Latest figures show that the obese population in Catanduanes is now almost 50,000, with the Department of Health (DOH) urging the public to observe a healthy lifestyle to prevent serious diseases and other health risks.
In a press conference held March 13, 2023 at ECrown Hotel, the DOH Bicol Center for Health Development V, together with representatives from the Provincial Health Office, encouraged the people to choose health over obesity or the abnormal or excessive accumulation of fat in the human body.
Based on the updated data from the PhilPEN Risk Assessment, 41.01 percent of the 120,903 Catandunganons assessed or a total of 49,587 individuals 20 years old and above are considered obese.
The 27,314 obese women outnumber males with excess fat, who total only 22,273, the same date showed.
The island’s percentage is the highest so far among the six provinces of Bicol, which has a total of 794,510 obese persons representing 33 percent of those assessed.
Dr. Joy A. Peña, Catanduanes Provincial Non-Communicable Disease Prevention and Control Program Coordinator, shared tips on how to maintain an ideal weight, including the breastfeeding of infants, building early relationships with healthy food by encouraging the family to introduce nutritious food, eating slowly and eating only when hungry.
“We also have to limit unhealthy food in the household, incorporate fun and exciting physical activity, limit your child’s screen time, get enough sleep, and know what your child is eating outside the home,” she said.
Dr. Peña advised adults consume less fatty and sugary foods, eat more servings of vegetables and fruits, eat plenty of dietary fiber, engage in regular physical activity, focus on reducing daily stress, learn how to budget food, and prepare meals by measuring servings and control portions.
One can find out if he or she is overweight or obese by calculating his or her Body Mass Index, which is weight in kilograms divided by the height in meters.
For those in the Asia Pacific region, overweight is a BMI or 23 to 24.9 while Obesity Class I is a BMI of 25.0 to 29.9, with Obesity Class II a BMI of greater or equal to 30.0.
Among the different serious diseases and health conditions caused by obesity are high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, cancer, sleep apnea, mental illness, and body pain.
The DOH remains steadfast in promoting a #HealthyPilipinas through House-to-House Community-Based PhilPEN Risk Assessment, instituting guidelines on the implementation of the employees’ health and wellness program in Catanduanes, implementing Zumba activities at workplaces and communities, and conduct of biggest loser activity and lay forum for Lifestyle Related Disease (LRD) Prevention including nutrition and weight management for employees.
To help reduce cases of obesity in the region, Dr. Peña disclosed, the DOH has upcoming plans and programs such as intensifying its Information Education and Communication (IEC) campaign for obesity and weight management in barangays through the NCD LRD program of the PHO, conducting of lay forum about Hypertension, Diabetes Mellitus and Weight Management this May 2024 in observance of Hypertension Month, conducting a Health Education Campaign on Obesity Awareness in schools, sustaining the Zumba activities in provincial offices, and monitoring and evaluation of PhilPEN program implementation in all Rural Health Units (RHUs).
Alarm raised on rising TB cases
In his video message, DOH-CHD 5 Regional Director Nestor F. Santiago disclosed that of the 32,412 new cases of tuberculosis in Bicol reported in 2023, about 4.9 percent or 1,601 are from Catanduanes.
Provincial Health Officer I Dr. Angel Albert F. Lamban, who is the PHO’s National Tuberculosis Program Medical Coordinator, reported that based on case notification data in the province, there were a total of 4,079 TB cases in 2023 broken down by town as follows: Bagamanoc, 259; Baras, 444; Bato, 317; Caramoran, 332; Gigmoto, 269; Pandan, 556; Panganiban, 230; San Andres, 430; San Miguel, 382; Viga, 460; and Virac, 400.
However, this number includes both new and so-called relapse TB cases or those who became ill again after showing improvement.
Based on RD Santiago’s data, relapse TB cases in Catanduanes last year would account for a huge 61 percent of the TB cases officially reported to local health authorities.
The Tribune sought additional information on this statistic from the PHO but was told to submit an official request for the data. However, the requested information was not yet forwarded to the Tribune as of presstime.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) global TB report in 2020, the Philippines has the highest TB incidence rate in Asia, with 554 cases for every 100,000 Filipinos.
TB disease is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a bacteria passed on from a person with TB when he or she coughs, sneezes, spits or even talks.
