Israeli experts train PH docs on disease prevention, control

Two Israeli health experts briefed Filipino health workers on their country’s health system and their local, regional and national health during the training on disease prevention and control they conducted at the auditorium of Ospital ng Maynila Medical Center (OMMC).

Prof. Liora Ore, MD, and Dr. Sonia Habib discussed epidemiology as a decision-making tool to measure the population’s health and identify the cause of disease or disease outcomes.

The two experts expounded on public health policy-making, its principles and criteria, as well as the policy on vaccination. They also discussed case studies on public health, Israel’s experience on disease surveillance, surveillance of public hospitals and the different aspects of quality control such as food and water, and their importance in healthcare.

Some 40 medical professionals from different hospitals in Manila took part in the introductory course on epidemiology and public health held from June 16 to 26. They were from OMMC, Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center, Ospital ng Tondo, Justice Jose Abad Santos General Hospital, Ospital ng Sampaloc, Sta. Ana Hospital and Manila Health Department.

Aimed at helping promote safer hospitals, the training was conducted by OMMC in partnership with the Department of Health Systems Management, Yizre’el Valley College School of Public Health, University of Haifa.

The program was sponsored by Mashav, Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation and Haifa, the sister city of Manila. Those who completed the course were awarded certificates during a simple ceremony held June 27 at the OMMC auditorium.

Adam Levene, Israeli deputy chief of mission, said they enjoyed working with their Filipino counterparts. “During two weeks of training, we studied, trained, learned and shared a lot [of things].”

He added: “Everyone has something to contribute. It’s not something that Israelis come and tell Filipinos or vice versa. It is people coming together and learning from each other’s experiences, sharing and building something better for the future.”

Dr. Ernesto C. Acosta, consultant of Manila Mayor Erap Estrada, expressed his gratitude for the Israelis’ assistance, while Dr. Arsenio Pascual III, officer in charge, OMMC medical director, thanked the Israelis for their generosity.