DOH, LGUs hold screenings of Bicolanos’ risk for non-communicable diseases

Bicol Region. INQUIRER FILES

CAMALIG, Albay — The Department of Health Center for Health Development Bicol (DOH-CHD Bicol), in coordination with local government units (LGU) in the region, started Wednesday holding its first-ever regional community-based house-to-house mass risk assessment for residents susceptible to non-communicable diseases.

The Philippine Package for Essential Non-Communicable Diseases Interventions (PhilPEN) aimed to screen Bicol residents’ possible risk for illness like hypertension and diabetes.

The agencies target to screen 2.4 million Bicolanos aged 20 years old and up until March 31.

During the live-streamed press conference on Feb. 21, Dr. Monrey Isaiah Mancilla, head of the DOH Non-Communicable Diseases Control and Prevention Center, said non-communicable diseases are among the top causes of death in the country.

This activity would strengthen the capacity of their office to provide early assessment, prevention, and treatment for these diseases, Mancilla added.

Health workers were expected to conduct house-to-house screenings for those who cannot visit public health centers.

After the PhilPEN assessment, the next step will be the referral of identified non-communicable disease patients to primary care provided across the region. Referring them to private hospitals is also an option depending on the patient’s condition.

A DOH study in 2019 showed that non-communicable diseases caused the death of over 350,000 in the country.

NIKKA NAPOD, CONTRIBUTOR

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