Natural disasters as a public health issue.

This paper explains why natural disasters are a public health issue. A case in point is the Masara landslide in Maco Town, the Philippines. Public health concerns are not just the physical but also the 'total well-being of persons'. Classifying natural calamities as a concern related to public health will give a sense of urgency on the matter and thereby encourage governments to act on the negative effects of climate change, especially in developing countries.

An Ethics of Justice in Elderly Care: Ageism and the Covid-19 Pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The study looks into the condition of elderly Covid-19 patients regarding the kind of attention they received during the pandemic given the scarcity of medical resouces in the countries mentioned in this investigation. In this case, we apply the bioethical principle of justice on the age-based criteria in determining which patient must receive treatment The argument is that the same is a form of discimination against the elderly. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to emphasize that the age-based criteria in deciding whether to treat elderly Covid-19 patients or not is violative of the bioethical principle of justice since it discriminates against them. METHOD: This study uses the interpretive method. The authors analyzed the literature and the arguments pertaining to the issue of ageism at the height of the Covid-19 Pandemic. We mentioned the countries where the issue of prioritization was a big concern. The qualitative analysis in this paper is meant to respond to such medical dilemma. ANALYSIS: In our analysis, we determined that when age is used as a criterion, it violates the bioethical principle of justice. The principle is meant to ensure that physicians are fair in dealing with patients. Using age in deciding whether a life is worth saving or not is a prejudice against old people who require care and attention. DISCUSSION: Medical doctors must treat patients equally and without bias. The challenge, however, is that due to the unprecedented nature of the pandemic, a triage is put in place to be able to manage the overwhelming influx of Covid-19 patients. Some age-based medical treatment criteria that recommend age-based cutoffs for specific treatments are morally untenable. This is because the same is bereft of any acceptable justification that warrants the judgment that the elderly must have less priority when medical resources are scarce. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, doctors must not discriminate patients on the basis of age. All lives are equal in moral worth. We argue that governments must promulgate non-discriminatory policies when it comes to medical treatment during a global public health emergency.

On why the COVID-19 pandemic has not changed the world.

This paper reacts to the proposal of Virgilio Rivas with respect to the role of art as a response to the threat of meaning that was brought forth by the COVID-19 pandemic. It will be argued that the purported new normal in which changes in the ways of life of people had been expected never actually occurred post-pandemic as power and economic interests still dominate the global order. The pandemic, in this regard, was simply a short pause from the hegemonic relationship among nations in the global order. The paper maintains that, in the end, people must continue to pursue human decency.

A strategy for school reopening in the Philippines: Lessons from other countries.

The Philippine government has not announced a strategy for a safe return to in-person instruction. A gradual approach, beginning in low-risk areas, at 50% capacity for every classroom, with students divided into two groups and alternating between in-person and online instruction every 2 weeks, is proposed. A safe return to in-person instruction in schools for millions of students in the Philippines is consistent with the concept of equity in education.

Risk-based approach for a return to in-person instruction in the Philippines.

The government of the Republic of the Philippines has suspended physical classes since the onset of the pandemic cases in 2020. On 20 September 2021, President Rodrigo Duterte authorized the return to in-person instruction for a limited number of schools in low-risk areas. The state has acknowledged the health concern related to young individuals that the prolonged suspension of face-to-face classes cause. Although equity in education is consistent with the return to physical classes, the danger remains high as the health care system continues to battle the public health emergency. A risk-based approach is necessary in the implementation of the pilot schools to operate safely.

Prioritization of persons with special needs in Covid-19 vaccinations in the Philippines.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that vaccinations against Covid-19 are safer than not getting vaccinated. Covid-19 is a severe respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus. In the Philippines, the Department of Health (DOH) has implemented a prioritization policy framework for its Covid-19 vaccination program. However, upon consideration of the sectors listed in the guidelines, persons with special needs like those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) appear to be omitted or at the very least not specified in the Vaccination Prioritization Policy. This is a policy gap that needs to be corrected.

Emerging Standards and the Hybrid Model for Organizing Scientific Events During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Since the beginning of 2020, the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has dramatically influenced almost every aspect of human life. Activities requiring human gatherings have either been postponed, canceled, or held completely virtually. To supplement lack of in-person contact, people have increasingly turned to virtual settings online, advantages of which include increased inclusivity and accessibility and a reduced carbon footprint. However, emerging online technologies cannot fully replace in-person scientific events. In-person meetings are not susceptible to poor Internet connectivity problems, and they provide novel opportunities for socialization, creating new collaborations and sharing ideas. To continue such activities, a hybrid model for scientific events could be a solution offering both in-person and virtual components. While participants can freely choose the mode of their participation, virtual meetings would most benefit those who cannot attend in-person due to the limitations. In-person portions of meetings should be organized with full consideration of prevention and safety strategies, including risk assessment and mitigation, venue and environmental sanitation, participant protection and disease prevention, and promoting the hybrid model. This new way of interaction between scholars can be considered as a part of a resilience system, which was neglected previously and should become a part of routine practice in the scientific community.

International Scientific Collaboration Is Needed to Bridge Science to Society: USERN2020 Consensus Statement.

Scientific collaboration has been a critical aspect of the development of all fields of science, particularly clinical medicine. It is well understood that myriads of benefits can be yielded by interdisciplinary and international collaboration. For instance, our rapidly growing knowledge on COVID-19 and vaccine development could not be attained without expanded collaborative activities. However, achieving fruitful results requires mastering specific tactics in collaborative efforts. These activities can enhance our knowledge, which ultimately benefits society. In addition to tackling the issue of the invisible border between different countries, institutes, and disciplines, the border between the scientific community and society needs to be addressed as well. International and transdisciplinary approaches can potentially be the best solution for bridging science and society. The Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN) is a non-governmental, non-profit organization and network to promote professional, scientific research and education worldwide. The fifth annual congress of USERN was held in Tehran, Iran, in a hybrid manner on November 7-10, 2020, with key aims of bridging science to society and facilitating borderless science. Among speakers of the congress, a group of top scientists unanimously agreed on The USERN 2020 consensus, which is drafted with the goal of connecting society with scientific scholars and facilitating international and interdisciplinary scientific activities in all fields, including clinical medicine.