NAVAL, Biliran- The Biliran Provincial Hospital is soon to open an Epilepsy and Seizure Clinic, according to Vanessa Ramirez, Biliran provincial health education and promotions officer.
The initiative is in coordination with the Philippine League Against Epilepsy (PLAE) who, for the first 10 months, will send representatives to mentor trained doctors in the four health facilities in the province.
Ramirez said trained doctors in the field of epilepsy and seizure are Dr. Madonna Payao, medical officer at the Biliran Provincial Hospital; Dr. Fernando Montejo at the Naval Rural Health Unit; Dr. Estrella Pedrosa at the Culaba Rural Health Unit; and Dr. Dionesio Plaza at the Caibiran Rural Health Unit.
Initial enrollment and assessment of patients started May 23 at the out-patient department of the provincial hospital where eight patients submitted for assessment while five patients submitted for initial assessment at the Culaba RHU and 10 other patients at the Naval RHU.
Dr. Rosario Latorre, pediatrics-child neurologist, and Dr. Ana Javelosa, both PLAE members, assisted in the interview and assessment of patients and their guardians at the BPH and Naval Rural Health Unit, respectively.
“The significant turnout of patients on the first day of the service was attributed to the department’s Mental Health Gap Action Programme which they started in 2014,” said Ramirez.
Ramirez informed that within 10 months, PLAE representatives will continue mentoring trained doctors in Biliran and will regularly visit every second Thursday of the month.
Next visit will be on June 13 this year.
With assistance from PLAE, patients under this program are provided free medicines and are entitled to free diagnostic tests such as the electroencephalography (EEG).
The establishment of epilepsy and seizure clinics in health facilities in the province of Biliran aims at providing immediate access to neurology services at the primary level without the need of seeking specialized services in the cities and modern hospitals.
The program also aims at strengthening the skills and knowledge in epilepsy management of the stakeholders, Ramirez added. (LDL/MLT/PIA-8, Biliran)
