REELECTIONIST Sen. Bong Go urged Filipinos to maintain healthy lifestyles amid rising deaths from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the country.
The senator on Sunday appealed to the public to prioritize their health as the country continues to face public health concerns NCDs such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and stroke.
In a statement, he noted that over 600,000 Filipinos die annually from NCDs — accounting for about 70 percent of total deaths.
The chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography raised the need for preventive care and promoting healthy lifestyle practices.
“If you want to avoid serious diseases we need to start from the basic steps — eat properly, shun vices, be active in sports, and have regular check-ups,” Go said in Filipino.
The Philippine Statistics Authority reported that in the first half of 2024 alone, ischemic heart diseases caused 49,577 deaths, followed by neoplasms or cancers (27,396), cerebrovascular diseases (25,186), and diabetes (15,617).
The 2024 World Health Organization’s (WHO) Western Pacific Region report underscored the gravity of the situation.
The WHO noted that the Philippines stood out as an anomaly in the region with its increasing NCD-related mortality rate.
HPA, a public health advocacy network, is pressing Filipinos — particularly the youth — to reduce their intake of ultra-processed food, increase physical activity, get enough sleep, and avoid harmful practices such as smoking, excessive drinking, and vaping.
They also stressed the importance of monitoring health markers like blood sugar and blood pressure, especially for those already diagnosed with chronic conditions.
Go cited the government’s efforts to expand access to basic and specialized health care through legislation.
He authored and sponsored Republic Act 11463 or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which institutionalized the Malasakit Centers as one-stop shops to help poor and indigent patients reduce their hospital bills.
There are currently 167 Malasakit Centers nationwide which already assisted over 17 million Filipinos, based on data from the Department of Health.
