Health UPdates Webinar #302 “Payat, Pandak, Poor Grades”: Dahil Ba Sa Bulate?

The University of the Philippines,
in partnership with the UP Manila – National Institutes of Health,
and in cooperation with UP Philippine General Hospital and UP College of Medicine,
would like to invite you to attend this webinar!

Registration slots are limited to this HEALTH UPDATES webinar
So sign up NOW:
bit.ly/HealthUpdatesWebinar302

Webinar #302
October 2, 2026 (Friday), 12:00 noon
Payat, Pandak, Poor Grades: Dahil Ba Sa Bulate?

Presenter:
Dr. Vicente Y. Belizario, Jr.
Former Dean, College of Public Health, UP Manila
Adjunct Research Professor, National Institutes of Health, UP Manila

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Webinar #302
October 2, 2026 (Friday), 12:00 noon
Payat, Pandak, Poor Grades: Dahil Ba Sa Bulate?

In pediatric healthcare and public health advocacy, two critical developmental milestones consistently command attention: optimal physical growth and cognitive academic achievement. Yet across endemic regions, chronic pediatric stunting and persistent classroom underperformance remain perplexing challenges that frustrate clinicians, educators, and families alike. While nutritional deficits and socioeconomic determinants are frequently implicated, an insidious, subclinical contributor often operates undetected beneath the surface: soil-transmitted helminthiasis. Intestinal parasitic infections continue to exert a profound, multifaceted burden on child development, subtly hijacking nutrient absorption, inducing chronic systemic inflammation, and undermining long-term cognitive trajectory.

In this week’s episode, we will discuss complex parasitological research with actionable frontline clinical insights. We will examine the physiological mechanisms linking chronic helminthic colonization to impaired linear growth and subtle neurocognitive deficits. We will explore the pathophysiological cascades of micro- and macronutrient malabsorption, parasite-induced enteropathy, and immune-mediated systemic inflammation, evaluating how these systemic disruptions directly translate into physical stunting and diminished scholastic outcomes. Our speaker is Dr. Vicente Y. Belizario, Jr., who is the former Dean of the UP College of Public Health and an adjunct research professor at the UP – National Institutes of Health

Translating high-level academic parasitology into practical clinical context will equip healthcare professionals and community advocates with the diagnostic vigilance and interprofessional insight needed to identify, treat, and prevent chronic parasitic burdens. Join us to reclaim the full growth and educational potential of the children in our care.