DOH and Sanofi-Aventis kicks off 4 o'clock habit campaign tomorrow - "Linisin Ang Kapaligiran, Dengue Ay Maiwasan"

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Department of Heath with Sanofi-Aventis kicks off 4 o'clock habit campaign - "Linisin Ang Kapaligiran, Dengue Ay Maiwasan" to raise awareness against dengue. 

The launch of the campaign will be held August 18, 2015 at Esteban Abada Elementary School, Palomaria St., Brgy. Veterans Village, Q.C. 

Among the special guests are Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista and Ms. Ching Santos, Sanofi Pasteur Country Manager. Another highlight of the event is the Dengue Educational Talk by Mr. Mark Anthony Capiral (Sanitation Inspector 1). Mark Capiral and Ruby Lucasan will be the event host. 

The pre-program starts at 7am with the following set of programs:

7:00        -    Registration of students

7:30        -   General Assembly for the Parade

8:00        -  Dengue School Parade

8:45        -  Arrival of Participants

Opening of Dengue Interactive Booths

Opening of Dengue On-line Terminals Intermission Number of Drum & Bugle Games on Stage.

There will also be a Dengue Dance Competition for the Grade School Level and High School Level.

DOH Encourages Public to Keep Vaccinations Complete and Up-to-date

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Myths and misconceptions identified as threats to national health

Vaccinations save millions of lives worldwide on a yearly basis. Despite the progress of immunization efforts in the country, however, several factors remain to challenge the total success of such programs.

Based on the 2013 National Demographic and Health Survey, six of ten children 12‐23 months (62 percent) were fully immunized; that is, they received the seven basic vaccinations before their first birthday. More than 90 percent of the children received first doses each of vaccines - DPT (diphtheria-pertussis-tetnaus), polio and Hepa‐B. However, same children will not complete the succeeding second and third doses required for the full protection and only 78% finishes the measles vaccination at 9 months old. . .. Rather than problems on resources and reach, challenge of completion of such programs is being stunted by the myths and speculations surrounding immunization.

Dr. Beaver Tamesis, Rosa Maria Nancho MD, Angel Jacob, DOH Secretary Janette Garin and Benjamin Co

 “The emerging adversary of vaccination is not effectiveness—it is speculation,” said Dr. Benjamin Co, a Clinical Pharmacologist and Associate Member of the Pediatric Infectious Disease of the Philippines and Fellow of the Philippine Pediatric Society (PPS).

Dr. Co was a keynote speaker in a forum titled Usapang Bakuna held at Museum Café in Makati. He discussed vaccine myths and misconceptions alongside DOH Secretary Janette Garin and Society of Adolescent Medicine of the Philippines (SAMP) Adviser Dr. Rosa Maria Nancho.

The forum tackled vaccination myths and misconceptions as a nod to World Immunization Week, which runs from April 24 to 30. 

“Understandably, vaccine safety receives more attention than effectiveness,” said Dr. Co. “But vaccines have an excellent safety record. As a matter of fact, you could argue that they are as safe, if not or safer than therapeutic medicines.”

He continued: “Misguided concerns (which are not grounded on science and research) distract the general public from pressing preventable health threats. This is proving to be a major obstacle in creating a healthier nation.”

No link between measles vaccine and autism

A now-retracted study linking MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine) to autism has been discouraging the vaccine’s uptake. The British Medical Journal (BMJ) described the 1998 study as an ‘elaborate fraud’ that altered the medical histories of all 12 patients that formed its basis.

According to Dr. Co, “Wakefield’s study has done long-lasting damage to health. But we need to remain focused on why vaccines were discovered and balance the benefits and risks of the disease, especially among children and the vulnerable community. As stated by the Measles Rubella Initiative, Measles is a leading cause of death among children around the world, with 400 dying every day.”

Based on data from the World Health Organization (WHO), there is no scientific evidence to support claims that measles vaccination may be a risk factor for autism. Additionally, studies have shown that immunization does not lead to permanent neurological problems. 

Disproving the HPV stigma

HPV (Human Papillomavirus), a family of viruses, has two strains that are linked to 80 percent of cervical cancer cases. While there are two HPV vaccines (bivalent and quadrivalent) available in the market, their uptake is affected by existing stigma.

