Falling ratings of Pres. Gloria M. Arroyo

It comes less of a surprise for the public to know that Pres. Gloria M. Arroyo (GMA) gets bad ratings for her work in the executive office. According to the survey on February 20 to 23, 2009 by the Social Weather Station Inc. (SWS,) her disapproval rating fell further to a net rating of negative (-) 33 (26% satisfied and 59% dissatisfied.)

“The President’s latest net satisfaction rating is lower compared to “poor” -24 percent (29 percent satisfied, 53 percent dissatisfied) in December and poor -27 (27 percent satisfied, 54 percent dissatisfied) in September.”—-Philstar (03/17/09, Sy, M)

More than half of the Filipinos don’t approve of GMA’s performance, in spite of Malacanang’s wish that the president be given appreciation for unrecognized “accomplishments.” Pres. Spokesman Lorelei Fajardo cites Arroyo’s work of insulating the country from the impacts of domestic and global economic crisis.

Many Filipinos feel this is untrue because the full blown effects of the financial crisis are yet to come. Even without the global crisis, the Philippines has been reeling in widespread poverty with about 40% of the population facing hunger each day. Her approval rating has been bad compared to past presidents Corazon Aquino, Fidel Ramos and Joseph Estrada. With the presidential election coming in 2010, the public appears to extend their patience for GMA,—opting to let her corruption-riddled government to pass. (Photo Credit: AP/ Aaron Familia)=0=

RELATED BLOGS: “Corruption scandals hurting Filipinos under Pres. Gloria M. Arroyo” Posted by mesiamd at 1/29/2009; “Not as a lecturer or as a judge,” EU thinks RP must do more to curb corruption Posted by mesiamd at 1/29/2009; “Corruption and apathy: where will these lead us?” Posted by mesiamd at 2/10/2009

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"Random Drug Testing" during school enrollment

To find a result that does not have a “deterministic pattern” is one reason why tests are done on a random basis. Randomness entails lack of order and predictability. If random drug testing in Manila will be done during the enrollment period as suggested by Manila Police District head Roberto Rosales, the result of the tests could be skewed. Accuracy and reliability might be compromised.

By knowing that the test will conducted on a specified time (i.e during enrollment,) high school and college students expecting the lab exam can change their drug behavior to coincide with the test and therefore lend bias to the result. Without the element of surprise, those who opt against being caught using illicit drugs can skip a few days or weeks of the drug so they can get a negative result.

If Police officer Rosales will propose enrollment drug testing to Mayor Alfredo Lim, both men must be told of this potential test bias. Otherwise, the effort and money to be spent in this activity may only go to waste. (Photo Credit: Reynolds/ Sweetwarrior)=0=

RELATED BLOG: “DOH’s plan to spend P90 million for random drug testing” Posted by mesiamd at 1/30/2009

Top 10 leading causes of death: Philippines (2003) & USA (2005)

Ten Leading Causes of Mortality Philippines, 2003

—————————————Male—–Female—–Total–Rate^–Percent*
1. Heart Diseases—————-38,677—29,019—–67,696–83.5–17.1
2. Vascular System Diseases–29,054—22,814—–51,868–64.0–13.1
3. Malignant Neoplasm———-20,634—18,664—–39,298–48.5–9.9
4. Accidents———————–27,720—6,246——33,966–41.9–8.6
5. Pneumonia———————15,831—16,224—–32,055–39.5–8.1
6. Tuberculosis, all forms——-18,367—8,404—– 26,771–33.0–6.8
7. Symptoms, signs and abnormal
clinical, laboratory findings,
NEC———————————10,740—10,623—–21,363–26.3–5.4
8. Chronic lower resp. dis. —–12,998—5,907——18,905–23.3–4.8
9. Diabetes Mellitus————–6,823—-7,373——14,196–17.5–3.6
10. Certain conditions
originating in the
perinatal period——————-8,397—-5,725——14,122–17.4–3.6

