The UP Open University (UPOU) Health and Wellness (H&W) Committee and the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration (OVCFA) jointly organized a half-day forum on 28 April 2017 as part of the celebration of the Head and Neck Cancer Consciousness Week and World Immunization Week .
Asst. Prof. Rita Ramos, Chair of the H&W Committee, Registered Nurse and Faculty Secretary of the Faculty of Management and Development Studies (FMDS), opened the forum and welcomed the participants. She explained UPOU's efforts to improve the holistic wellness of its workforce through the H&W Committee's efforts in line with the Team Approach and Youthful Outlook for UPOU (TAYO) Flagship Program of the university.
The resource persons for the forum were Dr. Jan Warren A. Holgado, Head and Neck Surgery Specialist, and Dr. Teri-Marie Laude, a Family and Community Medicine Specialist, and Faculty Member at the College of Human Ecology of UPLB.
Dr. Holgado comprehensively explained the parts of the head and neck which are prone to the development of cancer cells, the causes and symptoms, as well as the necessary actions to do to prevent and treat cancer. According to Dr. Holgado, most cancers are preventable by avoiding risk factors like smoking, extreme alcohol intake, poor oral hygiene, eating highly processed food, prolonged sun exposure and others. In addition, he advised regular self-check and inspection of the neck, face and mouth, and immediately consulting a doctor for any irregularities.
Dr. Laude, on the other hand, delved into the importance of vaccination even among adults. She mentioned that vaccination can keep a person healthy and can mean the difference between life and death. Dr. Laude also stated that vaccines help prevent the spread of diseases so the entire community is also protected.
After both presentations, the audience was given a chance to ask questions. Free consultations were also done on some of the UPOU employees. Questions were also entertained from the online viewers as the forum was webstreamed over networks.upou.edu.ph, where a video of the forum is also available to the public. (Anna Cañas-Llamas)
