VYLH-Philippines Los Baños
VYLH-PHILIPPINES Los Baños Chapter
Volunteer Youth Leaders for Health - Philippines
NCR-South Luzon Cluster
Los Baños, Laguna
Brief History
After being handpicked by Dr.Carmencita Padilla, then director of the Institute of Human Genetics of the National Institutes of Health (NIH, UP Manila), The UPLB Genetics Society accepted the proposal of being the pioneer youth organization of an advocacy-awareness program focused on the promotion of Folic Acid Supplementation and its importance in the prevention of birth defects. In cooperation with technical partners from the Institute of Human Genetics (IHG, NIH-UP Manila), planning sessions were held together with the initial drafting of the project’s proposal and a youth awareness assessment questionnaire. In February 2009, the UPLB GeneSoc initiated the formation of a network of UPLB student organizations that support the campaign. Representatives of member organizations then served as participant-facilitators in the National Youth Camp that led to the formation of VYLH-Philippines.
About VYLH-Philippines
The Volunteers Youth Leaders for Health – Philippines (VYLH-Philippines) is a national collaboration of youth leaders of youth organizations in universities and communities in the Philippines. This novel undertaking is part of an international effort to establish the March of Dimes - Global Network for Maternal and Infant Health (GNMIH) participated by youth counterparts in China and Lebanon linked by the common interest of volunteerism and public service, to improve birth outcomes worldwide through advocacy.
Website bit.ly/vylhphilippines
Blog vylhphilippines.blogspot.com
Facebook fb.com/vylhphilippines
Email vyl_philippines@yahoo.com
The VYLH-Philippines Network of
Youth Organizations
2009
College of Arts and Sciences
The UPLB Genetics Society
The UPLB Microbiological Society
College of Human Ecology
UP Oikos
UP Society of Human Settlements Planners
2011
College of Development Communication
UP Community Broadcasters Society
2014
University-based
UNESCO Club UP Los Baños
2015
College of Human Ecology
Philippine Association of Nutrition - Alpha Omega Chapter
College of Agriculture
Concordia Scientia Animalis
2016
Community-based
Rotaract Club of Los Baños
Faculty Adviser
Dr. Merlyn Mendioro
Co-founding Adviser, VYLH-Philippines
Director, Institute of Biological Sciences
College of Arts and Sciences, UP Los Baños
Contact VYLH-Philippines Los Banos
Official Facebook Page
Our Advocacies
Birth Defects Prevention: Folic Acid Awareness Campaign Folic acid, also called folate, is a B vitamin (B9) found mostly in leafy green vegetables and legumes. Studies have shown that women who get 400 micrograms (0.4 milligrams) daily prior to conception and during early pregnancy reduce the risk that their baby will be born with a serious neural tube defect (a birth defect involving incomplete development of the brain and spinal cord) by up to 70%.
Newborn Screening Promotion Newborn screening (NBS) is a simple procedure to find out if your baby has a congenital metabolic disorder that may lead to mental retardation and even death if left untreated. It is estimated that NBS can save 33,000 babies each year. The combined effort of the government, health workers, NGOs and advocates is expected to help in increasing NBS coverage in the coming years.
Orphan Disorders Support Rare or orphan disorders are long standing, life threatening, progressive, disabling conditions that affect less that 1 in 20,000 individuals or more. Filipino patients born with rare disorders are “orphaned” by society and suffer from social abandonment because of lack of existing network of support to aid them. The Rare Diseases Act of the Philippines (RA10747) is a recently enacted legislation which ensures public support to rare diseases. It also grants them the rights and benefits of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
Our Activities
For additional information, visit our detailed list of recent advocacy activities. (link)
Orientation on VYLH-Philippines and its advocacies for
UPLB Students and Student Organizations
in cooperation with the Genetics and Molecular Biology Division, IBS-UP Los Baños
Exhibit and Seminar
February 26, 2015: Rare Disease Week Exhibit and Talk on Expanded Newborn Screening with Guest Speaker: Dr. Mary Ann Abacan/Institute of Human Genetics, NIH-UP Manila
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Advocacy Promotion to High School Students
February 2012: Schools for Rare (Los Baños National High School and Maquiling School Inc.)
February 24, 2014: Short talks on VYLH-Philippines Advocacies at Los Baños National High School
June 24, 2016: VYLH-Philippines volunteers joined UP Manila MPh Students and the Los Baños RHU (RHU1 Dr. Alvin Isidoro) in conducting Project TROPA (Teens are Responsible Over Pregnancy Advocacy) among Los Baños National High School Grade 7 students.
Community Health Promotion and Outreach
January 30, 2016: Volunteers from UPLB conducted an outreach program and seminar at Brgy. San Antonio Covered Court which tackled Folic Acid Supplementation Awareness, Newborn Screening Promotion, Support on Rare Diseases, and lectures on Maternal Health.
Project Kabilin Kalusugan for LBNanays (Ideas Positive Run 7)
VYLH-Philippines Los Banos through Team Proactive Kabilin became one of the National Finalists of Ideas Positive Run 7. The project aims to promote and create a community-based youth-led preconception health campaign
Participation to the Los Baños Buntis Day/Congress
National Pregnant Women's Day (Buntis Day) is held every March 10. The local event is organized by the Philippine Obstetrics and Gynecological Society - Southern Tagalog Chapter and the Municipal Government of Los Baños.
Attendance to Public Events and Advocacy-related Activities
Members of VYLH-Philippines Los Banos together with VYLH UP Manila attended the National Academy of Science and Technology Round Table Discussion on Folic Acid last June 2015.
Social Media Campaigns
VYLH-Philippines Los Baños participates to the observance of national and international events related to the advocacies of the network such as the National Rare Disease Week (#IamRare) and National Newborn Screening Awareness Week (#NBSB/Newborn Screening Baby).
Contact VYLH-Philippines Los Banos
Official Facebook Page
Volunteer Youth Leaders for Health Committee Head
c/o The UPLB Genetics Society
Youth Coordinator, VYLH-Philippines Los Baños
Institute of Biological Sciences, CAS, UP Los Baños
theuplbgeneticssociety@gmail.com
