The Department of Health embarked on Essential Newborn Care , a new program to addressed neonatal deaths in the country. Under the umbrella of the Unang Yakap Campaign, Essential Newborn Care is an evidenced based strategic intervention aimed at improving newborn care and helping cub neonatal mortality.

The Essential Newborn Care package is a four-step newborn care intervention undertaken to lessen newborn death.

1. Immediate and thorough drying to stimulate breathing after delivery of the baby
2. Provision of appropriate thermal care through mother and newborn skin-to skin contact maintaining a delivery room temperature of 25-28 degrees centigrade and wrapping the newborn with clean, dry cloth.
3. Properly timed clamping and cutting of the umbilical cord, (1-3 minutes or until cord pulsation stops)
4. Immediate latching on and initiation of breastfeeding within first hour after birth.

Post-natal care required within 24 hours after birth also includes

• Cord care
• Breastfeeding
• Vitamin K injection
• Eye prophylaxis
• Delayed bathing until 6 hours of life
• BCG and first dose of Hepatitis B Immunization
• Newborn screening

The Essential Newborn Care Package aims to reduce newborn mortality rate from 13 deaths (2006 FPS, NSO) to 10 per 1000 live births by 2015.

I have encountered a lot of people being infected with viral conjunctivitis. The following is a health advisory from the Department of Health. Hand hygiene (hand washing with soap and water or use of hand sanitizer, best is still 70 % isopropyl alcohol) is the basic precaution for all common diseases .

Sore Eyes is a term often used for viral conjunctivitis

Incubation period or time from exposure to onset of symptoms: 5 -12 days

Mode of Transmission

• Direct contact by one’s eyes with hands contaminated with eye secretions of an infected person.

• Touching of eyes with hands getting contact with surfaces, instruments, eye solutions, make-ups contaminated with the virus from an infected person.

• Entry of the virus through the eyes by swimming in poorly chlorinated pools.

Signs and Symptoms

• Begins in one eye and later affects both eyes.

• Watery to pus-like discharge.

• Redness of the eye with pain and/or itching sensation.

• Eyelids that are stuck together on awakening.

• In severe cases, pain of the eyes on exposure to sunlight and foreign-body solution.

Treatment

• There is no specific treatment during the acute phase (1-2 weeks).

• If eye discharge is profuse and pus-like or patient develops blurring of vision or severe pain, consultation with an ophthalmologist is advised.

Prevention

• Wash hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water.

• Minimize hand-to-eye contact.

• Use only own towels, eye drops, make-ups and applicators, sunglasses or eye glasses.

• Wear eye/sunglasses on a windy day to protect one’s eyes from foreign particles

• Avoid crowded places.

• Disinfect surfaces, doorknobs, counters, elevator buttons and hand rails with dilute bleach solution.

• Clothes, towels, pillow cases and anything else which may have come in contact with an infected person should be washed

Source:

HEALTH ADVISORY, National Center for Health Promotion, National Center for Disease Prevention and Control. Department of Health

Is your baby (infants, 0-1 years old) sleeping late or having a hard time falling asleep? Are you becoming an anxious mum because your little boy or girl’s sleep is affecting your quality time with your husband or rules your mood for the next day?

Relax mom, Johnson’s Baby Bedtime is here to be your savior. With their new Johnson’s Baby Bedtime advocacy of a bedtime routine to improve baby’s sleep at night, it’s sure will reduce mom’s anxiety. Johnson’s Baby Bedtime is basically a three-step procedure, done to babies as a routine every night.

Step 1 : a warm bath or “punas”

Step 2: soothing massage

Step 3: some quiet activities

Dr Luis Rivera, MD , a pediatrician and member of the Philippine Society of Sleep Medicine emphasized the importance of sleep for infants growth and development. A sound and longer sleep for babies’ means more growth hormones will be released thus influencing bones and muscles to develop.

