Recipe for sexy: lean meat and an active lifestyle

May 12, 2017 | 8:28 am

WHAT DO ACTORS Gerald Anderson, Paolo Avelino, and Matteo Guidicelli have in common, aside from their profession? Thanks to their pretty faces and chiseled bodies, the three men are the newest Century Tuna endorsers.

Though, Mr. Anderson and Mr. Avelino are not new Century Tuna faces — they were endorsers in 2008 and 2014, respectively — now, the three men come together to be part of the “Recipe to Sexy” summer campaign. The campaign promotes the versatility and conveniency of canned tuna, which can be paired with anything: it can be eated with pancit canton (noodles), it goes well with an egg sandwich, and can be taken as a silog (eaten with sinangag and itlog — fried rice and an egg), or just as is.

“Breakfast is very important, and I want a dish that is a healthier version of our typical Pinoy breakfast,” said Mr. Anderson, pertaining to tuna and silog.

But besides clean eating, the three said their active lifestyles have kept them fit and healthy. They find time for exercise, but they admit they also have their “tamad” (lazy) days.

“I admit I do get lazy sometimes,” said Mr. Avelino, smiling. “The trick is to get up and get some sun to pump you up.”

Mr. Guidicelli, a triathlete, added: Find a team or a buddy to motivate you.

This is what host and producer Raymond Gutierrez has done over the past 90 days. Another Century Tuna endorser, he lost 65 pounds after the brand challenged him to trim down. Mr. Gutierrez works with his fitness team: nutritionist Nadine Tengco and gym trainor Arnold Aninion.

Among the tuna brand’s other endorsers are actors Luis Manzano, Anne Curtis, and James Reid.

“Filipinos have always been an avid showbiz crowd. The reasons why we use personalities, because I guess [people] look up to the celebrities who are also into fitness. Usually, Filipinos associate themselves with celebrities,” said Gela Gamboa, Century Tuna product manager.

The brands under the Century Pacific Food, Inc. — including Century Tuna, 555, Fresca, and Blue Bay, among others — make up 85% of the canned fish in the market. The brands with the most endorsers are 555 and Century Tuna.

Summer billboards that appeal to Millennials

May 12, 2017 | 8:28 am

Ads & Ends
Nanette Franco-Diyco

Before the long Holy Week holiday of descended on us, I sadistically instructed the 49 students in my advertising class at the Ateneo to go around the metropolis and photograph what billboards truly stood out as the most striking and appealing to each of them. At the very beginning of the semester, they had been grouped into six workshop teams named after advertising agencies, and had been competing with one another and pitching for ad jobs “here and there and everywhere.”

This assignment was part of their Out-of-Home advertising pitch. These “admen” from the Ateneo are 19 to 21 years of age, mostly belonging to the AB and upper C socioeconomic levels, are independent thinkers, and have a real zest for life and leisure.

They were not told to zero in on seasonal advertising, but all the groups embraced fun and the celebration of summer as most actionable to them. In their presentations and defense, a common denominator was their quick and easy identification with the products on the billboards. All of the brands were familiar to them, some of which were the very brands they use.

All their choices had good advertising concepts, all of which trumpeted their unique brand personalities with creative madness.

It was noteworthy that the billboard size was not a supreme enticement for them. There are the super-humongous Pepsi-Cola and Pantene billboards right in front of the university campus and along EDSA respectively, that are unspeakably attention-getting.

As a matter of fact, the Shell “Recharge This Summer” billboard was medium-sized compared to all the other five choices. But the billboard’s unique visuals and creative materials — used to depict a couple of coconut trees sandwiching a family of three literally walking their mini-car onto the beach Shell gas station — was great!

Chickenjoy has two billboards beside each other right before your vehicle enters an EDSA tunnel. Absolutely great location for a billboard! One billboard had what appears to be a regular movie ad, spoofing an old Sharon Cuneta movie, Crying Women No More. And right beside this movie (tagged as “Not Showing”) is the second billboard featuring a bucket of Chickenjoy — the reason why the three women are no longer crying! Chuckle-baiting and clever!

Then we have giant yellow bees swarming and carrying this billboard of San Miguel flavored beer which is trumpeted as “The Seriously Fun Beer.” Except for the bees lifting the billboard so the whole billboard TILTS and seems to be in danger of falling, one might categorize this ad as nearly hardsell but it surely communicated to its target market!

The EO Executive Optical billboard zeroed in on the beach again. We see this man tattooing another man’s back, with the words “I love Ruby” as his visual pattern, but he tattoos “I love Rudy” instead. Clearly, you are urged to visit EO to have your eyes checked. This is part and parcel of EO’s campaign series that continues to embrace humor, this time appealing to the young and mildly wild beachcombers.