“Since HPV is a sexually transmitted disease, some parents do not consider vaccination as a necessity for their kids,” said Dr. Nancho. “But these vaccinations are recommended at a certain age (9 years old) because that is when they’re most effective.”

She added, “Pre-exposure vaccination (which means vaccination before the child is exposed) is a corner stone of successful immunization programs against the world’s cluster of preventable diseases.”

Other ‘Untruths’

Mercury content has also been raised as a safety concern in vaccines, since some of them are formulated with the mercury-containing preservative thiomersal. However, DOH Secretary Garin was quick to point out that there is no evidence to suggest that the amount of thiomersal used in vaccines poses any health risks.

It is likewise a mistake to assume that vaccines are no longer necessary, as vaccinable diseases have disappeared in recent decades. According to Garin, the spike of measles cases in the country quickly refutes this claim.

She concluded, “The biggest problem here is that decisions on health are being made based on perceived risks, not supported by evidence. We have a responsibility to rid ourselves of all these misconceptions, especially when we are making decisions for our children.”

“10 Kumainments” for Pinoys’ healthy lifestyle

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The National Nutrition Council  launches the “10 Kumainments”, a campaign to promote the Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos at the “3rd National Conference of Nutrition Action Officers" held at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City on October 23, 2014.

Filipinos from every walk of life can find ways to get healthy and be nutritionally well by following very simple guidelines drawn up by the National Nutrition Council (NNC) of the Department of Health (DOH).

The 10 Kumainments are the popularized versions of the Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos (NGF) approved by the NNC Governing Board to promote a healthy lifestyle among Pinoys. The nutritional guidelines aim to address and prevent malnutrition and diet-related non-communicable diseases such as cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

The Kumainments are simple and easy to remember guidelines that can be easily followed by ordinary citizens to improve their nutritional status. With messages like“Kumain ng iba’t ibang pagkain”, “Kumain ng gulay at prutas araw-araw”, and “Panatilihin ang tamang timbang”, individuals are encouraged to eat the right foods, exercise right and pursue a healthy lifestyle in 10 easy rules. The messages will be aired on TV and radio stations nationwide.

A campaign character, Moises Dalisay also known as "Mang Moi", was also introduced at the launch. Patterned after Moses or Moises of the Bible story who handed out the Ten Commandments, the friendly “Mang Moi” crusades for the “10 Kumainments” that Pinoys should follow for better nutrition. 

Moises "Mang Moi" Dalisay discusses the 10 Kumainments, the Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos with Jovita Raval, the National Nutrition Council Chief of the Nutrition Information and Education Division.

“We encourage all the Nutrition Action Officers in the country to help disseminate the 10 Kumainments to the barangay level, to the households so that they can contribute in influencing proper nutrition behaviours and to also be able to help reduce malnutrition in the country,” said Jovita Raval, NNC Chief of the Nutrition Information and Education Division.

The NGF was developed by the interagency and multi-sectoral Technical Working Group on the Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos chaired by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (FNRI‐DOST). The NGF also underwent multi-sectoral consultations. NNC was tasked to disseminate the NGF to ensure its adoption among Filipinos to contribute to improved nutrition.

The launch was attended by Nutrition Action Officers from all over the country who are also expected to help in the dissemination of the 10 Kumainments in barangays nationwide. The 3rd National Conference of Nutrition Action Officers used the theme in this program, “I Need You NAO and Forever” and conducted sessions that tackled nationwide data and project updates from the NNC and its partner agencies.

(L-R) Carmelita Abalos, President of the Nutrition Action Officers Association of the Philippines; Mario Capanzana, Director of Food and Nutrition Research Institute; Jovita Raval, NNC Chief of the Nutrition Information and Education Division; Dr. Corazon VC Barba, Professor Emeritus of UP Los Banos; Dr. Rodolfo Florentino, President of the Nutrition Foundation of the Philippines launch a popular version of the Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos, the "10 Kumainments". The standee in the middle is the main character for the campaign, Moises "Mang Moi" Dalisay.

For more information, visit the NATIONAL NUTRITION COUNCIL

2332 Chino Roces Ave. Ext., Taguig City. 

Tel. Nos. 843.0142; 843.1337; 843.5824; 

Fax No. 843.5818; 

Email: info@nnc.gov.ph 

http://www.nnc.gov.ph 

www.facebook.com/nncofficial

Twitter @NNC_official.