My three kids, Dianne (20),Jeric (18) and Roxanne (15), were Johnson’s babies. Since I was a working mum, I used to give them a bath at 6 or 7 pm when they were infants.  All along I was practicing the three- step Johnson’s Baby bedtime routine. Massage was applying either Johnson’s baby oil or lotion. At night I breastfeed, so I didn’t have to stand up and mix their milk formula. I swear, I have never experienced sleepless nights taking care of them maybe my body’s warmth and mummy’s Johnson’s baby powder smell was an added help. I can attest that the three- step Johnson’s Baby bedtime routine proved effective for my kid’s health.

For more details about this Johnson’s help to mothers who have growing kids, visit their very informative website.

http://www.babycenter.com.ph/bedtime

A good diet, a stress-free mind, and a healthy body are always one’s goal, but gets unmet because of our uncaring attitude for oneself. It might be because of a lot of reasons but once health gets badly affected, all activities will take to have a backseat.

Nutrilite launches their new Fitness Nutrition products, which combines the best of nature with the best of science to provide the fastest way to jumpstart one’s path toward optimal health.

Nutrilite products such as Rhodiola (an herb supplement to boost energy and mental alertness), Strive+ (a rehydration drink) and FitH2O (a drink which hydrates and nourishes the body for light activity) are made from natural, whole plant concentrates and combine the best of nature with the best of science to provide you with the fastest way to jumpstart your path toward optimal health.

Nutrilite together with world renowned athletes Ronaldinho, Liu Xiang, and Paeng Nepomuceno – believe that the quest for optimal health is an everyday sport and it is where endless possibilities of human strength can be displayed and optimal health is necessary to leave a mark and create history.

Nutrilite is the world’s leading brand of vitamin, mineral and dietary supplements with $3 billion in sales in 2007. For 75 years, Nutrilite is grounded on the most advanced research and technology and is exclusively distributed locally by Amway Philippines. For product inquiries or to be an Independent Business Owner, please call 814-8181.

I have been reading books about perimenopause to learn how I will be able to prepare myself for the natural change that I am about to undergo in the next few years. Since my foremost inconvenient feeling is the “hot flushes” , I have gathered the following information which I can share with some who are also in this situation.

Top five things to do to relieve myself from perimenopausal symptoms

• Take Vitamin E  (400- 800 I. U per day),Vitamin C (500 mg) and B-complex vitamins
• Avoiding hot baths and hot drinks
• Eat more vegetables and fruits
• Modification of my lifestyle, do only what I like and prioritize my activities
• Do a make over of myself, i.e change in the way I look

I am one of those who is experiencing perimenopausal symptoms. It’s a little disgusting because, after all these years your body is telling you, hey there is going to be changes, I hope change for the better and not for the worst.

Perimenopause is the transition years before your actual menopausal period ( when your menstruation stopped coming every month). The main cause of these changes is the diminution of what makes us a woman, our precious hormones, estrogen and progesterone.

Some changes that I have experienced are menstrual period changes, hot flushes, reduced stamina, mood swings and irritability.

Of all these changes, the hot flashes are so unpleasant . After taking a shower in the morning, there is sort of a bad feeling or an aura I cannot understand, I had to pause and sit in front of an electric fan even if I am in an air conditioned room. Hot flushes would come my way and profuse sweating follows.

This has been my dilemma every morning after I had my shower. During the night even in an air-conditioned room, my profuse sweating would awaken me and eventually disturbed my sleep.

I can do nothing this is bound to happen. No woman is exempted.

• In 6 year period (2003 – 2009) there were more than half a million                  (530, 988) nursing board examinees in the Philippines
• In 2008 alone there, there were 153, 108 nursing board examinees, graduates of Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
• The June 2008 NLE had  the biggest number of examinees (88,649)
• It was only in June 2003 and December 2005, that the passing rate reached more than 50 per cent
• The lowest passing rate was in December 2006 (40.10 %) and June 2006     (41.23 %) which was the leakage marred NLE exam.
• More than fifty percent (53 %) of nursing board examinees in a 6-year period (2003-2009), have not passed the nursing licensure examinations.

