ILOILO CITY (PIA) -- Iloilo province will be hosting the first World Heart Day 2022 celebration in the country slated on September 29.
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Maria Soccoro C. Quiñon noted that the province was chosen as a pilot venue for the event in recognition of Iloilo’s successful implementation of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Healthy Heart Project.
“It is a history in the making as this is the first time that the World Health Day will be celebrated in the country,” Quiñon said in a Capitol press statement, adding that WHO delegates are expected to give recognition to the province.
The World Heart Day 2022 will banner activities such as health clinics in partnership with the Department of Health (DOH) 6, COVID-19 primary and booster vaccination, and patient education sessions on the prevention and management of hypertension.
Zumba activities will also be held along with family planning services.
Ilonggos can also avail of other health services include HIV testing and screening, mental health counseling, nutrition counseling, blood chem extraction for 20 individuals at the Capitol Clinic subject to reservation, blood typing at the Philippine Red Cross Booth, and actual demonstration of hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
Meanwhile, the Healthy Heart Project of WHO aims to reduce mortality rate due to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases.
According to the Iloilo provincial government, the successful implementation of the pilot project began in the first district.
“Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, we were able to integrate the project in our advanced implementation of the Universal Health Care Law,” Quiñon said.
The Iloilo provincial government also reported that the Healthy Heart Project contributed to the increased number of patients in the province who successfully managed their blood pressure.
Of the 17,775 active patients enrolled until June 2022, 81.8 percent or 14,532 patients recorded a controlled BP based on the data.
Guimbal recorded a 78.3 percent accomplishment for patients with controlled BP; 66.7 percent for Igbaras; 91.9 percent for Miagao; 83.5 percent for Oton; San Joaquin got 70.7 percent; 90 percent for Tigbuanan; and 91 percent in Tubungan.
As of September 2022, there are a total of 20,765 hypertensive patients enrolled in the program, including the 3,069 new enrolments in the third quarter of the year.
Service coverage per town include 39.4 percent in Guimbal; 26.3 percent in Igbaras; 28.2 percent in Miagao; 25.3 percent in Oton; 63.9 percent in San Joaquin; 44.7 percent in Tigbauan; and 43 percent in Tubungan.
Of the total enrolment, 20,320 patients have been receiving care at the facility.
The PHO likewise conveyed that Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. has vowed to replicate the project in the entire province of Iloilo. (JBG/LMLE/PIA Iloilo/Capitol PR)