Celebrity endorser Luis Manzano does a yeoman’s job, carrying a huge vertical billboard of Shakey’s special premium offering of its scallops pizza. Mouth-watering with great appetite appeal, worded “premium and special” for the summer.

Last but not least is the Bounty Fresh billboard which takes off from the giant white hen roaming around the EDSA frontiers during the entire school year. Call it synergy and, again, uniqueness in billboard design which captivates its audience.

Let us stress that while billboards may have generally been categorized as part of nontraditional media, our problematic traffic situation has given birth to outdoor companies’ turning a disadvantage into an advantage. Billboards are now as traditional as you can get. And to their credit, they now are able to lift you out of the doldrums of sitting bored stiff in traffic.

Credits. Research advertising teams headed by: Matthew James Mendiola, Arianna Gabrielle Faustino, Danielle Marie Lambo, Nicola Andrea Roxas, Lorenzo Raymund Pastor, Karlo Crisanto Lovenia

Nanette Franco-Diyco ended her 15th year advertising career as Vice-President of JWT, segueing into the world of academe, teaching communications at the Ateneo de Manila University.

nanettediyco131@gmail.com

Pretty brochures; pretty useless!

May 12, 2017 | 8:28 am

Getting The Edge In Professional Selling
Terence A. Hockenhull

Last month, I conducted a review of our sales collaterals. 2016 saw us give away umbrellas, coffee mugs, insulated drinks bags, and calendars. Nothing very sophisticated; nothing particularly expensive. Notwithstanding, these freebies are an important part of marketing. Looking at printing charges for 2016, we ran through a couple of thousand brochures and flyers. Although my sales team equip themselves with a handful of flyers each time they go out to see their clients, most of the time we hand these out at exhibitions.

No question about it, this all adds up and becomes a real cost on our bottom line. Is it really worth it? I’m inclined to think our brochures are rarely read; certainly no one spends too much time studying technical data. As for our giveaways, who doesn’t have an umbrella or a coffee cup? Perhaps smaller companies can get away without giveaways; larger companies are expected to provide something useful bearing their brand name (even if it will never be used)!

Each year, we participate in Philconstruct in SMX, Mall of Asia. Billed as the biggest construction materials show in the Philippines, it is an important exhibition for us. We make every effort to have an impressive exhibition space. We spend four days glad-handing potential buyers, greeting old customers, and garnering new business. We showcase new products, distribute flyers, and hand out our freebies to useful contacts and clients.

It always amuses me to watch the hordes of students who turn up on a Saturday to “pillage” anything they can lay their hands on. Clutching half a dozen bags stuffed to the brim with brochures, they weave their way amongst the exhibition booths constantly adding “loot” to their treasure bags. Let one company offer anything of the slightest intrinsic value and next thing you know, there is a virtual stampede as groups of students throw themselves down the aisles in the hope of scoring a free T-shirt, bottle opener, baseball cap, or keychain!

Check out the trash cans immediately outside of the exhibition hall and you will find them stuffed to the brim with discarded product literature. Seems the modus operandi is to accept the brochures with a bag, discard the contents and wander off home with the bag minus contents!

Last year, I finally bought my new car. I requested a brochure for each model I test drove or considered. The specifications sheet on the back page was important for me to determine if my preferred model had an MP3 layer, xenon headlights, leather upholstery, and a parking sensor. The rest of the information was relatively useless. The pictures were great; after all, wouldn’t aesthetics impact significantly on my decision? Just last week, I was cleaning out my office and found all the brochures, each printed on quality card, accumulating dust under a stack of other papers. Accepting that these brochures are printed in their thousands, I would still tag each with a price of P80-P100.

There are no shortage of companies who produce beautiful glossy brochures and other product literature. And it seems to me that a well-laid out brochure highlighting the key features of the product (and perhaps showing a photo or two), may help a client determine whether products are suitable. But rarely do they have a determining effect on a client’s choice. This is where a salesperson efforts should come to the fore; where he can influence a customer by engaging in conversation and learn about the client’s needs.

To be honest, brochures, sales collaterals and other giveaways are something that we all have to have. Why? Well, because everyone else has them too. But understand that in the grand scheme of things, they rarely play any significant role in winning sales.

Terence A. Hockenhull is a long-term resident of the Philippines. He is an accomplished sales consultant who currently holds an executive sales position with an Italian geotechnical company.

hockenhull@gmail.com.

