DOH Launches Hypertension and Diabetes Program in Pampanga

City of San Fernando, Pampanga (PNA) — The Department of Health (DOH) has launched a program that would help residents here suffering from hypertension and diabetes, the two leading causes of death in the country.

The program dubbed as Hypertension and Diabetes Club was launched Wednesday during the Barangay Health Workers’ Day, one of the highlights of the week-long celebration of the 444th Pampanga Day.

Liberal Party presidential bet Mar Roxas, who served as one of the guests during the event, said the launching of the program is the start of the distribution of the free medicines for hypertension and diabetes.

”The maintenance medicines for hypertension and diabetes will regularly be distributed for free to all the barangays in Pampanga to help in the treatment of those suffering from these two chronic illnesses,” Roxas said.

Meanwhile, Governor Lilia Pineda said the program is a big help to the Kapampangans who are suffering from hypertension and diabetes.

”The program of the government in terms of health care is indeed a big help to us such as the universal health care where there is no need for those suffering to such diseases to worry on the high cost of their maintenance medicines,” Pineda said.

For Rosanna Quimpo, 66, a resident of Barangay Dolores, City of San Fernando, the program will bring big help to her who has been suffering diabetes and hypertension for years.

”It is indeed good news for us, who have hypertension and diabetes. With the availability of free medicines, my family will no longer have to worry for my medical expenses,” she said.

Quimpo is one of the 25 percent of Filipinos above 25 years old suffering from those chronic diseases as per study of the World Health Organization (WHO). (PNA) LAP/ZST/FEM/PS