PH the first country to introduce IPV in routine immunization; Every newborn in the Philippines will now receive the Inactivated Polio Vaccine

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In celebration of World Polio Day, the Department of Health launch the inactivated injectable polio vaccine (IPV) to keep the Philippines polio-free, during the event yesterday (October 6, 2014) held at the Paranaque City Hall, San Antonio Valley1, Paranaque City.

Deaprtment of Health Secretary Enrique Ona

“The introduction of inactivated polio vaccines will allow us to improve the protection of Filipino children against polio and maintain our polio-free status in the country,” Health Secretary Enrique T. Ona declared.

Here's another decisive step towards global polio eradication by 2018 – The Department of Health welcomed the official celebration of the introduction of the inactivated injectable polio vaccine (IPV) in the Philippines immunization schedule.

The Philippines is the first developing country in Eastern Asia to introduce IPV in routine immunization, following the universal recommendation issued by WHO earlier in 2014. It is also the biggest developing country in the world to introduce IPV and is expected to be watched closely by many countries which have already announced their intention to introduce IPV.

Yesterday, October 6, 2014, several children were vaccinated with Inactivated Injectable Polio vaccine (IPV), Imovax® Polio, at a celebration of the introduction held at the Paranaque City Hall, chaired by Janette Garin, Under Secretary of Health.

The introduction of IPV is a part of the DOH expanded program on immunization for children.

They are the first of more than two million Filipino children who will now be vaccinated every year, 14 weeks after birth. One injection of IPV will be given to every child along with one injection of a pediatric pentavalent combination preventing diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, Haemophilus influenzae type b and hepatitis B, and one dose of oral polio vaccine (OPV).

The universal introduction of IPV, a vaccine that has been used in the majority of the developed world for years, is a necessary step toward achieving a polio-free world by 2018.

Filipinos are part of trade, commerce, innovation and the labor market around the world so the country plays an extremely important part in global efforts to end polio forever. 

The Philippines has an emotional attachment to zero polio that stretches back to the start of mass polio epidemics in the world in the late nineteenth century: the first prime minister of the Philippines and a hero of the country’s anti-colonial struggles, Apolinario Mabini was a polio survivor who lived with lifelong disabilities caused by the disease.

The last polio case in the country was recorded in 1993. With the sustained effort of the Department of Health on the polio eradication initiative, in October 2000 the Western Pacific Region of the World Health Organization and all its member countries have been certified polio-free. For a region to be certified as polio-free, there should be no reported cases of indigenous polio 3 years preceding the certification.

Dr Janette Garin, Under Secretary of Health

The Philippines decided to buy IPV with its own national health budget, according to Dr Garin. “As a medical doctor, I am delighted that we are among the first developing countries to invest in the polio vaccine that children already get in Europe and North America. Our children deserve to be protected fully against the disease that killed and crippled so many Filipinos even during the time I was growing up”, she said.

“I am also proud that Filipinos have inspired and led many of the global civil society efforts against childhood diseases including polio. Imagining and calling for a better world is part of our national genius. Polio eradication can be our generation’s legacy to all future generations” she added.

“The DOH recognizes immunization as a key element in reducing the burden of childhood mortality and morbidity and the inclusion of the IPV boosts our children’s health and immunization programs,” the health chief said.

Countries and partners move forward to the end of polio

The universal introduction of IPV is part of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) Endgame Strategic Plan. The Plan was endorsed by 194 countries in 2013 and offers a comprehensive roadmap that includes ending polio transmission, improving routine immunization rates and creating a lasting blueprint for addressing other significant global health challenges.

“Sanofi Pasteur has been a public health partner of Filipino health authorities for years," said Olivier Charmeil, President and CEO of Sanofi Pasteur. 

"It is our mission to build a nation where no one suffers or dies from a vaccine preventable disease. We are very proud to help the country remain polio-free. Today, the Philippines move is an inspiration to many countries that are likely to introduce IPV in the coming months. Today we are getting a little closer to the day when polio will be just a memory and its horrors will be consigned to history.”

