Exploring Initiatives, Forging Partnerships

BALANGA CITY, Bataan – “Just like any other disease, smokers also need our help because it is not an overnight change,” said Philippine College of Chest Physicians (PCCP) President Leonora C. Fernandez during the 1Bataan Partnership for Health, Committed to achieving United Health Care through Service Delivery Network for Smoking Cessation and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) held at Fontana Leisure Park Conference Room, Clark, Pampanga, November 9.

Governor Abet Garcia explained the importance of the Bataan General Hospital: Service Delivery Network through scenarios that may come through in the future. “It is very alarming that the top 1 reason of mortality is pulmonary disease but with the help of public and private health sectors we can minimize the number of its cases,” he added. It is not only the hospitals, rural health units, and barangay health units who can use the online referral system but hopefully medical team of each private and public company can have an easy access in the system.

Dr. Fernandez also mentioned that the starting age of smokers is still in the range of teenagers. “The reason why we’re here is to guide and provide programs to help them stop smoking,” she added.

The Provincial Government of Bataan signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Philippine College of Chest Physicians and Novartis Health Care Philippines Inc. to work together towards their shared goal of helping smokers in the province quit smoking, enhance COPD management, and improve the health and well-being of citizens of Bataan.