“BEING situated in an area with so many disasters, the way that which we minimize its effects and maximize the safety of our fellow Filipinos is the basic understanding about what we should think in times of disaster.” – Dr. Patrick Gerald Moral, Asian Medical Students Association of the University of Santo Tomas (UST-AMSA) Adviser

     The Faculty of Medicine and Surgery held “ABC’s of Disaster Medicine: A Seminar Workshop on Disaster Preparedness and Response” last September 13 at the Histology Laboratory of the St. Martin De Porres Building.

     The seminar was based on the International Federation of Medical Students Associations’ (IMFSA) annual international conference titled “Asian Collaborative Training on Infectious Disease, Outbreak, Natural Disaster and Refugee Management” (ACTION) which aims to provide healthcare students from Asia-Pacific the essential knowledge and skills required to prevent, cure or relieve, and rehabilitate victims of infectious diseases and natural disasters.

     Speakers present were Dr. Hermogenes Regal Jr., Joanna Marie D. Choa, RMT, M.D., and Bernabe S. Bacani Jr., RN EMT.

     Dr. Hermogenes Regal Jr., professor, pediatric surgeon, and director of clinical programs of the University of Santo Tomas, discussed about basic life support in his lecture titled “Initial Assessment and Management in Trauma.” Meanwhile, Dr. Joanna Marie D. Choa, Philippines’ Vice Chair of International Organization Committee for ACTION 2012 held in Taiwan, discussed how patients should be prioritized based on the severity of their condition. Lastly, representative for Safety Services from the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) Bernabe S. Bacani Jr. gave a discourse on how victims should be handled in times of calamities.

     “This seminar is useful because we don’t know when accidents will happen. In my course, which is not medicine related, when accidents occur, at least we know what we will do,” said Madeleine Mascarenas, a participating student from Information Systems.

     Khia Devoma, a nursing student commented, “Although I am a nursing student and emergency nursing is part of our course, I find the seminar very helpful for my growth as a healthcare provider.”

     The seminar proceeded with a workshop facilitated by PNRC which allowed the attendees to apply what they have learned from the speakers.

     Project heads of the event were Marco Perikar Dimaano, AMSA-UST’s local officer for human rights and peace, and Christopher Bryan Reyes, Medicine Student Council secretary.

By Reicelene Joy N. Ignacio
Photo taken by Joshua P. Lugti

Comments