This sentiment is echoed by Sanofi Pasteur Philippines Country Manager, Ching Santos, as she states, “Sanofi Pasteur Philippines is one with the Department of Health in ending polio. Our company has provided all doses of both OPV and IPV to support the Philippines program against polio. We are proud to contribute to the protection of the men, women and children of our country and will continue to provide quality and innovative products for disease prevention. Along with our partners in the immunization committee, we will carry this out with passion knowing that we make a difference in the lives of Filipinos.”

DOH extends measles-rubella-polio campaign until October 10

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From the Department of Health:

The Department of Health (DOH) today announced that children who did not receive the supplemental dose of measles, rubella (MR) and oral polio vaccine (OPV) can still go to health centers and vaccination posts until October 10, 2014.

“We are appealing to parents and caregivers who know that children aged 0-5 years old under their care have not received the vaccines to go to the nearest health center to have them immunized,” Secretary Enrique Ona said.

As of September 30, the country’s national coverage status reached 84% (or 9.6M) of the 11 million eligibles for MR and 81% (10.9M) of the 13 million eligibles for OPV.

Among the regions, the top achievers for both MR and OPV vaccinations are Caraga region with 91%, Region 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula) with 90%, Region 11 (Davao) and Region 12 (SOCCKSARGEN) both with 87%, and Region 5 (Bicol) with 86%.

Among the provinces, the local chief executives reported the following achievements for MR: Lanao del Sur – 112%, Agusan del Sur – 100%, Saranggani – 100%, Surigao del Sur – 96%, and Nueva Vizcaya – 96%. For OPV, the provinces reported the following: Lanao del Sur – 110%, Agusan del Sur – 98%, Saranggani – 95%, Surigao del Sur – 94%, and Davao Oriental – 93%.

The top cities, on the other hand, reported that for MR the top performers are: Cebu City – 128%, Dapitan City – 119%, Tandag City – 117%, Calamba City – 107%, and San Fernando City – 103%. For OPV, the top cities are Cebu City – 126%, Tandag City – 117%, Dapitan City – 107%, Lapu-lapu City – 102%, and Calamba City – 101%.

Subsequently, the DOH together with private volunteers, World Health Organization, the US Centers for Disease Control, and the Church of the Latter-Day Saints will be continuing the rapid coverage assessment and door to door surveillance and mop-up activities to verify whether the target of reaching every purok strategy has been reached.

Fifty one percent of those who have not brought their children to vaccination posts claim that the mothers are busy.

“We are appealing to these mothers to give priority to vaccination. Nakamamatay kapag kulang ang bakuna. Magtulungan tayo upang protektahan ang buong sambayanang Pilipino. There are still pockets of areas where there are children who have not yet been vaccinated, therefore, we are urging the mothers and caregivers of these to have them vaccinated at the nearest health center even as we conduct mop up vaccinations,” the health chief concluded.

doh.gov.ph

DOH recognizes 'unsung' heroes of Typhoon Yolanda

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The Department of Health (DOH) recently gave tribute to the “Unsung Heroes” of typhoon “Yolanda” (Haiyan) for their contributions in helping the victims and families affected by the strongest cyclone to hit the Visayas region last year.

Here's from the Department of Health:

The Department of Health (DOH) today recognized the efforts of all the brave souls who have dedicated their time, services, expertise and resources to the victims of Typhoon Yolanda (internationally named Haiyan).

“While we acknowledge that our help and support to Yolanda-affected areas is far from ceasing, at the moment there is some breathing space for us to pause and reflect, and to modestly acknowledge those who have been our partners in relief assistance,” Secretary Health Enrique Ona said.

It is appropriate that recognition is given to local government units, local health teams and volunteers, DOH regional hospitals and offices, and, especially, to foreign partners who went out of their way to extend every help they can.

On November 8, 2013, Typhoon Yolanda was recorded as the strongest in Philippine history. It was accompanied by monstrous winds and storm surges (10-15 feet) which smashed into coastal communities before leaving the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on November 9.

Initial report on November 8, revealed that a total of 26,675 families or 125,604 persons were affected in 33 cities and 73 municipalities in 22 provinces. A total of 109 evacuation centers were initially established. The cyclone caused catastrophic destruction in the Visayas, particularly Samar and Leyte, to which, according to UN officials, about 11 million people have been affected and left homeless.

However, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), revealed that there were 6,201 deaths and 27,665 injured. Most of the fatalities came from the three towns of Tacloban, Palo, and Tanauan, Leyte. Most of the injured suffered from cuts, wounds and fractures during the disaster while others were injured in flooding that followed the typhoon. Furthermore, 1,785 persons were reported missing. Extreme damage to infrastructure greatly affected the transportation of relief goods and the communication lines.

After the immediate provision of food aid, clean water, temporary shelters, and basic medical care, the original concerns over basic needs shifted to those on infectious disease, malnutrition, childbirth problems, mental health issues, and the needs of those with chronic diseases.

Stories were told. The team from Albay, one of the first to arrive, came in total darkness of Sunday, November 10, after traveling by ferry from Matnog and by land to Tacloban. The team from NCR was deployed and their goods supply was left behind in Cebu. This team had trouble eating for 2 days, living on cookies and dole outs from other groups.

“To the almost 9,000 medical/health responders from about 222 institutions and agencies, including the 351 medical teams both local and foreign, thanking you is an understatement. The DOH is indebted to all of you,” Ona concluded.

doh.gov.ph

DOH, MSD all set for 7th Cervical Cancer Awareness month

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May is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month. The Department of Health, global pharmaceutical company MSD, along with medical societies all over the country are all-set for the 7th year of the Cervical Cancer Awareness Month celebration this May.

The celebration highlight will be the free cervical cancer screening which will be offered to women 21 years old and above in 58 DOH-retained hospitals nationwide for the whole month of May. 

Screenings will be offered to the public every Wednesday in Metro Manila, every Friday in Luzon, every Tuesday in Visayas and every Thursday in Mindanao.

The partnership first established the month of May as cervical cancer awareness month. Over the years, policies and programs have been established such as the national guidelines for cervical cancer prevention and control, conduct of lay forums on disease education and prevention and awareness campaigns.

In 2009, a national screening program was piloted in 13 government hospitals. The following year, all 58 government hospitals offered a 1-day free cervical screening during the month of May to women 25 to 45 years old.

In 2011, regional celebrations of cervical cancer awareness month were done along with free weekly screening.

In 2013, 56 local government units (LGUs) were also allowed to do the screening. This year, the screening program will be expanded to select LGUs which have been trained for VIA namely Valenzuela, Paranaque, Makati, Marikina, Albay and Surigao Del Sur.

According to DOH, screening, either through Pap smear or visual inspection using acetic acid (VIA), should be done on women who are sexually active or had a history of sexual contact. 

Studies showed that cervical cancer is the second most common cancer afflicting women worldwide with about 500,000 new cases and approximately 250,000 deaths each year.

In the Philippines, an estimated 12 Filipino women die due to cervical cancer each day.

This makes cervical cancer control as one of the major priorities of the DOH thru the National Cancer Prevention and Control Program. Several strategies are being done by the program geared towards the prevention of women from developing cervical cancer.

According to the Filipino Cancer Registry 2005 annual report, the incidence of cervical cancer remained stable from 1980 to 2005. In 2005, there were 7,277 new cases of cervical cancer with 3,807 reported deaths. This brings mortality rate at 1 per 10,000 women.

Cervical cancer is caused by the human papillomavirus or HPV which is the most common sexually transmitted infection in both men and women. HPV is highly transmissible and may lead not only to cervical cancer but also cancer of the vulva, vagina, anus, and head and neck cancers as well as genital warts.

In fact, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has stated that HPV is so common that nearly all sexually-active men and women get it at some point in their lives.

Easily transmitted through intimate skin-to-skin contact, HPV infection can be prevented through maintaining a healthy lifestyle and regular cervical cancer screening.

But having a HPV vaccination is the means of primary prevention, according to DOH. Vaccination can help protect against cervical cancer and other HPV-related diseases in both men and women. Secondary prevention through regular screening which is every one to three years can help detect cervical cancer in its early stage and increases the chances of survival.

For a complete list of participating hospitals, visit http://www2.doh.gov.ph/doh_retained_hospital.htm.

