The Medical City answers the global call for creating a greener space for all

e u ropean u n ion officials warned last week that there is a growing risk of mosquito-borne viral diseases such as dengue and chikungunya in e u rope due to climate change.

The eu ropean Center for Disease Prevention and Control said that because e u rope is experiencing a warming trend, with heat waves and flooding becoming more frequent and severe, and summers getting longer and warmer, the conditions are more favorable for invasive mosquito species such as Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti.

The Stockholm-based agency said in a report that Aedes albopictus is a known vector of chikungunya and dengue viruses and has been establishing itself farther north and west in e u rope. The other mosquito, Aedes aegypti, known to transmit dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya, zika and West Nile viruses, has been established in Cyprus since 2022 and may spread to other e u ropean countries.

A decade ago, the Aedes albopictus mosquito was established in eight e u ropean countries, with 114 regions affected. This year, the mosquito is established in 13 countries and 337 regions, the e C DC said.

“If this continues, we can expect to see more cases and possibly deaths from diseases such as dengue, chikungunya and West Nile fever,” e C DC director Andrea Ammon said. “ e f forts need to focus on ways to control mosquito populations, enhancing surveillance and enforcing personal

Before, the diseases were imported from abroad, but ”now we have domestically acquired cases,” Ammon said in an online news conference.

The agency said ways to control mosquito populations include eliminating standing water where mosquitoes breed, using eco-friendly larvicides and promoting community awareness about mosquito control. To protect themselves, people can use mosquito bed nets, sleep or rest in screened or air-conditioned rooms, wear clothes that cover most of the body and use mosquito repellent, the e C DC said.

It said that raising awareness about diseases transmitted by mosquitoes is essential.

There is no specific treatment for dengue. While about 80 percent of infections are mild, severe cases can lead to internal bleeding, organ damage and death.

Chikungunya fever, a debilitating disease that is suspected of afflicting tens of thousands, was first identified in Africa in 1953. It causes severe pain in the joints but is rarely fatal. There is no vaccine and it is mainly treated with pain medication.

Ammon said 1,339 locally acquired cases of West Nile infections, including 104 deaths, were reported in e u rope in 2022, the highest number since an epidemic in 2018.

West Nile fever symptoms can include headache, fever, muscle and joint aches, nausea and fatigue. People with West Nile fever typically recover on their own, although symptoms may last for weeks to months.

Pilipinas Shell Foundation passes nutrition program on LGUs

By Roderick L. Abad Contributor

PILIPINAS Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI), the corporate social responsibility (CSR) unit of Shell Pilipinas Corp. (SPC), celebrated the successful culmination of its Roots to Shoots (RTS) program and transferred its stewardship to the local government units (LGUs) of Bombon and Pasacao in Camarines Sur to ensure its continuity in the long run.

RTS is aimed at addressing the issue of malnutrition, especially in far-flung areas where access to government’s health initiatives and nutritious food is lacking.

PSFI Chairman Cesar A. Buenaventura underscored the importance of agriculture and food security for SPC. He said: “Our training farm has benefitted many farmers. Together you’ve successfully reduced malnutrition and improved sanitation and health—with very tangible results.”

Likewise, it reinforced local utility firm Bombon Water District by enhancing water system infrastructure and improving the technical capacities of its personnel.

“We learned that when it comes to solving malnutrition, water access, sanitation, and hygiene play a critical role,” Manila Water Foundation (MWF) Executive Director Reginald M. Andal said in mixed Filipino and English.

Such positive results indicate the program’s effectiveness in promoting sustainable development.

“It is a good model that can be replicated in other places. It’s really a powerhouse; our community volunteers were excited telling their stories, and I’m really looking forward that this excitement will be sustained even beyond the life of the project,” World Vision Development Foundation (WVDF) National Director Rommel V. Fuerte pointed out.

MO re a nd more Filipino families consider themselves “food poor,” or unable to meet their basic food needs and get enough healthy food options. In the selfrated survey of Social Weather Stations, 39 percent of Filipino families considered themselves food poor in the first quarter of the year, showing a five-percent increase from last year’s results. The age-old problems of hunger, malnutrition, and food crises have continually hunted us and remain a growing concern to this day. Among the most promising solutions that can increase food sources and hopefully address the food crisis is urban g a rdening.

In one of the busiest streets in the Metro, a modernized city full of concrete and sky-high buildings sprouts a solution to the threatening food problems. h a nd in hand with the Pasig City e n vironment and Natural r e sources Office (C e N r O), The Medical City actively forges its commitment to the green revolution by supporting the green initiative and creating green spaces for all. In the middle of the health cri sis, where the world continues to adapt to life with Covid-19, The Medical City found an opportunity to start its small urban gardening project. In the form of a contest organized by Nutrition Management Services (a multidisciplinary team of nutrition specialists in The Medical City), employees were encouraged to join the green initiative.