NBS promises libraries for videos

May 12, 2017 | 8:28 am

WITH the variety of challenges going viral on social media, National Book Store (NBS) decided to ride the trend for a cause. In time for its 75th year, NBS has promised to build one library in an indigent community for every 75 videos posted online as part of its Read Out Loud Challenge.

The campaign, launched on March 21, will run for three months. NBS hopes to reach its target of 7,500 videos to be able to build 100 libraries nationwide.

The rules are simple: One has to post a video reading an excerpt from a favorite book out loud, and challenge three other people to do it. The video must be uploaded to either Facebook or Instagram with a hashtag #ReadOutLoudChallenge and tag National Book Store’s social media handles (@nbsalert).

“We wanted to create a buzz about reading and for people to spread the love for reading and have fun while doing so,” NBS managing director Xandra Ramos-Padilla said during the launch at NBS Glorietta 1, Makati City.

She said NBS will be allotting P100,000 per library and will be donating at least 1,000 books per school, consisting mostly of local titles and children’s books.

Schools hoping to be recipients of the library are asked to send in request letter, and NBS chooses the schools to grant a library depending need and its readiness to maintain the library.

There will also be a special project with best-selling international author Mitch Albom which will build libraries in Typhoon Yolanda-stricken areas including Leyte, Samar, Cebu, and Ormoc.

As of April 19, the NBS Facebook page stated that 1,494 videos had been posted online including several by celebrities, authors, and social media influencers. NBS founder and literacy advocate Socorro “Nanay Coring” Ramos also has an entry which has her reading a passage from Yvette Fernandez’s book Nanay Coring: The Story of National Book Store’s Socorro Ramos.

“It is more than just celebrating the 75th year of NBS. But since it coincides with the anniversary, why not? The more people celebrating, the better,” Ms. Padilla said.

While the Read Out Loud Challenge is part of Project Aklat, the NBS Foundation also launched the 8th year of Project Aral on April 7 at all NBS branches nationwide. The project aims to visit and help over 150 communities which lack basic school necessities.

For more details, visit the National Book Store blog, http://blog.nationalbookstore.com and follow NBS on social media, @nbsalert on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. — Camille Anne M. Arcilla

Fitness from the experts

May 12, 2017 | 8:03 am

Fitness education given by experts takes front and center with FitCon MNL 2017 happening later this month.

Geared towards both fitness professionals and active individuals, FitCon, which will be held from May 19 to 21 at the Ascott Hotel at Bonifacio Global City, will bring together 15 international and local fitness leaders to lead an extensive set of trainings and education.

The event, which is making its Philippine debut this year, is organized by Dynamic Duo, founded by Rica Rodriguez and Divine Masinsin, who are both graduates of the College of Human Kinetics in the University of the Philippines.

The two are based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), where they established themselves as top fitness experts working in group classes, personal training, fitness events, gym and trainer/staff management, fitness class setup, and fitness education as well as developing instructors.

Their company, Dynamic Duo, has successfully mounted large-scale events in the United Arab Emirates, including group class launches held at parks; interactive booths and exhibits; as well as corporate team-building activities for various companies.

They have brought the company here to share what they have learned throughout the years and help elevate the fitness profession in the country.

“Fitcon MNL is all about education. We are bringing in 15 international and local speakers representing different brands who will be giving different workshops during the three days of the conference. All in all there will be 51 workshops in the three days and other activities for the general public,” Ms. Rodriguez told BusinessWorld during the preview of what they will be doing at the fitness conference at Kerry Sports Gym at BGC last week.

“We are very excited for the event. We have not stayed in the Philippines for long in like 12 years as we are based in UAE in Dubai. And we wanted to bring back the education that we learned throughout the years,” Ms. Masinsin said.

WHAT’S IN STORE
Highlights of FitCon MNL include the one-day pre-event course on Physique Transformation led by renowned body composition specialist and founder of Australian Strength Performance, Ben Siong. The course covers the science of fat loss and muscle gain as well as other physiological factors to consider for optimal physique transformation.

Seniors Day, which kicks off the whole event, will see experts share their workout wisdom for the older population.

Mind Your Body Evening, meanwhile, features activities that will better bring together mind, body, and spirit to achieve true health and wellness. These include bodyART and Hatha Flow Yoga.

Then there is Zumba Dance Party Night where participants get to dance and sweat the night away with top zumba instructors.

In addition to these events, FitCon MNL will have numerous training sessions, workshops, and activities to be led by specialists such as ultra-endurance athlete Dan Duran (director of Education & Global Business Development of PTA Global), Tony Howett (COO of Mefitpro), and Mark Laws (director of Education, Clarity).

