MDH, COSE join global campaign to educate adults on diabetes
In celebration of World Health Day, Manila Doctors Hospital (MDH), in partnership with the Coalition of Services of the Elderly (COSE), Confederation of Older Persons Association of the Philippines (COPAP), and HelpAge International, joined the global campaign against the prevalence of diabetes during the Diabetes Education and Screening Campaign last April 8 at the Skydome, SM North EDSA.
Diabetes is one of the four major non- communicable diseases (NCDs), along with cancer, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and chronic respiratory disease. In the Philippines, it is the 6th cause of death among older persons.
The half-day free event brought awareness to participants of different age groups through diabetes screening, consultation and educating them on how to prevent and diagnose the symptoms of diabetes.
“To prevent diabetes, one must take two necessary yet basic steps in self-care: awareness and willingness to take regular check-up or screening. Being healthy at older age start while you are young. It’s a process to achieve healthy ageing,” Emily Beridico, executive director of COSE said.
Dr. Reynaldo Salinel Jr of MDH talked about diabetes self-care to the 200 to 300 middle to late adult participants, while doctors Maria Liza Pineda, Jayne Mae Nubla, Ramon Ricafrente II, Peter Ante of family medicine, and Jasse James Lu and Erika Jane Salvame of optha, conducted screening and consultation.
COPAP vice president and advocacy committee member Crispulo Migriño ended the event with recommendations for policy makers and health care officials that older campaigners around the world recommend older people should be involved in decision making on the care that they receive and how diabetes services are provided.