For Immediate Release
Media Contact:
Leezel Tanglao
October 24, 2024
Filipino Young Leaders Program (FYLPRO) Tayo core leadership member and 2022 fellow Frances Angela Rodriguez presented on public health misinformation and disinformation in Tagalog/Bisaya/English at the Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) Seminar at Silliman University in Dumaguete, Philippines on October 4, 2024 through Texas Tech University Health Science Center’s (TTUHSC) Philippines International Program as part of her Masters in Public Health (MPH) program. This program was led by Dr. Rubini Pasupathy, Associate Professor of Public Health, at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and TTUHSC nursing faculty.
The BHWs Seminar was hosted by TTUHSC and Silliman University. The purpose of the seminar was to promote health education and outreach on a variety of topics for local barangay health workers in Dumaguete. Rodriguez and her colleague, Ericka Tobias, RN, presented on health misinformation and disinformation and their presentation was titled “Differentiating Science and Misinformation in Health: Understanding the Truth in the Age of Information.” The specific topics they covered included defining science, health misinformation, and disinformation, the consequences of health misinformation and disinformation, confirmation bias, cultural considerations, identifying examples of health misinformation and disinformation, and sharing resources for accessing reliable health information for BHWs.
In addition, her public health team worked with the Barangay Junob health department and conducted community health needs assessments with mothers and children in the local community and facilitated a mother’s class in Barangay Junob. During the mother’s class, they shared culturally-focused resources for navigating postpartum depression and alternatives to physical discipline. As part of the international program, Rodriguez and her cohort had the opportunity to attend a lecture at Silliman University and visit various clinical settings in Dumaguete, including academic medical centers, public hospitals, local department of health facilities, barangay clinics.
Rodriguez is currently pursuing an MPH at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. She joined Tayo as a fellow in June 2022 and has been part of the Tayo leadership core team as community partnerships coordinator since January 2023. She helps lead community partnership outreach initiatives and events, such as public health educational webinars and virtual community health discussions for Tayo. She also helps coordinate the public health grant writing and submission process for Tayo and mentors Tayo fellows during the summers.
“FYLPRO and Tayo have not only brought me closer to my Filipinx cultural roots and given me a strong sense of community since joining as a fellow in 2022, but have provided me with career and professional development opportunities that have made a lasting impact on my career trajectory and goals in the public health field. My work with Tayo inspired me to pursue an MPH and work towards a career where I can combine my passion for the Filipinx culture and community with my passion for promoting healthcare access and improving public health and healthcare systems, especially for the Filipinx community. I’m grateful for the support, mentorship, and community that I’ve received from FYLPRO and Tayo.” Rodriguez said.
About Filipino Young Leaders Program (FYLPRO)
FILIPINO YOUNG LEADERS PROGRAM (FYLPRO) is a network of high performing, next-generation leaders who advance the Philippines and the Filipino people through their advocacy and expertise in various industries. We continually expand the pipeline of Filipino young leaders in the diaspora. By connecting them to the motherland, we foster collaborative multinational relationships that create innovations and support the socio-economic progress of the global Filipino community.
For more information:
About Tayo
Tayo, a project of the Filipino Young Leaders Program (FYLPRO), is an innovative data hub that empowers Filipinx/a/o communities by collecting data, fostering partnerships, publishing culturally relevant insights, and developing leaders to create an equitable and sustainable future.
For more information, visit tayohelp.com.