MANILA, Philippines — Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa on Wednesday said it is better to focus on preventable, “killer” ailments such as heart attack, diabetes and cancer rather than COVID-19.
“Tatakutin kita kung ano ang dapat mong katakutan. Mga taong Pilipino ay namamatay sa heart attack and stroke, cancer, diabetes – Iyan ang isulat ninyo because that’s what I want people to learn about,” said Herbosa in a Palace briefing when he was asked about the surge of COVID-19 cases in Singapore.
(I will scare you with what you should be scared of. Filipinos die from heart attack and stroke, cancer, diabetes — that is what you should write about.)
Herbosa said that it was important for people to learn how to prevent heart attacks and strokes, control hypertension and diabetes, among others.
According to Herbosa, these are preventable diseases, but are still the leading causes of death in the Philippines.
COVID-19, however, is similar to the common cold, said Herbosa.
“For the young and healthy, there is nothing to fear – you just self-isolate; take vitamins, paracetamol and you should recover. At risk are the people who are elderly, with cancer, with immunocompromised,” Herbosa added.