To coincide with the country’s annual Nutrition Month celebration last July 2022, green growers planted lettuce, cabbage, and spinach in solidarity. The seeds were placed in seedling trays before being transferred to urban containers to allow them to grow.

Joselle Teofisto, a dedicated Administrative Associate of The Medical City during office hours and a committed urban gardener during her break time, shares how she took care of her bok choy and lettuce. “I started with a seedling tray and then every day I would look into it during lunch break. When I see that some of its parts had turned yellow, that is my cue to remove it so that my efforts would not go to waste,” Teofisto said.

A new green grower, John Carlo g a tapia, shows that one does not need to be a horticulturist to be an urban gardener. The noob planter also shares that he is excited about the outcomes of his labor, especially now that he is learning something new. “This is the first time I am growing anything. I am excited to learn to grow these greens and apply them at home,” Catapia said.

From less than ten participants in 2022 when it first started, the membership continues to grow, with almost 30 entries from different departments now joining the u r ban g a rdening Contest in its second year. In early 2023, green growers were blessed with a bunch of fresh produce, which they sold to The Medical City community.

This year’s celebration of Nutrition Month was made even more purposeful as the green thumb winners unanimously agreed to donate their monetary prizes to Akbay g i nahawa Foundation, Inc., an independent nonp rofit organization providing financial and material support to indigent patients of The Medical

City. Akbay g ina hawa Director r a fael S. Claudio humbly accepted the donation and immediately thanked the winners, saying the proceeds will go a long way in helping more people achieve quality healthcare.

Pasig City Councilor Paul r om ano Santiago, one of the key speakers of The Medical City Nutrition Month Celebration, congratulated the organization for their green initiatives and mentioned his continued support. h e also visited the u r ban g a rdening spaces located on the rooftop of the hospital. With the successes of the u rb an g a rdening Project, Nutrition Management Services plans to plant more as they continue the activity all year round. To further promote sustainable, healthy eating habits, the unit also provides nutrition consultations and personalized meal plans for inpatients and outpatients of all age segments. To know more about their programs, visit The Medical City Ortigas or contact Nutrition Management Services at 8988-1000 or 7000 loc. 6510 or 09155410095.

The program, according to PSFI Senior Program Manager, Nutrition and Food Security Maria Pamela S. Castro, “was designed with a holistic approach, recognizing the need to improve nutrition and well-being in a comprehensive manner.” She also noted that its components “reflect our deep understanding of the complex challenges and the implementation of multifaceted solutions.”

Program’s success

BY and large, the young populace of Camarines Sur has the highest prevalence of impaired growth and development due to poor nutrition in the Bicol region. One in five, or 20 percent of children below five years old in the municipalities of Bombon and Pasacao are stunted, meaning they are too short for their age.

With the RTS program, however, the slim chance of addressing this problem has grown in the past recent years. In fact, the pilot project’s Mother and Child Care component has mitigated over the course of three years stunting among the kids in both towns, from 32.90 percent to 25.45 percent and 31.90 percent to 21.33 percent, respectively.

I ts Food Security and Livelihood element, on the other hand, has achieved significant milestones, including increased availability of food and economic access for mothers, caregivers and farmers. Communities have also gained from improved food production, as farmer groups have generated employment opportunities in both in-farm and off-farm enterprises.

Meanwhile, the Water Access, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) part has increased access to WASH services in target communities by constructing water systems and sanitation facilities, as well as training residents on proper hygiene and sanitation.

Passing the torch

FOR longevity of RTS, a handover ceremony was held with the participation of representatives from PSFI and its partners MWF, WVDF, LGUs, and community members—all pledging their collaborative works to ensure the initiative’s transition into its sustainability phase.

“We have joined forces with governments, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), academic institutions, and local communities because we recognize that collective action and shared responsibility are essential for sustainable development. Together, we have harnessed diverse expertise, pooled resources, and embraced different perspectives to create more comprehensive and impactful solutions,” said PSFI Senior Technical Program Manager Raiza V. Cusi.

“As we turn this program to the community, we wish you all the best in continuing what we have been able to start,” Buenaventura added.

In honor of their valuable contribution and support to this initiative of the CSR arm of SPC, the LGUs and barangays that back it up were feted with plaques of appreciation. Also, the exceptional barangay nutrition scholars were recognized during the event.

T his was followed by the signing of a deed of donation between the program implementers and the LGUs, cementing their commitment to its sustainability. Efforts are underway to bring it to more provinces that need nutritional support, with the addition of more partners.

PSFI has been involved in various community programs, collaborating with prominent initiatives, such as the National Nutrition Council’s Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition and Scaling Up Nutrition global movement.