Top 3 health concerns: Poor air, alcohol, trauma

MANILA, Philippines - Health Secretary Enrique Ona cited three health concerns presently confronting the country in a meeting of the World Health Organization (WHO)-Western Pacific Region Office.

Ona told the committee meeting of the WHO-Western Pacific in its regional office in Manila last Monday that the three health concerns are poor air quality, alcohol and trauma.

“These problems are not new and it’s indeed commendable that we are starting to recognize their significance in our effort to promote public health,” he noted.         

The four-day WHO meeting discussed current health issues in the region like dengue, antimicrobial resistance, traditional medicine, non-communicable diseases, health surveillance and budget, among others. 

Health ministers and experts from the Western Pacific countries attended the meeting.         

Ona said poor air quality has been the major cause of hospitalization and deaths from respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

“A lot of factors contribute to poor air quality. Smoking is the primary source of poor air quality indoors while particulate matter pollution emanating from the transport sector, from industries and factories are the major sources of poor outdoor air quality,” he added.

Ona also claimed that there has been a rise in alcohol use among Filipinos 15 to 19 years old.

“The harmful use of alcohol results in a considerable proportion of crime, violence, injuries, deaths and a lot of problems for health. We need to enjoin society and relevant sectors in reducing the access of minors to alcohol by supporting pricing and sales restriction policies. Likewise, we need to continue promoting the adoption of healthy lifestyles among the citizens,” he added.

He also expressed concern over injuries and trauma in the country that have “greatly increased over the decade to become the top three to top four leading causes of death annually, among both adults and children in the country.”

“Transport related crashes, assault, accidental drowning and fall are the major recorded causes of deaths among all ages. Pedestrians comprise more than 50 percent of all deaths, followed by motorcycle and pedal bike users,” he said.

Dr. Shin Young-soo, WHO director for the Western Pacific, said that the region has made progress in the health area.

He claimed that nine of 10 countries with rampant malaria cases in the region have already formulated national elimination plans.

“Prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS have improved in most parts of our Region. And tuberculosis control programs have been strengthened across the region,” he added.

Shin cautioned that such gains could be reversed “if the challenge of antimicrobial resistance is not tackled collectively.”

He cited multi-drug resistance “to the most effective anti-malaria drugs and to first- and second-line of tuberculosis treatments.”

“We now need to turn political recognition into concrete action. This is particularly so in low-resource settings, where the impact of this rising tide of non-communicable diseases is felt the hardest,” he maintained.