THE Department of Health (DOH)-Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) recently held a Program Implementation Review (PIR) to determine the success of lifestyle related disease prevention and control programs implemented at the local level.
Regional Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Cluster Head, Dr. Marilou R. Espiritu stated that “the program review also aims to assess the program’s effectiveness and to identify factors affecting its implementation so that we can formulate strategic actions to improve the health status of the region and make it adaptable to the needs of the people in the community.”
“During the PIR, local government units with best public heath practices currently being implemented will be presented to inspire other LGUs to adopt or initiate another innovation in promoting health care programs in their municipalities for the benefit of their constituents safeguarding their health against NCDs,” she emphasized.
NCDs such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory disease are among the causes of are the leading cause of deaths in the country. In 2001, the DOH-Field Health Service Information System reported a total 994,707 deaths due to hypertension and rank as the second leading cause of morbidity.
“Although there are major breakthroughs in the fight against NCDs, including the establishment of hypertension and diabetes clubs in health facilities including implementation of the Philippine Package of Essential NCD Interventions (PhilPEN), many Filipinos are still exposed to the risk factors brought about by NCDs,” Espiritu disclosed.
“Among these are physical in activity, unhealthy diets, alcohol and tobacco use. If this will be left uncheck, there will be millions of Filipinos who will develop NCDs in the coming years,” she added.
The Philippine Multisectoral Action Plan 2015-2025 envision an improved quality of life for all Filipinos with the goal of reducing morbidity, mortality and disability rates due to chronic lifestyle-related non-communicable diseases through an integrated, comprehensive and community-based program.
The objectives of the lifestyle related disease prevention and control program is to prioritized development plans for the prevention and control of NCDs at the regional and local health level; strengthen leadership, governance and multisectoral actions; reduce modifiable risk factors for NCDs through health promotion; strengthen health systems and increase access to quality medicines, products and services at the primary health care level towards attainment of universal health coverage; promote and support research and development; monitor the trends and determinants of NC sand evaluate their progress. It is conducted once a year.
Among the essential NCD programs includes Lifestyle related diseases, tobacco control, renal disease control, violence and injury prevention, mental health, persons with disabilities, prevention and blindness and rare diseases.
A total of 120 NCD coordinators attended the four-day activity from July 16-21, 2019 at Ciudad Christia Resort in San Mateo, Rizal.