Importance of Vaccination Against Diarrhea & Rotavirus

A Forum on the impact of rotavirus and infectious diarrhea on families and caregivers was held last Thursday, April 23, 2009 from 10:30 am – 1:00 pm at First Place Restaurant in Hyatt Hotel, Manila. I was fortunate enough to have attended the event together with my brother Mark, his wife Shannon and my baby nephew Dominic Mark (or DM for short).

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) unveiled the findings of the latest study assessing the burden on Filipino caregivers in terms of quality of life and costs of having a child hospitalized for infectious diarrhea caused by rotavirus. 

Let me give you some background information about this killer virus among children. 

Rotavirus infection kills more than 600,000 people every year in the world today.  Death due to rotavirus infection is usually caused by dehydration due to severe vomiting and diarrhea. 

Acute diarrhea remains one of the five leading causes of sickness and deaths among children in the Philippines. Yet the burden of diarrhea falls not only on the infant but also on the caregiver, whose quality of life suffers in many ways.

 

At this forum, GSK revealed the results of its latest study on infectious diarrhea as a family burden. As discussed by one of the study’s co-authors and noted Pediatric Gastroenterologist Dr. Felizardo N. Gatcheco, he uncovered the true extent of the burden of diarrhea - how hospitalization due to infectious diarrhea can affect the caregiver physically, emotionally and financially – and the role of vaccination in helping prevent effects of this disease. 

Based on a survey results conducted in 10 private and public hospitals in Metro Manila from May 2007 to September 2008, the study found that a child suffering from acute diarrhea was usually hospitalized for an average of five days, leading to difficulties not only for the patient, but for the parents and caregivers as well. This kind of illness can be very draining and stressful emotionally, physically and financially (they spend an average of Php7,870 for hospitalization and other medical needs, eating up about a third of the average family income among the respondents.)

Vaccination against rotavirus is indeed a necessity. It can easily prevent these hospitalizations and deaths, Dr. Gatcheco stressed. The government is urged to include rotavirus vaccination in the National Expanded Program on immunization.

After the talk, guests were also invited to participate in a baby spa session and learn more about how infant massages nurture a baby’s development.  Since we were the only ones who brought a baby with us, my baby nephew DM got the spotlight!

He was treated to a very relaxing baby Swedish massage using their Chamomile Oil. My nephew had so much fun as well as his mom and aunt too! Teehee. ^_^ Minutes after that, DM was so relaxed that he fell fast asleep.

The baby spa was given by Little Lamb’s Pediatric Wellness Place, the first and the only baby spa in the country. Each bottle of their massage oil, which comes in various essences (Chamomile, Citronella & Eucalyptus), sells for only Php150.00. Those who would like to have their babies and kids treated to a nice day at the spa, you can visit either of their two branches:

Pasig Branch: Fun Ranch Ground Floor Building A, Frontera Verde Complex (beside tiendesitas), Pasig City. Tel. No. (632) 489-8467; (632) 396-5201

Tomas Morato Branch: 220 Tomas Morato Ave. Cor. Lascano St., Q.C. Tel. No.  (632) 413-4478

After the entire event, we went to Mall of Asia to unwind a bit and let DM have some fun. We let him ride the carousel, watch the ice skaters and walk some. Thanks to DM’s previous rotavirus vaccination, we are confident that DM is protected from the deadly virus more than ever. We can enjoy and have some amusement with the baby. It was definitely an awesome time spent with my family!

For more photos, please visit my FACEBOOK ACCOUNT.