National Telehealth Center Takes Part in Various Activities in Batanes

On the second week of March, Basco served as the venue of various activities. As part of establishing linkages and integrating in the community, HR Aujero, MD represented the National Telehealth Center. He also introduced and promoted the telehealth initiatives of the Province of Batanes to these visitors.

On March 13, the Ateneo de Manila University representatives of the Leaders for Health Program held a workshop on Technical Assistance Support Structures for LGU Department Heads for the two municipalities under the Leaders for Health Program namely Ivana (Dr. Alethea de Guzman) and Uyugan (Dr. Richard Lariosa). Dr. HR Aujero actively took part in the workshop, not just as a representative of the National Telehealth Center, but as another doctor in the community.

The next day, March 14, saw the arrival of the Southern Tagalog Group of Psychiatrists who held a symposium on various topics on Psychiatry and had a consultation for psychiatric patients and Special Education students. Among the topics discussed is alcohol abuse, a very relevant topic, since alcohol use, specially gin, is very prevalent in the province. In fact, the Batanes General Hospital has an ongoing program of alcohol abuse prevention among the young.

The first South-east Asian women on Mt Everest, along with the PAL Mountaineering Club, were in town to hold a workshop on basic mountaineering skills for boy scouts and guides on March 14. And on March 15, Team Everest conquered Mt. Iraya. Dr. HR Aujero joined them on this climb. Dr. Ted Esguerra, expedition doctor, shared his experiences on various climbs and how he was able to apply telemedicine in the harshest and remotest regions. Armed with a backpack of hi-tech medical equipment and satellite internet connection on his laptop, he was able to transmit live auscultation and video feed to his colleagues and their students in Stanford University. Dr. Esguerra expressed his confidence in Filipino ingenuity in developing similar technologies. He also extends his appreciation to Doctors to the Barrios in serving the remote areas of the country.