Itbayat, Batanes Health Workers E-learn on Childhood Poisoning

Health Workers from the five barangays of the Island Municipality of Itbayat (3-4 hrs north of Basco by boat) came together at the Itbayat National Agricultural High School (INAHS) on April 22, 2008 for an e-learning session on common household poisoning. Defined as remote professional learning and monitoring competence, e-learning aims to deliver continuing education to remote areas via Information Communication Technology.

Medical Students Romelyn April Imperio, Van Jerwin Mercado, Dan Michael Pineda, and Ezra Valido from The UP College of Medicine came to Itbayat, a fishing and farming community with a population of 3109, to facilitate the activity along with the National Telehealth Center Field Operations Coordinator Dr. HR Aujero. A 10 minute video produced by the National Telehealth Center, USAID, and National Poisons Control Center was shown onsite at the INAHS computer lab. After the video, the BHWs had an open forum with Dr. Laura Aguinaldo, a toxicology fellow of the National Poisons Control Center, who was located at the National Telehealth Center office in UP-PGH. The participants at Itbayat were able to ask questions and hear Dr. Aguinaldo's answers live through the technology of the internet. The BHWs reactions were very positive and said they hope for more sessions. The closing remarks were given by the Itbayat Chief of Hospital and MHO designate Dr. Jordan de Sagon who thanked the students from UP and the National Telehealth Center for reaching out the health workers of Itbayat. Other e-learning videos available for download at www.teheleath.ph are: stroke, bird flu, and tuberculosis.