HEALTHY HEARTS. World Health Organization (WHO) Country Representative to the Philippines, Dr. Rui Paulo de Jesus, Antique Governor Rhodora Cadiao, and Department of Health-Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD) 6 Assistant Regional Director Ma. Sophia Pulmones (left to right) lead the commitment signing for the Healthy Hearts Program in Antique province on Tuesday (June 20, 2023). Dr. De Jesus said the Healthy Hearts Program is being expanded in Antique for early detection and treatment of hypertension. (PNA photo by Annabel Consuelo J. Petinglay)
SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique – Nine municipalities in Antique province were chosen as initial recipients of the expanded Healthy Hearts Program (HHP) of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Department of Health Western Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH WV CHD).
“The Healthy Hearts program objectives include early detection and to ensure continuity of the treatment of hypertension,” said Dr. Rui Paulo de Jesus, WHO Country Representative to the Philippines, in a press conference following the program launching held at the old provincial capitol in thos capital town on Tuesday.
He said Antique was identified for the program expansion after its successful pilot implementation in the first district of Iloilo province in 2018.
Antique Integrated Provincial Health Officer 1 Dr. Leoncio Abiera Jr. said the program will be initially implemented in Pandan, Culasi, and Tibiao in the north; Barbaza, Bugasong, and Patnongon in the central, and Sibalom, Hamtic, and Tobias Fornier in the southern part of the province.
These towns will be provided with starter kits, blood pressure apparatus, and training on the management of non-communicable diseases (NCD), particularly hypertension.
Mayors of the nine municipalities joined Antique Governor Rhodora Cadiao in signing a commitment in support of the program during the launching event.
Abiera said NCD is the fourth leading cause of death and the third leading cause of morbidity in the province in 2022.
Since last year, the regional health office has already conducted training of trainers for Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) who will assist the IPHO and the Municipal Health Officers (MHOs) in the program implementation.
DOH WV CHD Assistant Regional Director Ma. Sophia Pulmones, in the press conference, said 24,267 patients with hypertension are currently enrolled in Iloilo province through their electronic registry.
“Of the 24,267 patients with hypertension, there’s 80 percent or 17,681 of them who have now controlled blood pressure,” Pulmones said.
The DOH official said that the patients with controlled blood pressure are those who continuously take their medicines because of the program.
Controlled hypertension prevents complications such as diabetes and even reduces mortality. (PNA)