Ms. Masinsin (a master trainer for TriggerPoint Therapy, BOSU, Hedstrom and PTA Global), Audrey Fourcade (Nike Trainer for the NTC program), CHEFitness Liza Fielder (chef and Miss Bikini 2016), Lora Madrigal Gregorio (ZIN), as well as Ms. Rodriguez (a master trainer for PTA Global, TriggerPoint Therapy, Bosu, and Hedstrom) are among the convention speakers.

CONTINUED EDUCATION
“On the professional side, participants can expect continued education at FitCon as we will touch on personal training, nutrition, strength training, and yoga of different types. It’s like a Pandora’s box for fitness,” said Ms. Masinsin.

The proponents of the FitCon said that they hope that with the event they get to help in lifting the standards of local fitness and of the practitioners.

“Our experience in Dubai is that when trainers from here go there they lack the certification despite doing what they do for a long time. So we set up our company here because we want to help lift the standards and professionalize things,” Ms. Rodriguez said.

“Also through our various activities we want more people to train the right way and with confidence,” added Ms. Rodriguez, who also mentioned that they intend to make the FitCon an annual event in the country.

Registration for FitCon MNL 2017 is pegged at P17,500 for the three days inclusive of food, and P8,500 for one day. For more information visit www.dynamicduoinc.com/fitcon-mnl-2017.

The shift to primary health care

May 12, 2017 | 8:03 am

Medicine Cabinet
Teodoro B. Padilla

ALMOST 10 years ago, the global health community made a resounding call to revitalize a declaration which required all health systems to put people at the center of health care. Known as the Alma Ata Declaration, it placed primary care under the global spotlight as the means to achieve better health for all.

The Alma Ata Declaration reaffirmed that the promotion and protection of the health of the people is crucial to sustained economic and social development, and contributes to a better quality of life and global security.

The publication Primary Health Care Now More Than Ever said that due to globalization and the people’s increasing demand for improved health, health systems must respond better — and faster. It boldly stated that primary health care could do just that.

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines primary health care as essential health care based on practical, scientifically sound and socially acceptable methods and technology made universally accessible to individuals and families in the community.

Primary health care puts focus on the community as it should serve as the first level of contact of individuals, the family, and community with the national health system, therefore bringing health care as close as possible to where people live and work.

According to the WHO, the goals of primary health care are to reduce exclusion and social disparities; organize health services around people’s needs and expectations; integrate health into all sectors; pursue models of policy dialogue; and increase stakeholder participation.

One of the models often talked about when it comes to primary health care is the National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom. British Ambassador Asif Ahmad described the journey of a person who suddenly becomes ill in his country.

The first thing this person can do is reach for the phone and get in contact with the NHS Helpline. Right there and then, medical advice will be given and a decision will be made if the person needs to be referred to emergency care. Otherwise, the patient could be advised to avail of his next regular appointment to discuss health concerns face-to-face with a general practitioner. In some instances, these general practitioners make house calls.

Mr. Ahmad said that while there may be delays in the British health system, there is not a situation when their citizens could not access health care. And he may be right.

The NHS in England handles more than a million patients every 36 hours. Established in 1948, its intention is to make health care available to all, regardless of one’s economic status. Among its core principles are: that it meets the needs of everyone; that it be free at the point of delivery; and that it be based on clinical need, not ability to pay.

The British ambassador believes that the system can be replicated in the Philippines one way or another. For one, he observed that the country could maximize technology, such as social networking and mobile connectivity, to enhance telemedicine to reach patients living in geographically remote communities.

Mr. Ahmad will be one of the panelists in the forum “Health for Juan and Juana 2: Moving Forward with the Philippine Agenda” on May 18, which has the theme “Bringing Health to Juan and Juana: Universal Healthcare in the Communities.”

It will bring together various sectors that are involved in shaping the health system to put into action recommendations on establishing universal health care as a crucial part of the medium-term development plan. The forum will also demonstrate a whole-of-government, whole-of-society approach towards health with the participation of government, local government units, development partners, patient groups, and the private sector, among others.

Medicine Cabinet is a column of the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP), representing the research-based medicines and vaccines sector in the country. The author, Teodoro Padilla, is the executive director of PHAP. He is a cum laude graduate of Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of the Philippines and acquired a masteral degree from Kellogg School of Management. E-mail the author at medicinecabinet@phap.org.ph.

Teodoro B. Padilla is a cum laude graduate of Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of the Philippines and further acquired a masteral degree from Kellogg School of Management.