Source: The 2003 Philippine Health Statistics
* Percent share from total deaths, all causes, Philippines
^ Rate per 100,000 population
Last Update: January 11, 2007

US Mortality 2005
—————————————–Number of Deaths————-% of all deaths
Heart Disease————————–652,091——————————26.6
Cancer———————————-559,312——————————22.8
Cerebrovascular Disease————143,579——————————-5.9
Chronic Lower Resp. Dis. ———–130,933——————————-5.3
Accidents (unintentional) ————117,809—————————–4.8
Diabetes mellitus———————–75,119——————————3.1
Alzheimer’s Disease ——————-71.599——————————2.9
Influenza & Pneumonia—————-63,001——————————2.6
Nephritis*——————————– 43,901—————————–1.8
Septicemia——————————-34,131——————————1.4

*Includes Nephrotic Syndrome and Nephrosis

Source: US Mortality Data, 2005, National Center for Health Statistics, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2009

What is striking in these two tables is the primacy of heart diseases as the top cause of death in both the Philippines and USA. This includes congenital heart problems such as hereditary valvular and septal anomalies; acquired heart illnesses like ischemic, coronary, hypertensive, cardiomyopathic, and infectious conditions are included.

However, in a new report on Dec 10, 2008, cancer is noted to be on the rise. It is expected to top the list of disease killers by the year 2010. The main cause given is the unabated use of tobacco—resulting to an increasing incidence of lung and respiratory malignancies particularly in developing countries.

One notes the exceedingly high accident mortality rate in both countries—deaths that are basically preventable. The vehicular-injuries mortality in the Philippines is strikingly more than 4x in males, those who ply the streets as drivers and travellers.

Greater than 2,000 children are killed every day, or about 830,000 every year, from injuries sustained in preventable accidents, a United Nations’ report said.—PDI (12/11/08, Uy,V)

If #7 NEC in the Philippine data means necrotizing enterocolitis and #10 refers to perinatal diseases, they indicate high mortalities in newborns and children which isn’t reflected in the US data.

Tuberculosis, a treatable old chronic infectious disease still comes as #6 in the Philippines while in USA, Alzheimer’s disease, a degenerative illness of aging ranks high as the 7th leading cause of death.

The disparity of these data serves as a guide on the current healthcare planning and services respective countries must offer. Most of these top killers are preventable in which educational campaigns and proper medical care have significant roles. (Photo Credits: SterlingArtz; Poodle boi)=0=

RELATED BLOG: “The Death Clock and the Dangers of Smoking” Posted by mesiamd at 10/22/2008′ “Cancer races as the #1 disease killer in 2010” Posted by mesiamd at 12/11/2008

Cancer races to be #1 disease killer in 2010

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently reported that cancer will lord as the leading cause of death by 2010. The disclosure predicts that if trends continue, by 2030 new cancer diagnosis can reach 27 million, jacking up the number of sufferers to 75 million worldwide. A staggering 17 million of them are expected to die in that year surpassing the top killer: cardiac diseases.

It has been noted that cancer worldwide is on the rise, eclipsing the upward climb of infections and heart diseases. Countries like China, Russia, Indonesia, and India are known to have a huge smoking population. It is believed that tobacco-smoking in developing countries is the main reason for the increase in cancer cases, mostly in developing countries where at least 40% of smokers reside. Population growth and better disease recognition also add to fresh cancer diagnoses which are expected to reach 12 million this year.

