TO ANSWER the call for a student-initiated act against A(H1N1), “Huwag pa-ewan ewan sa H1N1: A Forum on A(H1N1) was held last June 29 at the MVP roof deck.
Dr. Troy Gepte from the Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health and Dr. Henrietta Dela Cruz from the Loyola Schools Infirmary talked about A(H1N1) in the national scale and the university context, respectively.
Debunking rumors
The Pre-Med Society of the Ateneo (PMSA) President Joan Chavez said that most Ateneans asked about the main differences between A(H1N1) and the common flu. “Dr. Gepte and Dr. Dela Cruz said it is really hard to tell [the difference], but the A(H1N1) is more apparent if it is more of cough and it [is susceptible] to high risk groups, pregnant people, old people and kids.”
In the forum, the speakers said the mask is ineffective if the person for protection against the virus. Chavez explained that the mask, specifically type N95, was to prevent one from infecting other people.
Ateneans should care
Sanggu Vice President Jauro Castro said students should be more considerate and sensitive of others.
“[They] should not discriminate those coming back from AH1N1 or from self quarantine because we received reports that some students don’t want to talk to people who came back from quarantine,” Castro said. “[They] should also help them catch up.”
Health and Environmental Cluster Head Aaron Mendoza said Ateneans should take this matter more seriously. “[This] concerns the health of the public, anything that concerns public health should be taken seriously. That is the problem in the Philippines right now, the government doesn’t prioritize public health,” Mendoza said.
Chavez reminded the students to the best defense from this virus is a strong resistance.
“They should realize that health is really important, the best way to keep you from getting H1N1 is to build yourself and be healthy…build up your resistance,” she said.
Future actions
Around 60 to 70 students attended the forum. “It was disappointing because they were only few, we expected more than 200 to go,” said Mendoza. However, he said that despite the low attendance rate, they will continue with the AH1N1 awareness campaign in the campus.
“If the pandemic continues, hopefully not, we have physical activities lined up for the year,” Mendoza said. “[HEC] will have a fun run, its point is to present why we should be healthy.”
Chavez said that though there are no plans for future forums on this issue they will continue the visual campaign. “We plan to [have] posters and tarps, hand sanitation stations, there will be reminders in the bathroom on the 20-second rule about how to wash your hands.”
“The team has also sent out letters about A(H1N1) and we are also working with infirmary about anything they need,” Chavez added.
The forum was a collaboration of Sanggu, the Council of Organizations of the Ateneo, PMSA, and the Ateneo Biological Organization.
