NEWS: A Shot for the Better
3:09 PM
by Bai
Zuharna Abdullah and Madelyn Cecilia Escario
Preventing
Rubella; A shot closer to a world without disabilities.
The Department of Speech-Language Pathology
held an educating and heartfelt seminar about Rubella last Saturday, January 23.
The Speech-Language Pathology students and some students of the College of
Rehabilitation Sciences took their chance to learn more about Rubella at the
Education Auditorium of theAlbertus Magnus Building.
The event was hosted by Aga Salvador of 4th
year SLP and was started with an opening prayer by the SLP Society auditor,
Rosemary Miclat. An encouraging opening remarks was given by the Department
Chair of SLP, Ma. Georgina D. Mojica, MHPEd, CSP-PASP, right after. "There are consequences of Rubella that
may be preventable." The SLP chair stated with conviction.
After three years of conceptualizing a
campaign against Rubella, the SLP chair decided to kickstart it by organizing
the seminar. She stressed that we must be aware of what Rubella can bring to
the world and how can SLPs stop it with the tagline “I am an SLP, Rubella will not come from me.”
“We
are waiting for the day when we can say that ‘I am a Filipino, hearing loss
will not come from me’,” She also stated.
After her opening remarks, the first speaker
from the faculty of Medicine, Dr. Joel A. Romualdez, MD, MclAud FPSOHNS, that
Rubella is an acute contagious viral infection. He introduced Rubella and how
each kind can produce a result that is not what we hope for.
"89%
of cases (in 2014) happened to those under 20." He stressed that it was the age group of most college
students."
Epidemics can lead to high levels of
morbidity according to him. In children, the disease is mild. Congenital
Rubella Syndrome can lead to blindness, deafness and other heart diseases.
Dr. Romualdez gave facts and statistics regarding Rubella.
The CRS Performing Arts Guild, Anathema
also performed a number by showing the perspective of those who are
experiencing deafness and how it affects them in their daily lives.
The next speaker, Attorney Olalia, shared
her phenomenal journey which gave an insight and better understanding on the
importance of getting vaccinated and how her life was changed when she went
through the disease.
"The
virus can cause a disability with [any] baby"
It was a worrying moment according to her. 'Normal is not something normally given'
were the words that deeply explained her experience when her baby was found to
have PDA which needed open heart surgery.
"It
was a constant chain of inconsistency... the only thing we are clinging on was
faith."Attorney Olalia said in describing the
dilemma that they had.
She stressed that it will only take one
vaccination to take away larger costs. She saidthat not everyone will be as
fortunate so we should do what weneed to do.
"You
give them a shot for a normal life." Attorney Olalia said to the
aspiring Speech-Language Pathologists in the auditorium, “So don’t stop what you’re doing”.
And lastly, an open forum was conducted
wherein the speakers were joined by the Attorney Olalia’s kid, Xavier. Many
adored the young child regarding his enthusiasm in life after the challenges
their family went through.
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