PHILIPPINES IS SECOND IN THE MOST NUMBER OF SMOKERS AMONG ASEAN NATIONS
Country/%/# of Smokers in Millions
Indonesia———-46.16%———–58.07
Philippines———16.62%———–20.91
Vietnam————14.11%———–17.75
Burma————–8.73%————10.98
Thailand————7.74%————-9.74
Malaysia————2.90%——– —-3.65
Cambodia———-2.07%————–2.60
Singapore———-0.04%————–0.05
Others————-1.63%————–2.05
ASEAN Countries–Total————- 125.8
Source: Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA) Philstar (09/04/07, Crisostomo, S)

“Cancer is one of the greatest untold health crises of the developing world…Few are aware that cancer already kills more people in poor countries than HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis combined. And if current smoking trends continue, the problem will get significantly worse,” said Dr. Douglas Blayney, president-elect of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

“This is going to present an amazing problem at every level in every society worldwide,” added Peter Boyle, director of the WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer. —Reuters (12/10/08)

The concern for the cancer problem is real. Though it is potentially preventable and treatable among the major life-threatening chronic diseases, malignancies are blamed for 1 in 8 deaths worldwide. With the rising cost of medical services and the sharp increase of those who need care, treatment for cancer will over-burden the healthcare services.

Many countries worldwide aren’t prepared. The medical infrastructures needed to manage cancer patients are lacking or virtually non-existent. Governments are therefore urged to embark on aggressive cancer prevention programs, grassroots anti-smoking and anti-cervical cancer campaigns among others, to combat the emerging top killer. (Photo Credits: Andreia; Laura la Fataliste)=0=

RELATED BLOG: “The Death Clock and the Dangers of Smoking” Posted by mesiamd at 10/22/2008; “Cancer races to be #1 disease killer in 2010” Posted by mesiamd at 12/11/08.

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Cancer races to be #1 disease killer in 2010

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently reported that cancer will lord as the leading cause of death by 2010. The disclosure predicts that if trends continue, by 2030 new cancer diagnosis can reach 27 million, jacking up the number of sufferers to 75 million worldwide. A staggering 17 million of them are expected to die in that year surpassing the top killer: cardiac diseases.

It has been noted that cancer worldwide is on the rise, eclipsing the upward climb of infections and heart diseases. Countries like China, Russia, Indonesia, and India are known to have a huge smoking population. It is believed that tobacco-smoking in developing countries is the main reason for the increase in cancer cases, mostly in developing countries where at least 40% of smokers reside. Population growth and better disease recognition also add to fresh cancer diagnoses which are expected to reach 12 million this year.

PHILIPPINES IS SECOND IN THE MOST NUMBER OF SMOKERS AMONG ASEAN NATIONS
Country/%/# of Smokers in Millions
Indonesia———-46.16%———–58.07
Philippines———16.62%———–20.91
Vietnam————14.11%———–17.75
Burma————–8.73%————10.98
Thailand————7.74%————-9.74
Malaysia————2.90%——– —-3.65
Cambodia———-2.07%————–2.60
Singapore———-0.04%————–0.05
Others————-1.63%————–2.05
ASEAN Countries–Total————- 125.8
Source: Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA) Philstar (09/04/07, Crisostomo, S)

“Cancer is one of the greatest untold health crises of the developing world…Few are aware that cancer already kills more people in poor countries than HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis combined. And if current smoking trends continue, the problem will get significantly worse,” said Dr. Douglas Blayney, president-elect of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

“This is going to present an amazing problem at every level in every society worldwide,” added Peter Boyle, director of the WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer. —Reuters (12/10/08)

The concern for the cancer problem is real. Though it is potentially preventable and treatable among the major life-threatening chronic diseases, malignancies are blamed for 1 in 8 deaths worldwide. With the rising cost of medical services and the sharp increase of those who need care, treatment for cancer will over-burden the healthcare services.

Many countries worldwide aren’t prepared. The medical infrastructures needed to manage cancer patients are lacking or virtually non-existent. Governments are therefore urged to embark on aggressive cancer prevention programs, grassroots anti-smoking and anti-cervical cancer campaigns among others, to combat the emerging top killer. (Photo Credits: Andreia; Laura la Fataliste)=0=

RELATED BLOG: “The Death Clock and the Dangers of Smoking” Posted by mesiamd at 10/22/2008; “Cancer races to be #1 disease killer in 2010” Posted by mesiamd at 12/11/08.

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