KEYNOTE ADDRESSES / MESSAGES
Philippine Integrative Medicine and
Right to Health Indicators
INAM Five-Day Conference Workshop
Ciudad Christia Resort, San Mateo, Rizal
October 4, 2004
Distinguished guests, ladies
and gentlemen, good morning!
It is a privilege to speak with you today
and be one of those who will have first hand information on the result of two of INAM's
researches. The institute appreciates so much what INAM together with participating
NGOs, people's organizations and communities has accomplished in pursuing such
endeavor.
Research is first and foremost in the list
of objectives stated in RA 8423 or TAMA act of 1997, which created the Philippine
Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care. In particular, PITAHC's support
to INAM was technical assistance on the research "Advanced Healing Practices in the
Health Care System of People's Health Programs." I am always a believer that any
research-based undertaking regardless of what it is will be more successful in
achieving its objectives than one which is not. Hence at this point I would like to
highlight what we perceive as benefits to be derived from the research output:
This will provide a database for identifying new policy
directions and agenda for people's health care. Source of best healing practices for possible adoption by
other communities. Facilitate recognition of what traditional or indigenous
healers can do in promoting health and preventing or treating illness. Serve as springboard to fast track efforts to include
traditional and complementary health care in the mainstream health care delivery
system.
On another note, I would like
to welcome all participating NGOs and people's organizations and communities who
joined this INAM sponsored research as partners in PITAHC's programs, projects and
activities. I know we have only one common goal if it comes to health matters. That
we will provide affordable, accessible and effective traditional and
complementary/alternative health care services to our people wherever they are.
I take this opportunity also to announce
Presidential Proclamation No. 698 declaring the Month of November as "Traditional and
Alternative Health Care Month". PITAHC is the lead agency, which is coordinating
activities of different partner agencies, practitioners and institutions for the month
long celebration in November. Concertedly, it is our hope that even in the remotest
part of the country, we will be able to make known the kind of services we are offering
to our people and bring these to where they are if possible. Educating our citizenry
in practicing good nutrition and a healthy lifestyle is the most that we can do at the
moment. We will soon air a 13 episode of a weekly TV series entitled "Quest for
Well-being" which will tentatively start on November 21 on ANC 21 of ABS-CBN.
We are also conducting an orientation-seminar
on different TAHC modalities every Friday afternoon at the PITAHC Seminar Room.
Our library has the latest books and
audio-visual materials such as CDs, VCDs, DVDs on different complementary and
alternative health care modalities which are open to those who would like to research.
Right now, we have an on-going school health
well-being program for public and private school children. The objective of this
program is to increase awareness of the children on the importance of natural food in
the body and mind.
PITAHC is soon constructing a one-stop shop,
the Well-being Clinic to offer preventive and curative TAHC services to clients.
Hopefully this will be ready to operate by November 25, 2004. This is our main
offering to culminate the celebration of TAHC this coming November.
Regularly, PITAHC makes available a bi-monthly
newsletter entitled "Well-being". Aside from TAHC articles, the newsletter is a venue
for announcing calendar of activities of TAHC events both local and international.
In closing, I would like to say that the
doors of our Institute are always open for all those who would like to visit our
office. We are ready to answer your inquiries or serve you in any way we can.
Thank you and good day!
Graciela B. Eleazar
Acting Director General
Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative
Health Care (PITAHC)
Department of Health (DOH)
Republic of the Philippines
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