WVSU

Tag: 3

ENSURE HEALTHY LIVES AND PROMOTE WELL-BEING FOR ALL AT ALL AGES.

Over the last 15 years, the number of childhood deaths has been cut in half. This proves that it is possible to win the fight against almost every disease. Still, we are spending an astonishing amount of money and resources on treating illnesses that are surprisingly easy to prevent. The new goal for worldwide Good Health promotes healthy lifestyles, preventive measures and modern, efficient healthcare for everyone.

  • Crisis mgt committee tackles f2f classes, protocols, communication plans

    The West Visayas State University Crisis Management Committee recently discussed the limited face-to-face classes, health and safety protocols, and communication plans.

    Presided by the Vice President for Medical and Allied Sciences (VPMAS) and Assistant Incident Commander, Dr. Celina Gellada, the University Crisis Management Committee gathered for a virtual meeting.

    The limited face-to-face classes supposedly to be implemented this academic year 2021-2022 has been delayed due to the  CoVid-19, especially that the Delta variant is affecting the city and also because of Iloilo City being under the Modified Enchanced Community Quarantine (MECQ). Dr. Joselito Villaruz, WVSU president and the Incident Commander of the Committee , clarified that the limited face-to-face classes will only be allowed in areas, which are under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) and the University should strictly maintain health and safety measures.

    Safety Officer and the Director of the University Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, Mr. Ian Van Sumagaysay presented updates on safety and health protocols implemented in the campus. The University is prepared when it comes to retrofitted classrooms, signage and directions, and policies approved by the Board of Regents. The University also has its own holding/quarantine facility, just in case there will be cases.

    Dr. Roumila Mendoza of the College of Medicine shared that some students have problems when it comes to their boarding houses, because some boarding houses are not meant for quarantine—the bathrooms and toilets are for common use of the tenants—and also some students were discriminated because they were part of the contact tracing list. One incident was, one student had to be forced out of her boarding house.

    Mr. Julius Undar, the Chief Administrative Officer of the University and Operations Section and Logistics Chief, updated on the number of vaccinated faculty and staff: As of September 3, 74% of the faculty are fully vaccinated; 76% of the regular staff and of the job order employees, respectively, have already received full doses.

    The Center for International Linkages and Public Information (CILPI), with its director Ms. Edel Carmela Subong-Csoka presented a communication plan, which focuses on townhall and stakeholders’ meetings, information campaigns, and press releases, including the updating of data on CoVid 19 cases and vaccination to be included on the FaceBook page and the University website.

    The University Crisis Management Committee was formed early this year to prepare the University for possible limited face-to-face classes and to ensure monitoring of safety- and health-conscious University operations.

    For the public to see the University policies and protocols on safety, they can visit https://www.facebook.com/wvsudrrmc or https://www.facebook.com/wvsu .  # -CILPI

  • WVSU’s 119th anniversary highlights research, innovation amidst pandemic

      West Visayas State University, founded on grounds of hard work, service, and excellence,  has stood the tests of time for 119 years.

       This year though, on June 16, WVSU’s celebration deviated from the usual get-together at the university’s Jubilee Park. Everything was pre-recorded and held online.   

         Despite the limitation, the message was delivered: research and innovation are not impossible even in times of Covid-19

        Dr. Joselito Villaruz, WVSU President, recalled how WVSU shifted into the asynchronous learning modality online “instantaneously”, expediting policies and administration requirements to suit the call of the time. He then pointed out that there is a deluge of data and proliferation of big devices, helping making education possible. “We are expected to use the data to lubricate our research activities and decisions.  I am challenged to revisit our curriculum to integrate data analytics. WVSU must be cognizant of endless possibilities.” Education 4.0 and a Smart University system are also rallied for by Dr. Villaruz, considering revisiting the curriculum, re-scaling and upscaling of the faculty to introduce data science, digital literacy and citizenship , even artificial intelligence. He added that to ensure continuity amidst pandemic, the University must be prepared for this is the new normal,  “We need to  embrace flexible learning, dedicating ourselves to online and virtual mode, and conduct only limited face-to-face classes for OJTs, skills learning, and laboratory activities.”

        Dr. Purita P. Bilbao, retired WVSU Professor and part-time professor at the Graduate School of the College of Education of the University, shared the findings of her research in tracing the beginnings of WVSU. The Act 74 in 1900 was the organic law of the Philippines drafted by Dr. Fred Atkinson, under the Bureau of Education, which was dedicated to the training of Filipino teachers. Act 74 was amended as Act 372 which was instrumental in establishing  three schools—including what is now known as West Visayas State University. Dr. Bilbao congratulated everyone whose lives were touched by WVSU. To end her talk, she posed a challenge, “Where do we go from here? Higher, faster, stronger, one WVSU!”

