26 October 2016 — The Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi, in cooperation with the Philippine Ladies Circle - Abu Dhabi chaired by Madame Yoko Ramos-Vingno, held a forum on breast cancer and Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) awareness at the Embassy function hall on October 22. 

Philippine Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates Constancio R. Vingno Jr., in his welcome remarks, said that the activity is conducted in celebration of the Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the National AD/HD Awareness Week with the theme “Turning Disability into This Ability”. 

Dr. Ruth Firmalino, General Practitioner at the OB Gyne Department of ADNOC Ruwais Hospital in Abu Dhabi, delivered a lecture on breast cancer awareness. She discussed the symptoms, types, causes and risk factors of breast cancer and ways to diagnose, treat and prevent the disease. She encouraged everyone to avail of free breast cancer screenings being offered by various hospitals in Abu Dhabi this month.

Dr. Ma. Lourdes Sta. Rosas-Casas, Specialist Pediatrician at the Asian Philippine Medical Center, delivered a lecture on AD/HD awareness.  She talked about the definition, subtypes, classification of severity, and treatment of AD/HD.  She also outlined the inattentive symptoms and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms of AD/HD.

Ms. Divine Grace Garcia, Special Education Needs Coordinator at The Philippine Global School in Abu Dhabi, highlighted the accommodations, interventions and modifications in school for children with AD/HD and how AD/HD impacts learning in pre-school, grade school, middle school and high school.

The forum was attended by Post’s personnel, members of the Philippine Ladies Circle, and representatives from Philippine schools in Abu Dhabi.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  Philippine Proclamation No. 472 (2003) has declared the third week of October of every year as “National Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) Awareness Week”. END