Health group trusts NCD policies will be fully enforced under DOH’s new leadership
June 12, 2023
THE PHILIPPINE ADVOCACY AGENDA OF PEOPLE LIVING WITH NCDs
October 25, 2023HEALTHY Philippines Alliance (HPA) called on Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa to implement policies on non-communicable disease (NCD) prevention and control.
Former Health secretary and HPA member Jaime Galvez-Tan said there should be continuity and uninterrupted strategies to prevent and control NCDs in the country.
“We have already made significant strides with action plans and legislations already in place that address NCDs and its chief risk factors, namely tobacco use, alcohol drinking, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity,” Galvez-Tan said.
HPA said there should be guaranteed continuity in government programs dealing with hypertension, diabetes, cancer and other NCDs.
Leyden Florido, board member of Diabetes Philippines, said a shift to healthier food consumption will prevent NCDs.
“With this, we need wider access to quality food from farm to table, enhanced consumer education or awareness campaigns so people are able to comprehend the risks and make better food choices, and a more inclusive nutrition counseling program for patients living with NCDs,” Florido added.
In an earlier briefing, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa urged LGUs to speed up the administration of the bivalent vaccines as it only has a shelf life until November. Photo from Presidential Communications Office
In an earlier briefing, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa urged LGUs to speed up the administration of the bivalent vaccines as it only has a shelf life until November. Photo from Presidential Communications Office
NCDs,such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer and chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes, account for 70 percent of total deaths in the Philippines.
Ischemic heart disease is the leading cause of death in the country with 114,500 deaths, while neoplasms or cancer is in second with 63,300 deaths, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.
Stroke, diabetes and hypertension were listed as third, fourth and fifth, respectively.
By Red Mendoza of Manila Times