        Dr. Ma. Asuncion Christine Dequilla, Vice President for Academic Affairs, commended everyone for surviving the changes brought by Covid-19 and she assured, “WVSU will thrive as we do our share of making her proud so that in the years , even centuries to come, her name will continue to resound strongly.”

        Also during the Founding Anniversary , outstanding     researchers and extensionists, and loyal employees were recognized. During the awarding, Dr. Greta G. Gabinete, Vice President for Research, Extension, and Training, spoke that indeed, the groundworks towards becoming a research university has been laid out  and WVSU has to continue proving that in research and innovation, “Basta taga-West, the best!”.#

  • CON, COM discuss limited f2f classes in townhall meeting

    Students from the colleges of Nursing (CON) and Medicine (COM) and their parents and the colleges’ faculty members gathered in a townhall meeting held via Zoom on June 8, 2021  to discuss and clarify issues on the limited face-to-face classes for medical courses that was planned to start in August.

    Dr. Celina Gellada, the Vice President for Medical and Allied Sciences recognized the COM and CON vital in providing manpower support during this pandemic. Dr. Gellada believes that the University has been “successful” in implementing flexible learning, but there are courses best delivered face-to-face. She informed the stakeholders, as of writing of this article, that the manual for policies and guidelines on  the limited face-to-face classes has been drafted and is with the WVSU Board of Regents, awaiting for approval.

    WVSU  is actively preparing for the limited face to face to ensure that students are equipped with practical knowledge and skills. Dr. Joselito Villaruz, University President of WVSU emphasized that even if the limited face to face will be permitted, “We cannot let our guards down”. He said that there are risks during the face to face however, “This is a necessary component of the curriculum. Authentic assessments would be very challenging in an online mode.”

    Mr.  Ian Van Sumagaysay , Director of the WVSU Disaster Risk Reduction Management , took the chance to inform those in the meeting about preparations for the limited face to face classes. Proper markings of and in the buildings were made, seats of 1.5meters apart were prepared, screen guards for lecturers and professors, retrofitting of classrooms, separate entrance and exit gates, temperature check and QR Code scanning, mobility simulations, series of biosafety lectures, and many more. He said, “For communal areas, only 2 hours is allotted as maximum stay. As for the library, they can borrow books and upon return, they have to leave them in a drop box outside their respective learning resource centers for disinfection purposes.”

    The University has also set up isolation rooms, just in case, there will be cases. Restrooms will only allow two people at a time. Classrooms were retrofitted for ease of implementation of physical distancing.

    Dr. Villaruz reminded the audience, “There will always be risks, that’s why we would like the students to practice isolation and self quarantine at home. For students who have high risk members in their families, this is not mandatory. Students can be given options, such as the online  modality.” -/CILPI

  • Dental Health Breakthrough in Region VI

    WVSU officially opens Doctor of Dental Medicine program

    As a forefront in nursing and medical education, West Visayas State University will help the government in providing one dentist per barangay.

    Thus, under Section 25.3.e and f of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act,  West Visayas State University opens the Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) program. This is the University’s answer to the call of the government to make oral care accessible in rural and underserved areas.

    The UHC or the Kalusugan Pangkalahatan (KP) is the “provision to every Filipino of the highest possible quality of health care that is accessible, efficient, equitably distributed, adequately funded, fairly financed, and appropriately used by an informed and empowered public.” 

    Effective this Academic Year 2021-2022, the Doctor of Dental Medicine, under the College of Dentistry, is a 6-year program that aims to “produce graduates for the general practice of the profession who are scientifically knowledgeable, technically capable, and socially sensitive in the maintenance of health”, as stated by Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) Chairman J. Prospero De Vera, III.

    De Vera added, “The curriculum has integrated a community-based clinical internship program that will cater to depressed areas with constituents needed oral health care and who could not afford such. This is part of the national effort of the Commission on Higher Education to augment the number of dental health care workers.”

    CHEd has been supportive of the WVSU endeavour since 2020—they have provided funds for the procurement of equipment and materials and a three-storey building will be built for the College of Dentistry.

    WVSU is the first state university/college (SUC) to offer the Doctor of Dental Medicine in Western Visayas and the second in the country.

    University level results will be posted soon.  # -CILPI