Fact Sheet: World Asthma Day

May 12, 2017 | 8:03 am

WHAT IS ASTHMA?

Asthma is a common and potentially serious chronic disease. It causes the narrowing and inflammation of the airways, making it hard for sufferers to breathe.

Symptoms include wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and a cough that can vary over time in occurrence, frequency, and intensity. Recurrent asthma symptoms frequently cause sleeplessness, daytime fatigue, reduced activity levels, and school and work absenteeism.

Fortunately, asthma can be effectively treated and most sufferers can achieve good control of their asthma. However, failure to recognize and avoid triggers may result in an asthma attack, unplanned doctor/hospital visit and even death.

WHAT IS AN ASTHMA ATTACK?
During an asthma attack, the lining of the bronchial tubes swell, causing the airways to narrow and reducing the flow of air into and out of the lungs.

HOW MANY PEOPLE SUFFER FROM IT?

20% of the world population suffers from allergic disease such as allergic asthma and allergic rhinitis.
300 million patients have asthma, and this is expected to increase to 400 million by 2025.
In more than 50% of adults and 80% of children, their asthma is allergic.
Asthma is the most common chronic disease among children.
Patients with asthma reported 14.2 million visits to a doctor’s office and 1.3 million visits to hospital outpatient departments.

WHAT CAN TRIGGER ASTHMA SYMPTOMS?
Although the fundamental causes of asthma are not completely understood, there are several, inhaled risk factors that can lead to the development of asthma and may trigger its symptoms.

These include:

PM 2.5 — These are microscopic air pollutants, with size below 2.5 micrometers, and long-term exposure to them can trigger pulmonary oxidative stress and inflammation. This damage is associated with the primary development of asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). People with heart or lung disease (asthma and COPD) are under increased risk because these particles can aggravate the disease process.
Bacteria and Viruses — Inhalation of viruses or bacteria can cause influenza, the common cold, tuberculosis, and other infections and increase the risk at asthma or COPD symptoms.
Allergens. These include — Mold Spores: these can produce irritants and potentially toxic substances, which when inhaled by sensitive people, may trigger allergic reactions or asthma symptoms; Pet dander: contain allergens that can cause allergic reactions or trigger asthmatic attacks; Dust mites: the waste they produce is a potent trigger for asthma.
Dry Air. Around 60% of the human body is water. Indoor dry air draws water out of skin and hair cells, causing itchy skin, chapped lips, brittle hair and red eye. It can aggravate allergies, asthma and other respiratory conditions, and ruin a good night’s sleep.
WHAT YOU CAN DO IF YOU HAVE ASTHMA?
Medication. There are two types of asthma medication: long-term control medications which are preventive, taken daily to achieve and maintain control of asthma symptoms; and, quick-relief medications which are used to treat asthma attacks. They relieve symptoms rapidly and are taken on an as-needed basis
Avoiding asthma triggers. Reducing contact with the triggers of asthma can help to reduce the severity of its symptoms. This can be done by:
Keeping a diary of your symptoms. This will help you and your health care professional to get a clear idea of what may be triggering your asthma.
Using an air purifier to reduce allergens and control their levels. Philips air purifiers, for example, feature VitaShield IPS, which are effective against PM 2.5, bacteria, viruses and allergens, removing particles as small as 20 nanometers.
Managing your stress can help keep your asthma under control. Find an approach that works for you, such as relaxation, exercise etc.
Keeping pets out of the bedroom and off furniture. If possible, pets should be bathed frequently.
Keeping the humidity in the air in your home between 30% and 50% can help asthma symptoms. To do this one can use humidifiers like those by Philips.

For more information on asthma or the triggers that may affect it, speak to a health care professional.

Smoking weakens a gene that protects arteries

May 12, 2017 | 8:03 am

WASHINGTON — People who smoke cigarettes may boost their risk of clogged heart arteries by weakening a gene that is otherwise protective of these important blood vessels, US researchers said Monday.

The findings point to a genetic explanation for how smoking can lead to the plaque buildup that stiffens arteries and causes heart disease, said the report in the journal Circulation.

“This has been one of the first big steps towards solving the complex puzzle of gene-environment interactions that lead to coronary heart disease,” said co-author Danish Saleheen, assistant professor of biostatistics and epidemiology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

Researchers pooled genetic data on more than 140,000 people from more than two dozen earlier studies, with a particular focus on regions of the genome that have been previously associated with a higher risk of plaque buildup in the heart’s arteries.

“A change in a single DNA ‘letter’ on chromosome 15, near the gene that expresses an enzyme (ADAMTS7) produced in blood vessels, was associated with a 12% reduction in heart risk in nonsmokers,” said the report.

