ZAMBOANGA CITY, Dec. 13 (PIA) -- The current generation now is believed to live in the era of misinformation as most of the young people, are engaged online where vast fake news circulate.

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-9 through the Zamboanga Consortium for Health Research and Development (ZCHRD) invited school representatives from different higher education institutions (HEIs), national government agencies and other stakeholders in the region, to help resolve inequalities and threats that cause health and mental health problems, especially among the vulnerable young people through health researches.

“Some people don’t believe in the development of science as we are now in the era of fake news that was heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic and this is a crisis that we face in science,” World Health Organization (WHO) Promotions and Communications Consultant Dr. Jason Ligot said during the 5th Regional Health Research Summit and 1st Multidisciplinary conference held recently this month.

Dr. Ligot encouraged young researchers to help address the proliferation of misinformation in social media to not compromise public health and trust among public institutions.

“Most of the times, we overlook the infodemic, let us also resolve this to avoid public mistrust in the development of science to provide better health services,” Dr. Ligot affirmed.

More so, the Philippines is now facing youth mental health crisis, where 1 out of 4 young girls attempted to commit suicide and the pressures that young people face in mental health are enormous.

“One factor is that they chose to spend a lot in social media, online and these changes in lifestyles of young people are also giving rise to new threats to mental health such as anxiety and cyber bullying,” Dr. Ligot said.

Dr. Ligot is hopeful that the participants would use social media to communicate people to understand the work of science in advancing public health services of the nation as well as to add more people to healthy conversations and not to spread false information.

Further, ZCHRD Director Dr. Chona Sarmiento is hopeful that the conference would pave the way to share new knowledge and experience that lead the participants towards appropriate actions and measures in using science and technology’s research towards gaining a vibrant and prosperous Zamboanga Peninsula region.

“May this celebration an avenue for initiatives that is responsive to the health needs of the community,” Dr. Sarmiento said.

DOST-9 Regional Director Martin Wee also emphasized that the Regional Science and Technology Week will become an avenue to fortify the research foundation of our institutions and bring in our young minds and hearts into the fold. (RVC/EDT/JRA/PIA9-Zamboanga City)