Acting chief of the Local Health Support Division of DOH-NIR Dr. Deab Eltanal (3rd from left), Internal Medicine and Cardiologist at ACE Hospital Dr. Brian Joseph Calinawagan (4th from left), and Provincial Health Officer Dr. Liland Estacion (5th from left) of Negros Oriental during the “PuroKalusugan” program launching in Dumaguete City on Feb. 25, 2025. (PIA Negros Oriental)
DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental (PIA) — The Department of Health- Negros Island Region (DOH-NIR) has launched its PuroKalusugan program in Dumaguete City.
“This is the first major health event for NIR Center Health Development, pushing forward for our advocacy on preventive care especially on our heart health to avoid or prevent heart diseases and educate the public to have a healthier heart,” said Dr. Deab Eltanal, acting chief of the Local Health Support Division of DOH-NIR.
PuroKalusugan is a flagship health program of DOH to bring healthcare services to the grassroots level or to every barangay or purok.
Eltanal said the program focuses on DOH’s eight priority health outcomes, “Bawat Pilipino Ramdam ang Kalusugan, dahil sa Bagong Pilipinas, Bawat Buhay Mahalaga.”
Free health and medical services, including advocacy campaigns, were offered to Barangay Health Workers (BHW) and Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS) during the launching of the program.
“Our participants are BHWs and BNS because they’re also our health education and promotion officers to help us in spreading the message on how to prevent heart disease and to improve our heart health,” explained Eltanal.
This is to promote fitness and a healthy diet, especially since hypertension is one of the health priorities in the country.
A briefing was also conducted on the importance of physical activity in preventing heart disease as cardiovascular diseases remain the top causes of illness, disability, and even death in the Philippines.
“Heart disease is still one top cause of mortality, and it ranks also very high in morbidity sa mga tawong nagkasakit og (those suffering from) high blood, all of that gi-atake due to heart failure,” said Dr. Brian Joseph Calinawagan, internal medicine and cardiologist at ACE Hospital.
With this, DOH encourages Filipinos to develop a healthy diet filled with fruits and vegetables, avoid smoking, practice moderate alcohol drinking and salt intake, and to exercise regularly.
DOH personnel screened patients in the barangays who are at risk of developing cardiovascular disease and provided medicines.
Lanilyn Orlina, 55, a Barangay Nutrition Worker (BNW) from Barangay Motong, thanked DOH for bringing the health services to their area.
“Dako sya’g tabang namo para amo sab kini ihatud na adbokasiya sa among barangay kay ang among serbisyo is paghatag og dugang kahibalo sa mga ginikanan especially mag conduct mi og Mothers’ Classes,” said Orlina.
(This helps us a lot, as we also share the advocacy in our barangay as part of our services to provide additional knowledge to mothers, especially during the conduct of Mothers’ Classes.)
“Sa akong nasabtan iwas stress lang gyud ta para dili maapektuhan ang atung kasing-kasing ilabi na gyud naa tay mga problema, mokaon tag balance diet ug lihok-lihok pirmi or mag ehersisyo para iwas sa sakit sa kasing-kasing,” said Orlina.
(What I learned was that it’s important to avoid stress so that our heart will not be affected. We have to have a balanced diet, keep moving or exercise regularly to prevent heart disease.) (JCT/PIA7 Negros Oriental)
