PRIMEX News

PRIMEX starts 2008 with successful project launches

Posted on 19 February 2008

The Pacific Rim Innovation and Management Exponents, Incorporated (PRIMEX) blasts off into 2008 with three successful ADB-funded health project launches: the National Anti-Dengue Campaign, the first Anti-Dengue School Advocacy, and the Injecting Drug Use (IDU) Harm Reduction Pilot Study.

National Anti-Dengue Campaign

The National Anti-Dengue Campaign was launched on 21 January at Astoria Plaza, in Pasig City. Secretary of Health, Dr. Francisco T. Duque, III, Department of Health (DOH), together with ADB officials Mr. Thomas Crouch and Ms. Barbara Lochmann, WHO Dr. Velahyudan, and PRIMEX President and CEO Ms. Elvira Ablaza, led in the turnover of anti-dengue campaign materials to the Department of Education, represented by Ms. Loida Ramos, the Department of Interior and Local Government, represented by Director Gotis and the Liga ng mga Barangay ng Pilipinas, represented by Mr. James Marty Lim. The event was sealed with the signing of the commitment to continue the campaign.

To strengthen the advocacy among school children, the Campaign introduced Aedes, a humongous mosquito mascot with its prominent black and white stripe appendages. In a symbolic show of their political will to prevent dengue, the “people in power” led by the health Secretary and joined in by partners from DOH, WHO, DOH, and PRIMEX had a photo op clobbering Aedes.

The Project, which is heavily managed by PRIMEX, aims at preventing the spread of the epidemic by Information, Education and Communication (IEC) among other means.

The IEC paraphernalia were designed by PRIMEX IEC Specialist, Mr. Nestor Escara.
<<Read more details about the launching>>

Anti-Dengue School Advocacy

As part of the umbrella campaign spearheaded by PRIMEX, the first Anti-Dengue School Advocacy was held in Malinta Elementary School in Valenzuela City on 6 February. The campaign was launched in advance of the “peak season” for dengue, which usually starts in June with the onset of the rainy season.

IEC materials were distributed to various agencies involved in education, water, sanitation, and environmental control. Representatives from League of Barangays, City Health Office, and school officials, teachers, and 1,500 students from Malinta Elementary School attended the event.

Dr. Lyndon Lee Suy, DOH National Center for Disease Prevention and Control (NCDPC) Program Manager for Dengue, expressed appreciation for their presence and commitment of support to the advocacy to fight and eliminate Dengue in the country.

He also introduced the mascot – Aedes to the students and guests at the launching. The mascot is part of the publicity of the campaign to entice the children to be active in taking part in the cause to stop the epidemic.

Valenzuela recorded the highest number of Dengue incidents in Metro Manila in 2007.

IDU Harm Reduction

PRIMEX, Inc. and DOH together with the City of Zamboanga, launched the ADB-funded Pilot Study for Injecting Drug Use (IDU) Harm Reduction Project on 8 February 2008 at the Zamboanga City Hall.

The local government of Zamboanga City welcomed the launch as City Councilors, Healthcare Officials, Religious Leaders, members of the Local AIDS Council, Barangay Officials, and NGOs attended the said event.

The Consultant Team, lead by Project Team Leader, Dr. Vic Salas, conducted a comprehensive situation analysis (SAR) of IDUs in the Philippines during the initial phase of the project. Findings of the SAR, highlighting on the Zamboanga situation, were presented to participants of the launch by Dr. Jose Sescon, Deputy Team Leader-IDU Component and Dr. Ofelia Saniel, PRIMEX Epidemiologist.

The PRIMEX team together with the DOH – National AIDS/STI Prevention and Control Program (NASPCP) made a short list of viable project sites (Cebu, General Santos and Zamboanga) but eventually, made Zamboanga as the ideal pilot site for the project. Mayor Celso Lobregat of Zamboanga City jokingly hoped that his province was not selected because of the high number of IDUs, but Ms. Gladys Malayang, PRIMEX Pilot Implementation and Evaluation Specialist explained that Zamboanga City became the pilot site due to its decent track record of partnership and collaboration with the parties involved and the site was also selected because of its high chances of the HR initiatives to be successful.

Since the HIV epidemic began, drug use has always been linked to the virus. IDUs experience multiple HIV risks via sexual and non-sexual means – through consumption of previously used syringes for them to satisfy their addiction and by the unaware transmission of the virus to the IDU’s sexual partner and vice-versa. The estimated population of IDUs in Zamboanga as of 2007, according to PRIMEX Epidemiologist, Dr. Ofie Saniel is 1,720.

The launch, spearheaded by PRIMEX aims to improve initiatives of the local government on harm reduction of IDUs and enhancing the capacities of service providers’ substantial psychosocial support for IDUs and their families among others. The pilot project will run for 10 months and will be carried out by the local NGO – Human Development and Empowerment Services, Inc. (HDES).

PRIMEX, Inc. continues to provide extensive knowledge and technical assistance to the said agencies and other parties in the months to come.

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