CITY PARTNERS WITH MEDICAL ORGS. TO CURB RISING DIABETES COMPILATIONS

January 27, 2023 Metro BLISTT

BAGUIO CITY

The City Government of Baguio has forged a partnership with four medical organizations in an effort to curb the increasing number of people developing complications due to Type 2 Diabetes,
Hypertension, and Dyslipidemia. The Baguio City Council, last January 9, granted Mayor Benjamin Magalong the authority to enter into a memorandum of Agreement with the Diabetes Philippines,
Inc., Philippine Association of Diabetes Educators, Association of Diabetes Nurse Educators of the Philippines, and Astrazeneca Pharmaceuticals (Phils.), Inc.

The city government, through the City Health and Services Office (CHSO), will support the implementation of the Addressing Complications Today through a Network of Warriors (ACT NOW) Program. The ACT NOW Program is a health-care related initiative aimed at addressing the
progressive increase of complications related to the aforementioned diseases. It envisions the use of a referral hub for treatment pathway, training assessment for the local health care providers, and
medical education.

The program includes the use of risk factor assessment and Chronic Kidney Disease questionnaire in the management of noncommunicable diseases; continuing medical education for health practitioners on risk factor management; education on lifestyle modification, adherence to therapies, and prevention of cardiorenal complications; and a referral hub with risk factor treatment pathway with provision of access to treatment.

The memorandum of agreement shall be valid for a period of one year and may be extended or
renewed for a certain period upon mutual agreement of all parties. Based on the latest statistics of the CHSO, the City Health Services Office recorded 393 deaths (both Baguio and non-Baguio residents) directly attributed to diabetes from 2019 to 2022.

SP/Jordan G. Habbiling