“However, smokers with this same variation had only a 5% lower risk of coronary heart disease — reducing by over half the protective effect of this genetic variation.”

Follow-up lab studies showed that in cells that line arteries of the human heart, the production of the enzyme ADAMTS7 dropped significantly when the cells contained this single-letter DNA variant.

INHIBITING AN ENZYME
Another experiment showed when coronary artery-lining cells were exposed to the liquid extract of cigarette smoke, the cells’ production of ADAMTS7 more than doubled.

If researchers can find other ways to inhibit this enzyme, they might be able to help smokers and others at heightened risk of coronary heart disease, said co-author Muredach Reilly, director of the Irving Institute for Clinical and Translational Research at Columbia University Medical Center.

Cigarette smoking is known to cause about one in five cases of coronary heart disease, and is linked to approximately 1.6 million deaths worldwide each year.

“Through these large-scale genetic studies, we’re beginning to understand the genetic variations that drive risk in response to certain environmental exposures or lifestyle behaviors,” said Reilly.

“Not everyone reacts the same to the same exposures or behaviors. For example, some people who don’t exercise develop diabetes while others do not,” he added.

“So, instead of saying there are rules for everybody, we can specify which interventions will be especially beneficial for specific populations or individuals and focus our health resources more efficiently.” — AFP

Working towards universal health care

May 12, 2017 | 8:03 am

Medicine Cabinet
Teodoro B. Padilla

AMBISYON NATIN 2040, representing the collective long-term vision of the Filipino people, emphasizes the significant role of health in the country’s overall national development. This vision states that by 2040, the country will be composed of a middle class society where no one is poor.

Health remains a fundamental pillar in the realization of this vision for 2040. Apart from the people’s expressed desire to live longer and healthier in the next 25 years, no country can claim full social development and inclusive economic progress with an ailing citizenry and with the vulnerable left to care of their own.

The increase in national government and social health financing is evidence of the government’s resolve to improve people’s health. Undoubtedly, the wheel towards the attainment of health for all has been set in motion. It is time to accelerate the momentum and broaden the gains of universal health care (UHC), which examines and addresses the country’s health issues from the wider and holistic perspective of health system.

The University of the Philippines’ Acta Medica Philippina health journal defined UHC as the provision to every Filipino of the highest possible quality health care that is accessible, efficient, equitably distributed, adequately funded, fairly financed, and appropriately used by an informed and empowered public. With this system, the poor and marginalized are the priority as it helps ensure health as a right regardless of ability pay. This is notably important for the poor who do not have enough money even for the most basic needs, thus the move to provide services for free.

At present, legislative measures have been filed to institutionalize, enhance, and fund UHC. Authors of these bills concur that UHC will avoid the piecemeal or incremental approaches in addressing the country’s health woes.

Common to the provisions are the strengthening of primary health care and outpatient services, engagement of local government units, the development of enabler systems, and identifying possible funding sources.

One of the measures is House Bill (HB) 5120 or the Philippine Universal Healthcare Act, which espouses a whole-of-system, whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, where all sectors and relevant stakeholders are considered in the planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of all health-related policies, programs, and actions.

Its primary feature is the establishment of a Universal Healthcare Commission composed of the Departments of Health, Finance, Budget, and local government as well as representatives from PhilHealth, the academe, and the private sector. The UHC Commission will be tasked to determine the types and extent of health care services that shall be provided to Filipinos free of charge, including prevention and treatment of communicable diseases, vaccine-preventable diseases, and the provision of essential medicines.

Under the bill, all Filipinos will automatically be PhilHealth members and that coverage will be gradually expanded to include outpatient medicines, medical diagnostics, and vaccines. In ensuring sustainability, PhilHealth will be asked to work with private insurance for co-payment to be charged to non-sponsored patients.

Expansion of benefit coverage is also the intent of HB 1875 or the “Enhanced Universal Healthcare Act of 2016.” The bill seeks to expedite the attainment of UHC by increasing PhilHealth benefit coverage to lessen the more than 56% out-of-pocket expense of patients.

The bill likewise identifies sources of funding such as sin taxes, the Philippine Amusement Gaming Corporation, and the Charity Fund of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

As health is everyone’s business, HB 5120 is mandating government agencies to strengthen coordination mechanisms and linkages with the private sector to harness and align it to universal health coverage. One area identified for collaboration is the conduct of research on existing and emerging health concerns in the country and globally.

The attainment of the highest attainable standard of health is a fundamental right of every Filipino. Beyond the personal gains of leading longer and more productive lives, health is an essential investment to the people’s overall social development and the country’s economic progress by the year 2040.

