News Tidbits

7 NEW CHILD PROTECTION SPECIALISTS

Posted: February 2004
By: May Baez Panganiban
E-mail: panganibanm@cpu-net.org.ph

As one of the highlights in the annual conference of Child Protection Unit Network (CPU-Net) in November 2003 was the graduation of Child Protection Specialists. Seven physicians from different hospitals nationwide finished the six-week course conducted at the Philippine General Hospital’s Child Protection Unit (PGH-CPU). The course includes series of personalized lectures and hands-on training on child-friendly forensic investigation, common medico-legal terminology on child maltreatment, ano-genital findings, colposcopy, court exposure, and case documentation.

These physicians are Dr. Angelita Andal and Dr. Mary Ann Ilao of Fabella Memorial Hospital, Dr. Cecilia Gan of Philippine Children’s Medical Center, Dr. Lea Remonte and Dr. Marissa Saguinsin of Social Action Center-Albay, Dr. Jindra Tetangco and Dr. Michelle Tolentino of UP-PGH Pedia-Ambulatory. These new child protection specialists are expected to handle abuse cases each Women and Children Protection Unit of their respective hospitals will receive. This on-going program is pursuant to the Department of Health (DOH) Administrative Order No. 1-B s. 1999 entitled “Establishment of Women and Children Protection Units in all DOH Hospitals”. Training is provided by the PGH-CPU and CPU-Net under a memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed between University of the Philippines- Manila and the DOH in 1999.