SAN JOSE, Antique (PIA) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Department of Health (DOH) Center for Health Development (CHD) Western Visayas launched the Healthy Hearts Programme in this province dubbed “Project Kasing-Kasing.”
Project Kasing-Kasing is the local version of the Healthy Hearts Programme, a flagship program of the WHO that seeks to fortify efforts in reducing premature mortality and morbidity caused by non-communicable diseases (NCDs), particularly cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) such as hypertension.
The program intends to improve hypertension detection and control at the primary health care level, support the creation of government programs and policies that promote healthy lifestyle, and develop and implement a communications campaign.
In Antique, the WHO has identified nine towns as the target beneficiaries and pilot implementation sites of the program – Pandan, Culasi, Tibiao, Barbaza, Bugasong, Patnongon, Sibalom, Hamtic, and Tobias Fornier.
These municipalities will receive the Healthy Hearts Technical Package (HHP), inclusive of an e-Learning Course on Healthy Hearts Technical Package, Facility Hypertension Electronic Registry, Job Aids, and Medicine Forecasting Tool.
Governor Rhodora Cadiao expressed her full support in the implementation of the project, considering that NCDs are top causes of death and morbidity in the province as per the 2022 Field Health Service Information System (FHSIS), .
Gov. Cadiao then stressed that the provincial government continues to be committed to providing basic health services for the public, noting that the Provincial Health Office (PHO) has disbursed over P55 million for the prevention and control of NCDs.
Alongside other provincial government officials and the local chief executives (LCEs) of beneficiary-municipalities, the Governor welcomed in the province WHO Philippines Country Representative Dr. Rui Paolo de Jesus and WHO Western Pacific Director for Programmes for Disease Control Dr. Huong Thi Giang Tran.
For his part, Dr. de Jesus said that the WHO constantly works with partners in devising and implementing strategies to address the global health concern on NCDs and noted that he looks forward to the success of the program in Antique through the active involvement of communities and the government.
Stakeholders from the WHO, the DOH, the Provincial Government, Stakeholders
from the WHO, the DOH, the Provincial Government, and other partner agencies then signified their commitment to deliver the aspirations of the Healthy Hearts Program by signing the Pledge of Commitment.
Present also at the program launching were PhilHealth Vice President and Head Executive Staff Dr. Albert Domingo, DOH Western Visayas Assistant Regional Director Dr. Ma. Sophia Pulmones, and Antique Provincial Health Officer I Dr. Leoncio Abiera, Jr., among others. (AGP/BPS/PIA Antique)
