THROUGH the DZRH Operation Tulong, the University of Santo Tomas Hospital is now riding the airwaves with its own program, “Misyon…Konsultasyon!”
Aired every Tuesday from 10 to 11 p.m., the program started last May 7 with Atty. Pilar P. Almira and Dr. Tito Torralba as hosts. Almira is USTH chief operating officer while Torralba is medical director of the hospital.
The program tackles questions on different diseases. Through phone calls or text messages coming from the listening public, UST medical specialists on air act as resource persons, answers questions and gives advice on the treatment and prevention of diseases.
According to Belle Galos, USTH marketing head, the program was conceptualized to promote USTH as a hospital of goodwill. It aims to reaffirm the image of the hospital as among the country’s most innovative, service-oriented, and competent health-care facilities. It is also part of the hospital’s extended mission to serve the poor by giving significant medical information, according to Galos.
Topics that have been discussed so far in the program include stroke, malnutrition, hemophilia, pediatric illnesses (dengue and diarrhea), hearing and dizziness rehabilitation and malnutrition.
The diverse subject ranges from common diseases and disorders to the more complicated ones such as venereal, kidney, and cardiovascular diseases.
“The public gets the benefit of getting essential tips regarding their illnesses since they come from the clinicians in their various specialties and subspecialties in our hospital,” Almira said.
Callers are given yellow cards for a free consultation in the hospital, Galos said. This way, USTH becomes a referral center for the masses.
Since it is aired nationwide, callers from different provinces can consult UST experts on their health problems. The program promotes self-medication amidst costly hospitalization these days, Galos said. The listeners from the provinces are assured of medical guidance, which may mitigate their sickness. Brix Gil M. Bayuga
