your primary care doctor or gastroenterologist can help if you have concerns about these symptoms:
- Intense, crampy pain that doesn’t go away in a day or two or has been present on and off for weeks or longer
- A notable change in bowel movement frequency, whether more or less often
- Frequent diarrhea over several weeks, or loose stools multiple times a day
- Frequent constipation, or constipation alternating with diarrhea
- Urgency on a regular basis or inability to hold back the bowel movement before reaching the bathroom
- Blood with bowel movements
- Mucus in your stool regularly or paired with pain or other symptoms
- Always feeling as though you aren’t fully emptying your bowels
Other symptoms that may have a variety of causes but need extra attention especially if you notice them along with any of the symptoms above include pain outside of the gut, fatigue, loss of appetite and weight loss. In addition, children with IBD may have delays in growth and the onset of puberty.
Diagnosing IBD
No single test can confirm a Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis diagnosis. Your medical history and information obtained from diagnostic testing can exclude other potential causes of your symptoms, since gastrointestinal symptoms are common and can have a variety of causes.
Your first tests will likely include blood and stool laboratory tests. Further testing could include imaging studies of your gastrointestinal tract or a look inside your GI tract through an endoscope.
Identifying Treatment Options
Once an IBD diagnosis is confirmed, you can partner with your doctor to manage your disease. Treatment plans are highly personalized, as what works for one person may not for another. Medication and managing your diet and nutrition are two common treatment recommendations. In some cases, surgery can help improve your quality of life.
Clinical trials may also be an option for treating your IBD. Through clinical trials, researchers find new ways to improve treatments and quality of life. In fact, clinical trials represent the final stages of a long and careful research process to make new and improved treatment options for patients available.
However, an important part of clinical trials for IBD is patient participation. Without the enrollment of patients in clinical trials, new treatment options for IBD can be delayed or never become available.
Equally important to this process is having a diverse representation of patients that considers race, age or other categories. This helps researchers develop treatments that meet the needs of a vast IBD patient community.
If you’re interested in participating in a clinical trial, ask your doctor to help you find a trial that is right for you, and visit crohnscolitisfoundation.org to learn more about IBD and treatment options, including clinical trials.
NewsMakers
Unlocking the science of sleep: How rest enhances language learning
Getting eight hours of sleep every night helps the brain to store and learn a new language.

Sleep is critical for all sorts of reasons, but a team of international scientists has discovered a new incentive for getting eight hours of sleep every night: it helps the brain to store and learn a new language.
A study led by the University of South Australia (UniSA) and published in the Journal of Neuroscience has revealed that the coordination of two electrical events in the sleeping brain significantly improves our ability to remember new words and complex grammatical rules.
In an experiment with 35 native English-speaking adults, researchers tracked the brain activity of participants learning a miniature language called Mini Pinyin that is based on Mandarin but with similar grammatical rules to English.
Half of the participants learned Mini Pinyin in the morning and then returned in the evening to have their memory tested. The other half learned Mini Pinyin in the evening and then slept in the laboratory overnight while their brain activity was recorded. Researchers tested their progress in the morning.
Those who slept performed significantly better compared to those who remained awake.
Lead researcher Dr Zachariah Cross, who did his PhD at UniSA but is now based at Northwestern University in Chicago, says sleep-based improvements were linked to the coupling of slow oscillations and sleep spindles – brainwave patterns that synchronise during NREM sleep.
“This coupling likely reflects the transfer of learned information from the hippocampus to the cortex, enhancing long-term memory storage,” Dr Cross says.
“Post-sleep neural activity showed unique patterns of theta oscillations associated with cognitive control and memory consolidation, suggesting a strong link between sleep-induced brainwave co-ordination and learning outcomes.”
UniSA researcher Dr Scott Coussens says the study underscores the importance of sleep in learning complex linguistic rules.
“By demonstrating how specific neural processes during sleep support memory consolidation, we provide a new perspective on how sleep disruption impacts language learning,” Dr Coussens says. “Sleep is not just restful; it’s an active, transformative state for the brain.”
The findings could also potentially inform treatments for individuals with language-related impairments, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and aphasia, who experience greater sleep disturbances than other adults.
Research on both animals and humans shows that slow oscillations improve neural plasticity – the brain’s ability to change and adapt in response to experiences and injury.
“From this perspective, slow oscillations could be increased via methods such as transcranial magnetic stimulation to accelerate aphasia-based speech and language therapy,” Dr Cross says.
In future, the researchers plan to explore how sleep and wake dynamics influence the learning of other complex cognitive tasks.
“Understanding how the brain works during sleep has implications beyond language learning. It could revolutionize how we approach education, rehabilitation, and cognitive training.”
-
Product Showcase3 weeks ago
Manulife Wealth and Asset Management appoints Fabio Fontainha as Head of Asia
-
Product Showcase3 weeks ago
PhilCare members can now access Healthway’s full-service offerings
-
Dining Out4 weeks ago
Checking Sky Seafoods in Caloocan
-
Dining Out2 weeks ago
A taste of Thai in Pasay
-
Wellness2 weeks ago
Exercise improves brain function, possibly reducing dementia risk
-
Wellness2 weeks ago
Mental well-being and physical activity can form a positive cycle
-
Dining Out5 days ago
Still trying to find the promise of Las Tres Marias Deliciosa Lasaña