On Aug 18 and 19 , 2009, a lot of these passers will troop to the SMX convention center  for the much awaited Oath Taking ceremony.

I have been involved in teaching nursing students for the past 4 years and I was always telling them that out of 10 students, only 4 or 5 of them would pass.

Who will be among their group, it’s up to them. It is how focus and determine

 you are to pass the NLE.

Protection against cervical cancer among Filipina

Data from the Philippine Cancer Society revealed that cervical cancer is the second killer disease among Filipino women as it continues to claim the lives of 12 Filipino women every day.Yes, every day, 12 Filipina die of cervical cancer. It’s ranked as the second most common cancer afflicting Filipino women.

Let’s have no fear against cervical cancer, vaccination is now available for us.  Cervarix ( Human Papilloma Vaccine ) is offering long lasting protection against cervical cancer .

It is indicated for females 10 years of age onwards. It is given by intramuscular injections for three times in a span of 6 months. For example if you had the first dose in July, the next dose will be in August and the last and thirrd dose will be in January 2010.

What is  Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)?

• HPV is a sexually transmitted virus that causes cancer
• More than 100 types of HPV have been discovered, 15 of these have been identified as putting women at high risk for cervical cancers
• At risk for infection are coitus with multiple partners

 What are the manifestations of cervical cancer?

Possible symptoms are post coital spotting, unexplained vaginal discharge or spotting between menstrual periods, pelvic pain and pain during sexual intercourse.

Every Filipina deserves a chance against cervical cancer. Protect yourself!

For more questions about cervical cancer vaccine: email me at annakatharinamd@gmail.com

Recent reports indicate that Red bull energy drink products in Hongkong has been identified to be laced with traces of cocaine in some of the samples coming from Austria and United Kingdom. Retailers were immediately advised to pull out Red Bull energy drink off the market.

Energy drinks do proliferate in most convenient stores and drugstores here in the Philippines. To some it has become a habit to take one before work , for students  they have to take it before examinations and to keep them awake  through the night as they are reviewing. Along the streets you will see vendors selling Extra Joss in sachets and a bottle of mineral water to motorist caught in the traffic. I have seen security guards mixing the said energy drink during their break time.

Cobra, Extra Joss and I –ON energy drink s have the following main ingredients such as caffeine, taurine, ginseng and royal jelly.

Effects of these ingredients are the following:

Caffeine : One will experience less drowsiness, less fatigue, more rapid and clearer flow of thought.

Taurine : Is a kind of amino acid  ( protein) and helps regulate water and mineral salts in the body.

The B complex vitamins are in smaller amounts however, we can get these from the food we eat every day. These are also water-soluble vitamins so that anything we eat in excess, it goes to out of the body in the urine. You may notice that your urine turns more yellowish every time one takes these energy drinks.

Ginseng : increase energy and endurance, reduce fatique and effects of stress and prevent infections. increase mental and physical capacity

Royal jelly : can ameliorate the physical fatigue after exercise

Ginseng and royal jelly have myriad other benefits aside from what I have mentioned.

If one eats the proper diet every day, rice, vegetables, meat and fish. One can get these ingredients. A cup of coffee in the morning provides about 80 mg of caffeine.

Imagine yourself, drinking 1 cup of coffee (80 mg caffeine) in the morning, a bottle of cola ( 50 mg caffeine) for lunch, an ice cold tea ( 50 mg caffeine) and a bottle of Cobra (134 mg caffeine) in the early afternoon to ward off sleepiness and a night cap at Starbucks coffee ( 85 mg caffeine). That a lot of caffeine in your body, a total of about 400 mg of caffeine in your body. Warning , as the dose of caffeine is increased, it can produced nervousness, restlessness, insomnia, tremors and palpitations, oftentimes mental block if you are a  student.

Be careful of taking these energy drinks. It can do more harm than good when taken in excess and taking them becomes a habit.