MANILA, Philippines - Neurological disorders cover a wide range of structural, biochemical or electronic abnormalities in the brain or spinal cord or in the nerves leading to and from them, and manifest themselves in a number of symptoms.
According to a World Health Organization estimate in 2006, as many as one billion people worldwide are affected by these maladies in one way or another.
It goes without saying that a proper system of treatment and diagnosis, and more importantly, a reachout program for the education of the masses is not only requisite, it is also critical in bringing awareness to such a widespread issue.
The Makati Medical Section of Neurology is accepting that challenge. This year it plans to host a post-graduate course entitled “Neurology Trends” to be held in cooperation with the Department of Internal Medicine of the University of Perpetual Help in Biñan, Laguna.
“The main purpose is to educate general practitioners, internists about common neurological complaints which you usually see in the workplace. People in manufacturing with physically strenuous or repetitive tasks may complain of lower-back pains, others could suffer from insomnia, and these could be initial symptoms of a neurological disorder. They usually center around stroke, migraines and headaches, everyday problems most workers face,” said Dr. Rosalina Picar one of the training officers and speakers for the program.
“The courses and other topics we will have, will center around these complaints and how us doctors can identify them and properly investigate them further,” she said.
“It’s one full day and actually, this will be our fifth or sixth year,” Picar added. “We’ve been hosting it in different places. One year we had it as far as Pampanga and another year in Tagaytay. In some ways it will not only educate, but advertise the different services of Makati Med and other host hospital centers.”