Health Secretary Dr Enrique Ona and Acting WHO Representative in the Philippines Dr Susan Mercado deliver their messages to participants during the Philippine World Health Day 2013 celebration at Bayleaf Hotel on 8 April 2013
The WHO country office with the Philippines’ Department of Health and the Philippine Coalition for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases highlighted the celebration of World Health Day 2013 with a scientific symposium on controlling hypertension and reducing salt consumption on 8 April 2013 at the Bayleaf Hotel, Intramuros, Manila. Dr Enrique T. Ona, Secretary of the Department of Health, Dr Susan Mercado, Acting WHO Representative in the Philippines, and Dr Rachel Marie Rosario, Chair of the Philippine Coalition for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases, led a group of over 150 participants representing partners from government and non-government sectors, from academic and research institutions, health professional groups, industry, media, and civil society in reminding everyone to know and control their blood pressure, and to maintain healthy lifestyles.
World Health Day is celebrated on 7 April of every year to mark the anniversary of the founding of WHO in 1948. Each year, a theme is selected to highlight a priority area of public health concern in the world. This year the focus is on controlling blood pressure, and WHO is calling for intensified efforts to prevent and control high blood pressure. Worldwide, high blood pressure is estimated to affect more than one in three adults aged 25 and over. In the Philippines, one in every four adults 20 years old and above has high blood pressure.
Secretary Ona emphasized In his speech, that knowing one’s blood pressure and awareness on the healtthreats from high blood pressure is the first step in preventing and controlling it. But he also highlighted the need to tackle other risks for noncommunicable diseases (NCDs): “Addressing high blood pressure should be addressed with the other risk factors under a comprehensive approach for managing NCDs. This is because NCD risk factors add up, and the health consequences of high blood pressure can be compounded by tobacco use, unhealthy diet, harmful use of alcohol, lack of physical activity, as well as obesity, high blood cholesterol and diabetes. The presence of multiple risk factors will more alarmingly increase the odds of heart attack and stroke for affected individuals.”
Dr Mercado of WHO reiterated: “High blood pressure is preventable and treatable; controlling high blood pressure, together with other risk factors, is the main way to prevent heart attack and stroke.” She further emphasized that controlling high blood pressure is an important step to achieving the global WHO target of 25% reduction in premature death from NCDs by 2025.
Dr Rosario of the NCD Coalition also advised, “People can cut the risks of high blood pressure. They should be encouraged to consume less salt, eat a balanced diet, engage in regular physical activity, and avoid tobacco and harmful use of alcohol.”
During the scientific symposium, presentations on the following topics were provided: (1) “Blood Pressures Rising in the Philippines” by Dr Dante Morales, Chair, National Nutrition and Health Survey; (2) “Sounding the Alarm from High Salt Consumption Among Filipinos” by Dr Imelda Angeles-Agdeppa of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute, Department of Science and Technology; (3) “Call to Action for Salt Reduction” by Dr Cherian Varghese, Senior Medical Officer, NCD, WHO; and (4) “Controlling Hypertension through Lifestyle Interventions” by Dr Ranulfo Javelosa, Jr., Division Chief, Preventive Cardiology, Philippine Heart Center. The speakers acknowledged the public health importance of addressing the problem of hypertension in the Philippines, and the need for reducing salt consumption of the population and strengthening promotion of healthy lifestyle.
Symposium participants were served low-salt dishes selected by Ms Felicidad Velandria, Registered Nutrition and Dietitian, and prepared by the chef of Bayleaf Restaurant. Health Assistant Secretary Dr Enrique A. Tayag led participants for a “Dance for Life” aerobic exercise and carried out a soft launch of the “Pilipinas Go 4 Health!” campaign, enjoining participants to be part of the movement and contribute to promoting healthy lifestyle throughout the country. Department of Health Undersecretary Dr Madeleine Valera and WHO Philippines Officer-In-Charge Dr Sigrun Roesel also provided messages for the event, and encouraged everyone to adopt a healthy lifestyle.
Media interviews and newspaper advisories on hypertension and World Health Day were organized prior to the symposium. A press conference participated by Secretary Ona of DOH, Dr Mercado of WHO, and Dr Rachel Marie Rosario of the NCD Coalition was conducted on 5 April 2013 at Millenia Suites, Ortigas Center, Pasig. A video for Philippine World Health Day 2013 was developed in collaboration with the University of the Philippine Open University.