In commemoration of Philippine Heart Month, the Philippine Heart Association in Southern Mindanao in partnership with Philippine College of Cardiology will hold a two-day public service event on February 11 to 12, 2017 at Davao City High School.
The first day will feature Training for Trainers and Basic Life Support or Hands-only CPR training. On the second day will be the medical mission, Zumba fitness marathon and poster making contest.
Speaking during the Kapehan sa Dabaw media forum at SM City Davao on Monday, Dr. Arnold T. Pasia of Philippine Heart Association – Davao-Southern Mindanao said that the first day of the celebration is in support to Republic Act No. 10871 or “Basic Life Support Training in Schools Act, proposed by Rain or Shine coach and former Pampanga congressman Yeng Guiao.
Nicknamed “Samboy Lim Bill” honoring former PBA legend, the bill was proposed after the incident when Lim collapsed on November 28, 2014 while stretching during a PBA Legends exhibition game in Pasig. He was was reportedly unconscious for 23 minutes before reaching the hospital, where he slipped into a coma.
Section 3 of the Act, also known as “Basic Life Support for Basic Education Students,” mandates that “all public and private basic education schools operating nationwide to provide their students with basic life support training through the use of psychomotor training in an age-appropriate manner.”
For the second day, the medical mission will cover screening on Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS), cholesterol, ECG, bone screening, body mass index, ankle brachial index, blood pressure screening and consultation for adult and pedia.
Dr. Pasia said the event is also place Davao City in the list of cities promoting medical tourism.
He added that they are expecting around 500 to 1000 participants since more than 20 specialists and physicians coming from the city’s hospitals such as Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) and San Pedro Hospital will be providing their service for the medical mission.
Deadliest disease
Dr. Pasia said cardiovascular diseases remain to be the deadliest disease in the country as well as Davao City.
“Cardiovascular disease is the number one source of mortality and immobility, Heart attack, hypertension, stroke and congestive heart failure,” said Dr. Pasia who added that these diseases can be hereditary or an effect of an unhealthy lifestyle.
Dr. Pasia said that men are at higher risk of cardiovascular diseases, citing his youngest patient at 29 years old, who has undergone an operation to remove the cholesterol blockage in his arteries.
Meanwhile, due to the hormone estrogen, females are at lower risk of acquiring cardiovascular disease.
“Exercise is actually good for the heart because it lowers down blood pressure, increases the HDL which is actually good cholesterol”, said Dr. Pasia.
“That’s why to have regular exercise, we have to do it two to four times a week,” he stressed.
