The Philippine Heart Association (PHA) has figuratively given a heart for Bohol as it officially organized its Bohol chapter to slow down the growing cases of cardiovascular disease in the province at the same time to help promote tourism.
PHA Bohol has signified its top priorities: CPR on wheels and Wings (CWW), the vehicle of the PGA-led PH campaign, an alliance with the Department of tourism and Department of trade and Industry. This will be a big boost to Bohol’s emergency response efforts, in effect, further propelling Bohol’s tourism image; and CPR-readyPH, the PHA’s bid to put the Philippines on the international CPR-ready countries map.
And PHA Bohol chapter is true to its commitment as its theme describes this way: “Pusong Bol-anon: Spearheading A New Beat for Cardiovascular Excellence,’ and is tagline: “Your heart, Our Priority.”
“The time has come for us to act at individuals and population level to promote cardiovascular health across the life span and reduce thru burden of CVD worldwide,” it said.
PHA said it’s also a “plus factor for Bohol’s thriving tourism industry.” And Bohol is now having the growing number of cardiovascular specialists, which is a major feat for PHA.
And these would redound to the benefit of every Bol-anon and visitor. “A city and province that (are) responsive to the health crisis and disaster and emergencies is a major draw for international and local tourists.
The purposes of PHA-Bohol as Dr. Jane Regner Ramiro expounds in her speech is for awareness in cardiovascular health to laymen: conduct medical missions with patient education; adopt elementary schools for rheumatic heart disease screening and management; and conduct screening for peripheral vascular disease. It is also targeting to promote medical tourism and conduct annual post-graduate courses on cardiovascular.
The founding officers of PHA Bohol Chapter: Jane Regner-Ramiro, MD, President; Kazan Benigno Baluyot MD, Vice-President; Julia Maape, MD, secretary; Elleen Cunanan, MD, assistant secretary; Eden Ruth Awil, MD, treasurer; Valerie Ramiro, MD, assistant treasurer; Board Members: Baby Kristiane Ricalde, MD; Ivory Rulona, MD; and Janice Sarigumba, MD.
They took their oath before the PHA national president Dr. Walid Amil, the first Mindanaoan and Muslim to head the 73-year-old national organization of 2,500 cardiovascular specialists in the country.
Ramiro is a veteran internist-cardiologist-echo cardiographer and she has been practicing in Bohol since 1991 and was instrumental in the chapter’s establishment.
PHA has bared that the highest rate of mortality is triggered by heart-related ailment with the Ischaemic heart disease, the number one. It is followed by Neoplasma, cerebrovascular, diabetes melitos, pneumonia, hyperleosive, chronic respiratory, respiratory tuberculosis, and other heart diseases. (Ric Obedencio)
