In July this year, guided by HEARTS technical package, Manila health authorities developed a plan identifying problems, including irregular availability of NCD medicines and supplies, such as cholesterol strips, as well as the limited capacity of health workers to counsel patients and families on healthy life choices and recovering from a heart attack.
The project will expand to other districts of Manila and help health authorities in 10 health centres improve access to care by systematically addressing barriers, including access to medicines, and avoiding unnecessary treatment costs.
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非传染性疾病尤其是心血管疾病、癌症、慢性肺病和糖尿病影响到菲律宾的所有年龄组，尤其是年轻人。
NCDs, primarily cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic lung diseases and diabetes, impact all age groups in the Philippines, especially the nation’s young.
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“在世界各地包括马尼拉，心血管疾病对人们的健康构成最大威胁。”
“All over the world, including in Manila, cardiovascular diseases pose the biggest threat to people’s health,” says Dr Gundo Weiler, WHO’s representative to the Philippines.
“But when health services improve care and counselling for people and their families affected by heart disease, they go a long way to improving their patients’ health and preventing avoidable suffering.”
Supported by WHO, the WHO Regional Office for the Americas, US CDC, the World Heart Federation and others, Global Hearts strives to reduce the global burden of cardiovascular disease and save lives.
Dr Carmela Granada, who heads work on cardiovascular diseases and diabetes at the Philippines Department of Health’s Disease Prevention and Control Bureau, says strong collaboration across all levels of health system is essential for providing the best possible care to all.
“At least informally, there are networks in place which allow better resourced health centres to share personnel, medicines and supplies with other health centres in need,” Dr Granada says.