DOH-PSH TIEUP.
Department of Health (DOH) Calabarzon Regional Director Dr. Eduardo C. Janairo (left) signs a memorandum of agreement with Philippine Society of Hypertension president Alfredo A. Atiliano to improve cardiovascular risk assessment and management in Calabarzon region held at Novotel in Quezon City on Monday (Nov. 19, 2018). Witnesses include (left to right) DOH Calabarzon Medical Officer III Marilou R. Espiritu; DOH Assistant Regional Director Dr. Noel G. Pasion; PSH Vice President Leilani B. Mercado-Asis; and Treasurer Dolores D. Bonzon. (Photo courtesy of DOH4A-MRCU)
CALAMBA CITY, Laguna -- The Department of Health (DOH) Regional Office on Monday forged a memorandum of agreement with the Philippine Society of Hypertension (PSH) to improve cardiovascular (CV) risk assessment and management and health intervention undertakings in the region.
DOH Calabarzon Regional Director Dr. Eduardo C. Janairo and Philippine Society of Hypertension President Alfredo A. Atiliano signed the MOA at Novotel in Quezon City.
Janairo welcomed the agreement as he underscored the importance of a standard policy for the prevention and control of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the country, by initiating in the region a strong foundation for primary prevention strategies among health workers and primary care physicians in the community including those in the private sector.
“With this program we will be setting up standard rules and regulations and hope that it will become a national policy for the benefit of the people that we serve. Let us give them justice because they need and expect better service from us,” Janairo said.
He saw the need to immediately start the program with DOH, PSH and the support of a private pharmaceutical firm Pfizer through this collaboration.
The joint undertaking to improve cardiovascular risk assessment and management would expand implementation of the Philippine Package for Essential Non-communicable (PEN) Disease interventions in pilot areas in the Calabarzon provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon.
The partnership and collaborative program will also provide total CV risk assessment of hypertensive patients in the identified pilot areas for appropriate management or timely referral.
The program components include education and training, information dissemination, service provision and health monitoring.
The DOH has listed CVD, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes as among the leading causes of mortality in the country.
The health department referred to these as lifestyle related Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), particularly because they have common risk factors which are to a large extent related to unhealthy lifestyle.
“There are certain risk factors that precede deaths caused by hypertension, high blood and even chest pain hence there is an opportunity for early intervention. These indicators will be used to control the CV prevalence in the country the soonest possible time,” Janairo said.
The regional health office is set to secure commitment from private hospitals and government corporations in the pilot areas to participate in the program.
“We will review the Philippine Package of Essential NCD (PhilPEN) processes and areas for improvement to adapt a program appropriate for the participating hospitals/clinics,” he added.
For PSH, Atilano has committed to strongly promote and encourage the advancement of scientific research and knowledge and its application to the prevention and management of heart disease and stroke in hypertension and related CVDs in the Philippines. (PNA)
