By John Noel E. Herrera
The World Health Organization (WHO) has chosen Iloilo province as the host of the 2022 World Hearts celebration today, Sept 29, 2022, at the Provincial Capitol.
As the highlight of the event, the whole facade of the Iloilo Provincial Capitol will be illuminated at 7 p.m. to call for massive action for the prevention and control of cardiovascular diseases globally.
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Maria Soccoro Quinon said Iloilo will be the pilot venue for the celebration in recognition of the province’s successful implementation of the WHO’s Healthy Heart Project, as validated by the agency before.
“It is a very big event because this is the first time that sa Philippines and first time nga gin diri pa sa aton, diri sa Iloilo Provincial Capitol because nga nakita man and nanamian gid sila sang ila nga review so napinsaran nga why not have it in the Iloilo Provincial Capitol,” Quinon said.
Quinon added that dignitaries from WHO Geneva and the Philippines, and the Department of Health (DOH) central office will grace the event.
Free COVID-19 primary and booster shots will also be offered to the adult and pediatric population as part of the Pinaslakas campaign.
A patient education session on the prevention and management of hypertension and its complications, as well as the common myths and facts on heart diseases, and how to manage the disease properly will be conducted.
Different health services including HIV testing and screening at the DOH Mobile Diagnostic Clinic, mental health counseling, nutrition counseling, and blood chemistry extraction will also be offered during the entire celebration.
HEALTHY HEART PROJECT
The Healthy Heart Project aims to reduce mortality caused by non-communicable diseases like cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, and chronic respiratory diseases.
The province had also successfully piloted the project in the first district of Iloilo in January 2021 and continued its implementation despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Despite the challenges of the pandemic, we were able to integrate the project in our advanced implementation of the Universal Health Care Law,” Quinon said.
The project has also resulted in a higher number of patients in the province who successfully managed their blood pressure.
Data from Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) indicated that out of the 17,775 active patients enrolled in June 2022, 14,532 patients or 81.8 percent recorded a controlled BP.
The province also recorded a much higher percentage compared to the national data, which is only 13 percent.
Miag-ao recorded a 91.9 percent accomplishment for patients with controlled BP; 91 percent for Tubungan; 90 percent for Tigbauan; 83.5 percent for Oton; 78.3 percent for Guimbal; 70.7 percent for San Joaquin, and 66.7 percent for Igbaras.
Data also showed that as of Sept 2022, there are 20,765 hypertensive patients enrolled in the Health Hearts Project with 20,320 patients receiving care at the facility.