Bacteria will be expelled in respiratory droplets and close contact may inhale the bacteria. At first, the body’s natural defense system will fight the bacteria but once the immune system weakens, the bacteria may attack the lungs and other parts of the body.
Common symptoms of tuberculosis include prolonged cough, chest pain, fatigue, fever, and weight loss.
Dr. Lamban said TB can affect any region of the body, including the stomach, lungs, head, and neck, but mortalities can be prevented by proper treatment.
Last year, a total of 22 TB patients died, including four in Virac, three in Bato and two each in Bagamanoc and Caramoran.
He encouraged the public to be aware of the symptoms and seek immediate medical attention as the six-month treatment can stop TB infection from progressing to disease and can protect both infected and contact persons.
However, he warned patients not to stop the treatment, as it could extend the taking of medicines to two years.
All TB drugs are free, especially for those suffering from drug-resistant TB, with the medicines given for free by the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP).
“The drugs are not sold in drugstores and each treatment roughly costs around P200,000,” Dr. Lamban said, adding that even laboratory tests and sputum collection are free.
“All we need is your presence and for you to ingest the medicines,” he stated.
The patient is also given the discretion of where to get medical care – public or private – as long as the Rural Health Unit is notified once the test confirms TB.
A GeneXpert molecular test detects the presence of the TB bacteria and also tests for resistance to the drug rifampicin, with results available in 45 minutes at a high accuracy.
The test is now available at the Virac RHU. Pandan RHU and Baras STC, with the machine to be installed soon at the Eastern Bicol Medical Center once the involved personnel complete microscopy training.
LGUs should procure rabies vaccines
Meanwhile, health officials urged LGUs to support the Rabies Prevention and Control Program by procuring vaccines for dogs and humans.
Provincial Health Office I Dr. Franchette Amabella DP. Panti made the call even as she bared that 736 vials of vaccines arrived from the DOH regional office last Feb. 27 for use in the three Animal Bite Treatment Centers (ABTC) at Pandan District Hospital, Viga District Hospital and Eastern Bicol Medical Center will only be good for 2024..
On the other hand, Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Jane C. Rubio said that no more assistance with regards to animal vaccination will be coming from the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI) as the function of providing for dog vaccination has been devolved to LGUs.
She reported that for the past three years, the number of dogs vaccinated against rabies has fallen from 54% in 2021 to just 45% last year when only 7,397 of the estimated 16,478 dogs in Catanduanes were given anti-rabies shots.
Declared rabies-free in 2018, Catanduanes has not had any case of rabies in the past eight years but it is conceded that health authorities cannot be sure if unvaccinated dogs, especially the strays, do not carry the virus.
Last year, Dir. Santiago said, there were 26 deaths from the virus in the other five provinces of Bicol, an increase of 62 percent from 2022.
The health department also recorded a total of 71,532 animal bites in 2023, with Catanduanes accounting for 2,236 of them.
A highly fatal disease, rabis is caused by the lyssa virus transmitted mainly through the bite of an infected animal and sometimes through the licking of scratches, abrasion or open wound by the animal.
With an incubation period of two weeks to six years, at an average of one to three months, initial symptoms include fever, pain and unusual or unexplained tingling, pricking, or burning sensations at the wound site.
Patients infected with furious rabies typically show hyperactivity, excitable behavior, hallucinations, lack of coordination, hydrophobia and aerophobia while those with paralytic rabies are usually less dramatic, with the disease taking a longer course until the muscles gradually become paralyzed, with coma slowly developing until death.
Those who fear they have been exposed to rabies should wash the wound immediately and vigorously with soap and water for 10 minutes and go to the nearest ABTC for administration of the vaccine. The animal, on the other hand, should be leashed, impounded and observed for 14 days.
Rabies coordinator Lilibeth Pabico assured that 95% of those who received the three doses of vaccones are safe from the deadly disease.
Health officials called on pet owners to be responsible by having their pets vaccinated and registered as well as providing them with proper food and shelter.
Under Republic Act 9482, the owner of a dog which is found to be not registered and vaccinated against rabies will be fined P2,000.
Taking an unleashed dog to a public place means a fine of P500 while the owner of an unvaccinated dog that bites an individual will be responsible for vaccination of both the dog and the bitten individual.
Higher fines as well as imprisonment awaits dog meat traders and those who refuse to put the dog under observation, pay for the individual’s medical expenses.