To learn more about cervical cancer and other HPV-related diseases, go to www.mahalagaka.com

DOH formalized agreement with Pilipinas Go4Health partners

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Pilipinas Go4Health, the nationwide healthy lifestyle movement spearheaded by the Department of Health (DOH) and with its partners, formalized its partnerships with a variety of institutions during a ceremonial memorandum of understanding (MOU) signing at the Department of Health Compound in Manila last November 20, 2013.

It aims to inform and encourage Filipinos from all walks of life to practice a healthy lifestyle by making a personal commitment to physical activity, proper nutrition, and the prevention or cessation of smoking and alcohol consumption. Through the movement, DOH and its partners work together to promote and establish a sustainable environment for healthy living.

The MOU signing ceremony was attended by GT Metro Foundation, UCPB Gen, Philips Electronics, PhilRice, Global Academy, Bikram Yoga Alabang, Asian Medical Students Association, Polytechnic University of the Philippines and Asian Hospital and Medical Center. DOH officials and representatives from the National Center for Health Promotion (NCHP) led the ceremony, where the efforts of the Pilipinas Go4Health partners were recognized.

“This is another exciting milestone for us because we know that we are all in this fight against non-communicable disease (NCDs) together,” said Health Secretary Enrique Ona. 

“From the moment we learned about the rise of non-communicable diseases or NCDs, it became our mission to avert its long-term impact on the lives of Filipinos, knowing that the new lifestyle is mostly sedentary. Data also indicate that we have a diet that is high in cholesterol and fat, and that we need to more about smoking and heavy drinking,” Secretary Ona stressed.

Health is Wealth. To maintain our good health, we should have light exercise, morning walk regularly, always take balanced and nutritious diet, we should always be away from the bad habits like smoking, drinking and drug addiction.

Pilipinas Go4Health is a healthy lifestyle movement that aims to encourage Filipinos to commit to living healthy with :

Go Sustansya

They say you are what you eat. Our fast-paced lifestyle has led to a reliance on instant meals and fast food restaurants. There’s no harm in wanting to make life a bit easier, but doing so at the cost of one’s health is a no-no. Typically, these “quick” meals are loaded with unhealthy ingredients for them to last longer or cook easier.

Healthy meals are always the best source of energy, vitamins and minerals that people need everyday. A healthy diet includes: whole grains, healthy protein, fish, vegetables, fruits, and dairy. Eating healthy is easy and need not be expensive. The first step is understanding better and healthier meal options. One also needs to establish a positive attitude about food, know how much calories is needed daily, must know the ‘good’ and ‘bad’ in terms of fats and carbs.

Go Sigla

Getting physical is one of the basic ways of keeping one’s self in tip-top shape. But with very busy schedules, people sometimes find it difficult to squeeze in workouts and exercises.

There are a lot of ways of being physically active. They can be simple things such as using the stairs when climbing up or going down a floor or two and walking to your destination when it’s a few blocks away. Even the simplest household tasks such as gardening and cleaning the house are considered exercise.

Different activities target specific parts of the body. There are endurance activities like brisk walking, dancing and biking, that strengthen the heart and lungs. Flexibility activities that strengthen the muscles include stretching, gardening, and doing various household chores. And there are strengthening activities that concentrate on the strength of bones and muscles, such as climbing up the stairs, lifting weights, and doing push-ups. Tai Chi, do heel-to-toe walk, and balancing on one foot help in maintaining balance.

Go Slow sa Tagay

For some, drinking is a way to relax and unwind. But when it comes to alcohol consumption, moderation is very important.  For men, two drinks are recommended, while women are urged to take one drink.

It also aims to promote safe and responsible driving, and lessen motor vehicle accidents. Under RA 10586, law enforcement can conduct random field sobriety tests, chemical and confirmatory tests on motorists suspected of driving under the influence.

Responsible drinking is the key. Moderate alcohol drinking may contribute in reducing one’s risk for: heart diseases, strokes, particularly is schemic stroke gall stones and diabetes.

Go Smoke-free

Smoking is a deadly habit. Ten Filipinos die every hour because of smoking. Across the globe, there are 1.1 billion smokers, and if current trends continues, the number of smokers will reach 1.6 billion by year 2025. In the Philippines, 28 percent, or 17.3 million Filipino adults aged 15 years and older are current tobacco smokers, according to 2009 data by the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS). But it is not only first-hand smoking that kills. Exposure to secondhand smoke is prevalent as well. 

