Diabetes, hypertension services available in health districts

DAVAO CITY, Davao del Sur -- The Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Program, a joint undertaking of the Davao City government and Handicap International, has reduced influx of diabetes patients to the Mindanao Diabetes Center at the Southern Philippines Medical Center.

The center has only been receiving diabetes patients who need tertiary care such as therapy and rehabilitation, following the implementation of the CVD program in the city since 2011, MDC Diabetes Nurse Educator Elena Zapanta said.

Unlike the previous years, patients needing primary or secondary care would no longer seek services at MDC because of the CVD program where health services are made available and accessible for diabetic persons, Zapanta said.

“We should be grateful of the program because of the big help and convenience it provides for the patients,” she told the media during the press conference at the opening of the Matters of the Heart photo-essay exhibit and CVD Program Caravan held on Friday at Abreeza Mall, this city.

Dr. Ivy Nolasco, Handicap International project manager, said the CVD program has put in place various health services for the prevention and management of diabetes, hypertension and other risk factors at the 16 health districts covering 182 barangays in Davao City.

The services include medical consultations, regular monitoring, nutrition and diet counseling, foot care and laboratory testing with equipment such as machines to measure blood sugar and lipid profile.

Nolasco said more than 5,000 Davaoeños have already availed of the services at their respective health district centers since the start of the CVD program implementation.

City Health Office Chief Josephine Villafuerte said the CVD program has 22 diabetes educators and trainors who are qualified to provide necessary instructions and counseling to patients slated on Fridays at the health districts.

The Davao City government and the Handicap International-Philippines sealed a partnership in May 2011 to develop and implement a four-year CVD Program to provide Davaoeños easy access to cardiovascular-related health services.

The CVD Program activities were brought closer to the people through a CVD Program Caravan at Abreeza Ayala Mall which will offer free medical services on September 28 to 29 in celebration of the World Heart Day.

These services are also concurrently being offered in the health centers, said Erolle Linus Miranda, CVD Project-Handicap International communication officer.

This activity therefore increases the program’s visibility among the general public for their awareness, he said. (RGA/CLC-PIA11)