What you need to know about diabetes

May 12, 2017 | 8:03 am

DIABETES is one of the most common illnesses in the Philippines yet many people do not know that they have it.

“Many people are being affected by diabetes, and some aren’t even aware that they have it. Poorly managed diabetes can lead to severe health complications such as heart disease, blindness, kidney failure, and a blood vessel disease that may require amputation. That is why it’s vital to learn more about diabetes and if needed, seek proper treatment immediately,” says MediCard president and CEO Dr. Nicky Montoya.

HERE ARE SOME BASIC FACTS ON THE DISEASE.

What is diabetes? Diabetes is a condition where the body either can’t produce insulin or does not use insulin properly. Insulin is a hormone that enables the body to use glucose that is found in food for energy. There are several types of diabetes but the most common are Type 1, where the pancreas does not produce insulin; and Type 2, where the body does not use insulin properly.
What are its symptoms? People with diabetes experience frequent urination, excessive thirst, constant hunger, irritability, blurry vision, extreme and unexplained fatigue, wounds or cuts that are slow to heal, weight loss even if you are eating more, and tingling, numbness, or pain in the hands and feet. In some cases, individuals with diabetes don’t show any symptoms, which is why it is very important to visit a doctor regularly for check-ups.
What are its complications? People with diabetes are more prone to infections. High glucose levels and high blood pressure can also lead to cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, nerve disease, and eye diseases, among others. To avoid complications, it’s important to regularly monitor and maintain blood glucose levels, blood pressure and cholesterol.
How is it treated? To prevent complications, diabetics should have a meal plan prescribed by a dietitian. Eating healthy and engaging in physical activities will help the body break down insulin better and convert glucose into energy. Some patients need to take insulin injections and oral agents, pills which help diabetics produce more insulin or utilize insulin better. Visit a diabetes specialist regularly to monitor glucose levels.
How does one prevent diabetes? To reduce one’s risk of developing diabetes, get moving and have a regular exercise routine like 30 minutes of walking a day. Reducing one’s consumption of alcohol and processed sugars such as candies and sodas while adding more food rich in monounsaturated fats like avocados, nuts and olive oil, is recommended.

How Spain became the world leader in organ transplants

May 12, 2017 | 8:03 am

MADRID — Juan Benito Druet has just learned that his life may be about to change.

In the next few hours he will receive a healthy kidney thanks to a pioneering system that has made Spain the world leader in organ transplants for the past 25 years.

“We don’t know what will happen. But you have to take a chance,” said Druet, 63, a reserved and moustachioed boilermaker, as he lays in his bed at Madrid’s La Paz hospital.

Hospital staff try to reassure him by telling him organ transplants are carried out every day in Spain.

Doctors performed 4,818 transplants last year, including 2,994 kidney transplants, according to the health ministry’s National Transplant Organisation (ONT).

That means there were 43.4 organ donors per million inhabitants last year, a world record, up from 40.2 donors in 2015.

By comparison, in the United States there were just 28.2 donors per million inhabitants in 2015, 28.1 in France and 10.9 in Germany, according to the Council of Europe.

“It is even better than if we had won the jackpot in the lottery,” says Druet’s wife Jeronima, 60, as she sits close to him along with the couple’s two adult children.

Now she dreams of going on a cruise with her husband, something impossible as long as he needed to be hooked to a 15-kilo (33-pound) kidney dialysis machine every night to filter his blood.

‘TRANSPLANT LIVES’
The transplant operation lasts four and half hours.

Surgeons make a 15-centimeter (six-inch) incision in Druet’s abdomen to transplant a healthy kidney extracted the night before from a woman who died.

After a transplant patients “start to regain weight, their health improves. It is as if we transplant lives,” the founder of the ONT, Rafael Matesanz, tells AFP.

Matesanz oversaw the implementation of a centralized and well-oiled organ donation and transplant system which has been replicated in Portugal and Croatia and inspired others across Europe.

Each hospital has a transplant coordinator, usually a doctor or nurse who specializes in intensive care, charged with identifying patients at risk of a heart attack or brain death.

In both situations kidneys, livers, lungs, pancreas and sometimes even the heart can still work and can be transplanted.

Organ donations are quickly reported to the ONT which searches for the best match from its organ waiting list.

If the patient is far away, a cooler with the organ is sent by plane inside the cockpit with the pilot.

The operation is free under Spain’s public health system, anonymous and available only to residents of the country to avoid organ trafficking.