 Smoking is associated with:

          (1) cardiovascular diseases (including heart diseases and stroke);

          (2) diabetes;

          (3) cancer; and

          (4) chronic respiratory diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) and asthma.

Countries are making efforts to reduce, if not eliminate, tobacco use. The World Health Organization (WHO) supports countries through the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC). WHO also introduced the MPOWER measures, which aims to assist the implementation of programs to reduce tobacco demand.

Launched in June 2013, Pilipinas Go4Health is gaining a strong following among the public and private sectors, academe, local governments, and in online and social media.

Secretary Ona said that this milestone signals the start of bigger, more sustained actions toward a healthier Philippines. 

“With the help of our leaders, our employers, our schools, our families, and our champions, we will inspire every Filipino, from the young to the old, to embrace a healthy future. Because we owe it to ourselves to fight for that future,” Secretary Ona said. 

“We salute the work of our partners, who are making great strides against NCDs. If you and your organization share the same passion for building a stronger and healthier Philippines, be part of Pilipinas Go4Health by registering on the website, www.go4health.ph. We are urging everyone to share their time, ideas, and resources so we can succeed in making health a reality for every Filipino,” Secretary Ona adds.

Here's a videp taken during the DOH MOU with Pilipinas Go4Health Partners, lead by DOH Assistant Secretary Dr. Enrique Tayag.

DOH, MSD, Medical Societies Come Together to Prevent Cervical Cancer

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Implement free nationwide screening for the month of May

The Department of Health (DOH), global pharmaceutical company MSD and medical societies hope to go full circle for this year’s Cervical Cancer Awareness Month in May, and strike directly at the source of cervical cancer—the human papillomavirus or HPV.

HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in both men and women which causes cervical cancer. According to the World Health Organization, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer afflicting women worldwide with about 500,000 new cases and 250,000 deaths each year. In the Philippines, an estimated 12 Filipino women die due to cervical cancer each day.

For these reasons, the DOH and MSD, along with medical societies Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society (POGS), Society of Gynecologic Oncologists of the Philippines (SGOP) and Philippine Society of Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (PSCPC), continue with their partnership, dubbed as Babae, MahalagaKa!, for the 6^th year of the Cervical Cancer Awareness Month (CCAM) celebration.

Free cervical cancer screening will be offered to women aged 30-49 years old in 58 DOH-retained hospitals nationwide for the whole month of May. “Screening, either through Pap smear or visual inspection using acetic acid (VIA), should be done on women who are sexually active or had history of sexual contact. This service is being offered for free every May in government hospitals, to help detect cervical cancer in its early stage, while it is still treatable and curable,” said Dr. Rey Delos Reyes, past President of POGS and SGOP, consultant of Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center.

“The good news is that early this year, PhilHealth included the treatment for cervical cancer in the Z Benefit Package program. The benefit package includes cervical cancer chemoradiation with cobalt or primary surgery worth Php120,000 or cervical cancer chemoradiation with linear accelerator for Php175,000 depending on what is needed by the patient,” imparts DOH Secretary Enrique Ona.

Apart from free screenings nationwide, MSD in partnership with DOH will be providing free quadrivalent HPV vaccinations to 9,000 girls aged 13 years old this coming school year. “Our mission is not only to discover and develop medicines and vaccines for unmet medical needs but we would also like to make these accessible to people who can benefit from them. This initiative would help demonstrate how to implement a school-based vaccination program which can serve as a model for a national program,” shares Sanjiv Navangul, President and Managing Director of MSD in the Philippines.

Aside from cervical cancer, the quadrivalent HPV vaccine can also prevent vulvar and vaginal cancer, as well as genital warts. It is important to note that HPV is implicated in various diseases aside from cervical cancer such as cancers of the vulva, vagina, anus, penis, head and neck, and genital warts. It is themost common sexually transmitted infection in both men and women. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have stated that HPV is so common that nearly all sexually-active men and women get it at some point in their lives.

“Due to the many risks that HPV poses and the many lives claimed by cervical cancer, the DOH hopes that through the yearly celebration of CCAM, more and more women will be educated and encouraged to undergo screening and vaccination, “says Secretary Ona.