MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--In line with this year’s celebration of the National Heart Month, the City Health Office (CHO) here has outlined its efforts to battle against heart diseases and promote cardiovascular health. 

City Health Officer Dr. Ali Dalidig emphasized the necessity to tend everyone’s heart as this has been a prime reason for the death of most Filipinos.

“The top leading causes of mortality or comorbidity are the cardiovascular diseases kaya kailangan pangalagaan natin iyon [mga puso] [that is why we need to take care [of our hearts],” he said in a program celebrating the National Heart Month Monday, February 21. 

Such was affirmed by adult cardiologist Dr. Mohammad Almoqtader Abedin as he also stressed the need to ramp up the information and education campaign to discuss the nature, remedies, and other relevant matters about heart diseases and wellness. 

“Health per se is not just taking medications. There must be health education. All of us should have an idea of the diseases, especially heart disease because this is the topmost leading cause of death,” he said. 

As part of the observance of the National Heart Month, the local government through the CHO in partnership with the Bangsamoro region’s Ministry of Health laid medical services including provision of the body mass index and the hemoglobin A1C test. Patients diagnosed to be hypertensive and diabetic are likewise enrolled in a program dubbed “We care for your heart” to give them lifetime appropriate medicines. (CRG/PIA-Lanao del Sur)