At least 12 local government units have committed to roll out an early risk assessment program for diabetes, the fourth leading cause of death among Filipinos, in a bid to curb its increasing mortality rate.
Under the program ACT NOW for Diabetes (Addressing Complications Today through a Network of Warriors for Diabetes), LGUs and accredited health health centers will distribute health screening forms to identify early people with diabetes.
The program aims to promote early recognition of diabetic patients at risk for developing cardiovascular or kidney complications and prevent them.
“The screening tools to be used are available in all major diagnostic centers. We want to be holistic in our approach to diabetic patient wellness – from screening to treatment,” said Dr. Francis Pasaporte, president of Diabetes Philippines.
“We really need the coordination and cooperation of everyone. In Bacolod City, at least two percent of our population or about 12,000 residents are diabetic,” said Mayor Evelio Leonardia, who is also the president of the League of Cities of the Philippines.
Aside from Bacolod City, other participating LGUs are Caloocan City, Davao City, Iloilo City, Makati City, Manila City, Marikina City, Ormoc City, Pasig City, Quezon City, Taguig City, and Valenzuela City.
“With ACT NOW, we aim to emphasize the importance of collective action, a shared effort between healthcare stakeholders and decision makers to better manage the increasing morbidity and mortality from diabetes in the country,” said AstraZeneca Philippines country president Lotis Ramin.
“Our holistic approach is designed to provide diabetic patients access to earlier diagnosis and effective disease management, to help reduce the risk of heart and kidney complications. We look forward to partnering with more LGUs and the medical community across the country to encourage optimal diabetes care,” she added.
According to Dr. Cyril Tolosa, director of medical affairs of AstraZeneca, the company will provide logistics support to help identify patients with multiple risk factors so they may be directed to partner health centers.
“Managing the interconnectedness of diabetes, cardiovascular and chronic kidney diseases is a triple threat that needs to be discussed prevalently. We hope to empower both patients and the general public, especially those with family history, on diabetes care and ways to prevent it,” said Leyden Florido president of the Philippine Association of Diabetes Educators.
“By acting now, we continue to help promote quality education for persons with diabetes and those at risk. At the same time, we are able to equip our professional nurses, nursing graduates and students with the knowledge, skills and values needed for diabetes awareness and management,” added Eleonor Tangkeko, president of the Association of Diabetes Nurse Educators of the Philippines.
Diabetes mellitus is the fourth leading cause of death among Filipinos, after ischemic heart diseases, neoplasms, and cerebrovascular diseases.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that in 2020, at least 37,265 deaths caused by diabetes mellitus were recorded, a number that exceeded the 5-year average of 32,991.