Health Literacy for All Filipinos Jose P. Santiago Jr. MD President As healthcare professionals we play a The second approach has to do with vital role in the advancement of health getting professional medical advice and literacy in the country. In collaboration support once it becomes apparent that illness with government and non - government has set in. Then how to get back to normal initiatives, it is our task to take part in function through physical therapy and designing effective health information rehabilitation. I am happy that we are gathered here programs and communication channels at the SMX Convention Center in Davao City and work together to ensure these As Health Literacy improves, the demand for the 112th PMA Annual Convention and information are well disseminated and for skilled services will increase. To prepare Scientific Meetings with the theme: “Health presented in a language that can be for this, it is recommended that our Literacy for All Filipinos.” understood by the public; and that health healthcare workers undergo further services are available, affordable and training to enhance their knowledge and Let me begin my message by defining accessible to all our fellowmen. skills so that they will be equipped with Health Literacy. necessary proficiency to become the primary educators of the population or The approach to Health Literacy Healthcare literacy means empowering community they serve. involves first, preventive and promotive people with medical knowledge. This is and second curative and rehabilitative. essential in making healthcare inclusive The government and private sectors which is the basic principle of Universal These are the important pieces of have joined hands to enhance the quality of Healthcare. It is a revolutionary way to information that must be planted in the life of all Filipinos, a vital component of enable people to manage their personal hearts and minds of people. which is reliable and affordable health care. health. The shortage of medical doctors and other The first approach involves the health professionals in rural areas, coupled The importance of Health Literacy awareness about proper hygiene and with the lack of health infrastructure in the cannot be underestimated. What is the use sanitation and a healthy lifestyle. Wash- countryside, intensify the impact of this low of hospitals and clinics and an abundance ing of hands, observing cleanliness, using of doctors, nurses and other medical health literacy. personnel, if a great number of the clean water and eating the right foods are population is not informed or literate all meant to prevent getting ill in the Infrastructure works and facility enough to understand how to make use of first place. Immunization is part of the upgrades of government hospitals and them. preventive aspect of care. clinics, the plans to improve and upgrade the services and facilities of the municipal The low level of health literacy among These topics have been part of school and barangay health centers, engaging the Filipinos, notably among the underprivi- curricula and practiced for decades. The- services of private institutions, are all part leged, is one of the key drivers causing the se can be sustained and enhanced. Baran- of the bigger picture that is, to cope with the alarming rise the number of unhealthy and gay assemblies can be convened to teach demand for health services, as provided in sick Filipinos. It has been linked to poor parents about good health hygiene and the Universal Healthcare Act RA 11223. health outcomes such as higher rates of sanitation. Senior citizens have an im- hospitalization and less frequent use of portant say in the family and they can be To attain the fruition of the UHC we preventive services. Both of these outcomes asked to help. Mass media like radio, tele- need to significantly increase the health are associated with higher healthcare costs, vision and print, and social media can be literacy among Filipinos. which is not good in the economy. utilized for this purpose. Page 2 The Physician Health Literacy for All Filipinos…. 34thCMAAO General Assembly from page 1 th and 55 Council Meeting The Philippine Medical Association (PMA) has for its part formulated and Path to Wellness is carrying out the Build, Build, Benito P. Atienza, MD Build Health Literacy Program as its Vice President contribution to this great national effort. Medical professionals and support staff are the most important As part of Health Literacy, we do not stop at elements in the Health Literacy the level of increasing awareness. It is our Program. advocacy to unfold the countless benefits of ‘Wellness’ is the state of being well. The wellness. Our path to wellness should be Let us join hands and work as a team inevitable desire to be in a state of wellness directed towards translating the awareness as guardians of the health of our depends on the kind of influence any person into actions. countrymen, to fulfill our higher takes. purpose of building a healthy nation. Let’s build a culture of wellness – starting Health care costs also continue to increase. with our own selves, our families, our work- But with the recently passed Universal I have the honor and pleasure to place, then our communities. Healthcare Law, each Filipino will have formally open the 112th PMA Annual access to affordable healthcare. Convention and Scientific meetings On behalf of the PMA National officers with the theme “Health Literacy for all One of significant findings of a research done and Board of Governors, I congratulate the Filipinos”. by an insurance company in the Philippines, organizers of the 34th CMAAO General there is an increase in the percentage of Assembly and 55th Council Meeting. Isang maningning na hapon sa health consciousness among Filipinos in inyong lahat. terms of awareness of their health needs. However, based on the survey, the top three health problems remain to be excessive weight, obesity, and respiratory conditions. Despite the repeated information dissemina- tion and awareness activities that the different health advocacy groups and medical organizations have been doing, only very few make healthy food choices and opt to change their lifestyles. Many companies and top management have realized the value of healthy workers. Research done by the Health Enhancement Research Organization, shows that employ- ees who keep a healthy lifestyle had better job performance, proper time management, and lower absenteeism. Provision of wellness activities for workers helps them emanate a more positive attitude, pleasant personality, and exceptional performance. These effects are also experienced by us, physicians. With optimal health and wellness, we are able to deliver a much higher quality care to our patients. It creates a positive image, not just for ourselves, but also for the many institutions and medical societies we are affiliated with. People who work in a fast-paced industry or environment filled with so much stress and anxiety, give extreme importance to staying healthy and fit, as this helps in building immunity against major health risks. Volume XXIX, No. 1 Page 3 Opening Statement during the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines Forum Benito P. Atienza, MD Vice President The Philippine Medical Association and the year to reach out to our community. Will reinforce and reiterate these unity the whole medical community were PMA health literacy advocacy program is statements issued by PMA 2 years ago. saddened by the news when the DOH centered on the communities and families confirmed that Polio is re emerging in including grade school and high school PMA will continue its unwavering support the Philippines after the country was students. to WHO, DOH, and other stakeholders declared polio free in 2000. to rebuild its public trust in our health institutions battered by crisis in its PMA joined the DOH campaign against Immunization program. I will quote the Message from CMAAO Polio through a strengthened Synchro- President Dr K K Aggarwal today, nized Polio Vaccination Campaign or Pledge to our people the strengthening of diseases do not recognize borders. "Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio in order the collaborative efforts between private Globalization has eased travel; it had also to disseminate timely and accurate and public sectors by improving the refer- become more frequent .This facilitates information to specific target groups and ral system aimed to achieve a seamless rapid spread of infectious diseases within encourage parents and caregivers to have health care delivery networks. the country and around the globe. their children immunized with Polio. The lessons learned from our experiences The Confederation of Medical Association Philippine Medical association is making should provide a better opportunity for all of Asia and Oceania wherein the PMA is a of us to translate into action all govern- all its efforts in collaboration with the founding member issued a resolution last ment, all society and all system approach Sept. 5 during its council meeting with vaccine experts and medical association in providing health for all our people. this statement in relation with vaccine like PIDSP, PISMID and Philippine Founda- Hesitancy: Given the potential for tion for vaccination to come up with Lastly, we appeal to your organization the the hesitancy to rapidly undermine different strategies to combat the vaccine Foreign Correspondents Association of the vaccination coverage in a specific setting, hesitancy. This coming