DARVYS Pharma is host to a non-government organization (NGO) dedicated to the building awareness about a neuromuscular condition known as “spasticity”, and to an internationally recognized organization for medical doctors and healthcare professionals with interest in neurological rehabilitation.

Delivering Hope For Spasticity, Inc. (DHS)

Philippine Society of NeuroRehabilitation, Inc. (PSNR)

   Delivering Hope for Spasticity, Inc.

Spasticity is an involuntary condition of increased muscle tightness, particularly, but not limited to the extremities (hands, arms, feet, legs).  This is brought about by an injury to the nervous system, either to the brain or spinal cord.  Spasticity may occur in children and adults who have cerebral palsy (CP), or in those who have suffered a stroke, brain or spinal cord injury or  who have multiple sclerosis (MS).

The condition may be mild or severe, but in its more serious manifestations, spasticity can severely impair an individual’s mobility.  In a child with spasticity of the legs, this could mean the inability to learn how to walk.  For an adult with arm spasticity, this could lead with difficulty in restoring normal function of the hands and arms.  Fortunately, there now are state-of-the-art medications and therapies in neurorehabilitation, which could help alleviate the condition so that these children may learn how to walk, while adults who suffer from it may be assisted to restore some function in their limbs.

DHS was organized in 2005 as a social advocacy that would take the lead in building public awareness about the burden of spasticity in individuals and children with cerebral palsy or those who have suffered a stroke, brain or spinal cord injury.  It was also envisioned that through this increased awareness, people suffering from this condition may have improved access to state of the art treatment in order to provide them better quality of lives.

Dra. Carmela Mijares-Majini is the current President of DHS, while Dr. Francis Xavier Dimalanta, a developmental pediatrician, is its Vice-President.  Dr. Romil Martinez, Darvys Medical Director, sits on the DHS Board together with Oliver Darvin, Darvys President, who is Ex-Officio.

DARVYS supports both administrative functions and developmental programs of DHS and hosts the Organization’s headquarters in its offices.

    Philippine Society of NeuroRehabilitation, Inc.

The NeuroRehab Special Interest Group or NR-SIG was originally organized in 2004 for medical doctors with interest in neurorehabilitation. This was an initiative by the group’s Charter President, Prof. Raymond L. Rosales.  Oliver Darvin, who was then Country Manager for Ipsen group in the Philippines, played an important role in helping coordinate the activities for the founding members of the group, being himself a founding member and Executive Director for the group.

In 2005, the Philippine Society of NeuroRehabilitation or PSNR was incorporated and almost immediately recognized as the first Asian Chapter of the World Federation of NeuroRehabilitation (WFNR).  The organization has since come out with several worthy projects, including that which would increase both professional and public awareness about the important field of neurorehabilitation.  It has also produced the First Philippine Consensus Statements on the Management of Spasticity, in the areas of adult spasticity, child spasticity and the non-pharmacologic management of spasticity. These papers were published in the prestigious Journal of Neural Science and Rehabilitation of the WFNR and were presented during the 2006 World Congress of NeuroRehabilitation in Hong Kong.

In March 2008, the PSNR successfully hosted 2008 East Asia Meeting of the WFNR in combination with its 1st Congress in Cebu.

Manolete Renato Guerrero, MD is the current President of the PSNR, while Dr. Mary Jeanne Flordelis is the Vice-President.  Dr. Marissa Lukban is the organization’s secretary and Dr. Romil Martinez, is Treasurer.  Oliver Darvin remains as Executive Director of the Board, while Prof. Rosales is ex-officio.

The support of DARVYS to the PSNR is currently limited to the hosting of the organization’s offices and website and also providing administrative services to the group.