Health centers equipped to parry diabetes, cardiovascular diseases

Friday, May 27, 2011

HANDICAP International-Philippines Program handed over equipment and committed health services for prevention and management of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) to 16 health centers in Davao City.

Catherine Vasseur, program director of Handicap International, said on Friday during the launching of Cardiovascular Disease Program that they are bringing services closer to the poor and the most vulnerable here.

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The Handicap International prioritizes the initiative to fight diabetes in eight countries -- Nicaragua, Mali, Kenya, Guri, India, Madagascar, Thailand and Philippines.

"In the Philippines, the diabetes project started in 2007 only in Davao City," Vasseur said.

She said the project aims to build local capacities to fight diabetes and resulting disabilities.

The activities included are awareness raising, capacity building of primary health care providers, capacity building of diabetes local support groups, support to the local government units and increasing access to prosthetic and orthotic care.

"Davao City is indeed a wise choice to launch another title project with other requisites for the success can be found in Davao," Vassuer said.

The implementation of Cardiovascular Disease Program is the offshoot of the diabetes project of Handicap International and CHO.

It is a four-year program from 2010-2013, which follows the pilot Diabetes Project that was implemented in 10 barangays in Davao City from 2007-2009.

In a statement, the CVD program aims to make health services available for the prevention and management of diabetes, hypertension and other risk factors in barangay health centers. The services include medical consultations, regular monitoring, nutrition and diet counseling, foot care and laboratory testing.

Dr. Ivy Nolasco, Handicap International CVD project manager, announced the tools and equipment that will be used for the implementation of cardiovascular program -- equipment to increase access to laboratory services (17 units of point of care HBA1C machines with initial consumables, 17 units of cholesterol meters with initial consumables, initial urine albumin strips); computer set for CHO; patient registry books; medical nutrition therapy kits; foot care kits; wound care kits; and forms and screening tools like diabetes and CDV questionnaires; and diabetes diaries.

"These equipment will be installed in each of Davao City's 16 district health centers and the CHO main laboratory after a six-month pilot testing in two district health centers following a calendar proposed by the CHO," Nolasco said.

She added that installation will be gradual after the CHO laboratory personnel are trained.

"The final donation for transfer of ownership will be signed at the end of the project in 2013," Nolasco said referring to the services and equipment.

The HI hopes that with these tools, diabetic persons will have an access to quality care that everyone deserves.

City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte said the City Government will ensure that the program is implemented up to the grassroots to effectively reduce morbidity, mortality and to help differently-abled persons in the city.

"The City Government of Davao remains committed to its mandate of protecting the health and well-being of Dabawenyos and to various programs and partnerships. We continuously encourage Davaoeños to adapt the healthy lifestyle to live longer and happier life," Duterte added.

She expressed her hope for the development of the CVD program.

Dr. Josephine Villafuerte, of the City Health Office, said this program is important especially to those in far-flung barangays not to go downtown for screening and monitoring since there are equipments to be distributed there.

"People would know what has to be done," Villafuerte said.

According to her, cardiovascular disease and diabetes are among the leading causes of morbidity in the city. CVD ranks third while diabetes ranks eighth.

The CVD program was launched Friday through the initiative of Handicap International with the other stakeholders.