UPOU ENSURES HEALTHY LIVES AND PROMOTES WELL-WELL BEING FOR ALL AT ALL AGES
University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) places a significant priority on the health and well-being not only of its constituents but also of the community surrounding it.
UPOU offers different health programs both inside or outside of the university. Programs such as the blood donation drives, access to comprehensive care for cancer patients, sexual and reproductive health care events, and mental health consultations are just some of the health initiatives of the University.
UPOU widens it reach by strengthening its existing affiliations and forging new partnerships both locally and internationally through various studies and research programs. These partnerships aim to deliver better health services to the community and to contribute to ensuring that every individual is ready to address different persistent and emerging health issues.
COLLABORATIONS AND HEALTH SERVICES
With the aim to improve the quality of life in the community, UPOU created a significant number of research and collaborations with various local and international institutions. These partnerships include the development and use of health-related technologies, and the provision of health services. Through these projects, the University hopes to give an opportunity to each individual to live with good health and well-being.
UPOU’s Partnership with Health Institutions
HEALTH OUTREACH PROGRAMS
The university delivers outreach programs to the local community with the goal to improve their overall health and well-being.
Data Prototype Teams
(MINDFLOW PROJECT)
SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE SERVICES
The UPOU Office of Gender Concerns, provides free educational programs that promote sexual and reproductive health care. These programs aim to inform students and staff to help them better understand the concepts surrounding this broad topic where many misconceptions arise. Dr. Maria Rowena Raymundo, an OB-Gynecologic Surgeon & Infectious Disease specialist and also a faculty member of UPOU, served as the resource person on all of the listed programs below. These webinars/seminars can be accessed through the UPOU NETWORKS:
STRESS AND SEX:
DYNAMICS FOR WOMEN AND MEN
LIST OF WEBSITES/SOCIAL MEDIA FOR FREE SEXUAL HEALTH CARE FOR STUDENTS
MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT
UPOU Office of Students Affairs (OSA), mandated to provide information, advice, and guidance regarding the student’s psychosocial, financial, emotional, and academic needs and concerns, forwards concerns to appropriate people to ensure that these are addressed as soon as possible.
Aside from OSA, UPOU Ugnayan ng Pahinungod also offers psychosocial support services to the university constituents.
UPOU PAHINUNGOD
PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT SERVICES
SMOKE-FREE POLICY
UPOU does not have its own official smoke-free policy but complies with that of the UP System and the national government through the following Administrative Orders (AOs):
ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. PERR-07-70
This administrative order with the subject, “Strict Enforcement of the Smoking Ban as well as Prohibiting the Sale and Advertising of Tobacco within the University of the Philippines System”, was issued in the UP Gazette in 2007. Some notable sections include the enforcement of the smoking ban on all campuses and buildings, prohibition of selling and advertising of tobacco products inside the campus, and putting up notices and continuous information dissemination against smoking. Disciplinary measures will be given to any university member who will violate any provision of this order, and unit heads that will fail to implement the order will be charged with simple misconduct for the first offense and grave misconduct for subsequent offenses..
ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 07-84
Aside from complying with the UP System’s AO, UPOU also observes the “Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003” (Republic Act No. 9211). Through an administrative order, the University created an ad-hoc committee that would implement this national policy on campus.