CENTRALIZATION
“What makes the difference is the organization of the system. This network, this centralization, is the key,” says Marie-Charlotte Bouesseau of the World Health Organization’s department of ethics.

Worldwide only about 10% of all patients who need a transplant receive a donated organ, she adds.

“That means that 90% will die while they are on a waiting list,” she explains.

In Spain only four to six percent of patients died in 2016 while they were on a waiting list for a vital organ — a liver, heart, or lung.

Ramon Garcia Castillo, 85, a former TV technician, spent 13 months on dialysis before he received a kidney transplant in 2010.

He would previously trek to a hospital three times a week to be hooked up to a machine for three-and-a-half hours.

The kidney transplant “gave me my life back,” says Castillo, who now just needs to take pills to ensure his body does not reject the donated kidney.

‘EMPATHY AND RESPECT’
The other secret to the success of the Spanish system is training and communication, explains Matesanz.

Since it was set up in 1989, the ONT has trained over 18,000 transplant coordinators who break the news of a person’s death and then gently convince their loved ones to agree to donate their organs.

Spanish law presumes consent for organs to be removed on their death unless they had previously made clear that they were against donation.

But loved ones are systematically consulted.

“You have to have a lot of empathy, sensitivity, respect,” says Belen Estebanez, the transplant coordinator at Madrid’s La Paz hospital.

The work of a transport coordinator was depicted in Spanish director Pedro Almodovar’s 1999 Oscar-winning movie All About My Mother. The director consulted with the ONT to prepare the movie.

“If they have a lot of doubts we ask them what the person was like, if they were generous… from there we get them to reflect on an organ donation,” adds Damiana Gurria, another transplant coordinator.

“It comforts many families to know that the organs of their loved ones will live on inside someone else, that people will be thankful for the rest of their lives.”

Castillo said he drinks two liters of water each day and follows a balanced diet since he received his new kidney.

“I have to take care of it, especially since it was given to me. I have to be thankful.” — AFP

WHO hails major gains against once ‘neglected’ diseases

May 12, 2017 | 8:03 am

GENEVA — The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday hailed “unprecedented progress” in the fight against 18 neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) — including dengue fever and sleeping sickness — which kill 170,000 people and disable millions each year.

The UN’s health agency, pharmaceutical companies, and civil society groups led by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation have been waging a protracted effort to eradicate the group of highly treatable diseases, which had previously received scant attention and resources.

“It’s really a story of wonderful progress,” the billionaire Microsoft founder Bill Gates said in Geneva. “A lot of pieces have come together.”

His comments came as WHO launched its latest report on the battle against so-called NTDs.

“Over the past 10 years, millions of people have been rescued from disability and poverty, thanks to one of the most effective global partnerships in modern public health,” WHO chief Margaret Chan said in a statement.

A full 1.6 billion people remain affected by NTDs — more than 500 million of them children — but that number is down from more than two billion in 2010, WHO said.

The effort against the group of diseases intensified in 2012, when governments and drug companies signed the London Declaration pact committing resources to help eliminate the most common NTDs.

Companies have since annually donated hundreds of millions of treatment doses, enabling one billion people to get therapy for at least one disease in 2015 alone.

Before the deal, “we really weren’t organized as a global community to solve the problem,” Gates told reporters, describing the accord’s five-year anniversary as “a milestone in global health.”

INFECTIONS FALLING
Great strides have been made to rein in some of the worst ailments, including Dracunculiasis, a crippling parasitic condition caused by the flesh-burrowing guinea worm.

The worm, which exists in South Sudan, Chad, Ethiopia, and Mali, enters the body when people drink stagnant water contaminated with parasite-infected water fleas.

In its bid to exit the body, the worms, which can be up to a meter long, dig their way out of the body, including through the eyes and genitals.

Last year, only 25 human cases of guinea worm were recorded, down from nearly 900,000 in 1989, when it was endemic in 21 countries, “putting eradication within reach,” WHO said.

There has also been a huge reduction in human African trypanosomiasis, commonly known as sleeping sickness, which is transmitted by the tsetse fly.

The initial stage of the disease is symptom free, but during the second stage the parasites cross into the central nervous system and the brain, where they can be lethal if untreated.

In 2015, only 2,804 cases were registered, down from 37,000 in 1999, WHO said, putting the goal of eliminating the disease altogether by 2030 “on track.”

While much has been done in the battle against NTDs, WHO cautioned that progress would stagnate without efforts to address broader poverty-related issues.

WHO estimates that 2.4 billion people still lack basic sanitation facilities like toilets and latrines, while nearly two billion use drinking water sources contaminated with fecal matter. — AFP

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