Engaging the youth to be ‘healthy today, ready for the future’

MANILA, Philippines - Considered a global health concern, noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) account for the death of 36 million people each year, according to data from the World Health Organization (WHO). If no action is taken, WHO projects that total deaths due to NCDs will be as high as 73 percent by 2020.

In the Philippines, NCDs are estimated to account for 61 percent of all deaths, according to WHO’s NCD country profiles in 2011. In 2010, the Department of Health reported that diseases of the heart and of the vascular system are the two leading causes of mortality in the country.

As most of the common risk factors of these diseases are linked to a person’s lifestyle, there is a need to promote and advocate healthy living among Filipinos — the youth included. In fact, NCDs are alarmingly becoming diseases of the young. In the 2009 Global Adult Tobacco Survey, WHO reported that 17.3 million Filipino adults aged 15 years and older were current smokers, — 80 percent of them are daily smokers. Smoking and physical inactivity are the top two risk factors for NCDs.

As a trusted brand in healthcare for more than 60 years now, Unilab understands that being healthy and well is more than just having a strong body but also having a sound mind and spirit. In addition to the high-quality products that it develops and manufactures, the pharmaceutical company is also offering a program that promotes health and wellness among today’s youth.

“Unilab believes that health awareness and education at a young age is key to a healthy and brighter future,” says Barry Barrientos, Unilab Corporate Affairs Division manager. “We believe that before the youth can be productive members of society, they need to be healthy and well first. A youth free from any illness or disease can afford to focus on the more important things in life, like reaching their life goals and making a positive difference not just in their own lives but also in the lives of the people around them.”

In 2012, Unilab established the Unilab Fit To Win (FTW) Youth Club to instill the importance of a healthy lifestyle among Filipino college students, and provide them access to various wellness programs and activities beneficial to their overall well-being. The first-of-its-kind youth club in the Philippines, Unilab FTW Youth Club engages its members in wellness activities that promote proper exercise, good nutrition, disease prevention methods, personal care routine, sleep and rest information, stress management, self-acceptance and optimism, and healthy relationships.

 â€œWhile modern technology has its advantages, many among our youth were found not to have not experienced playing on the streets, considered one of the joys of childhood and teenage life,” notes Barrientos. “Through the Street Olympics, we hope to encourage the youth to spend more time on physical activities because a sedentary lifestyle can increase their health risks.”

Activities slated for summer are UniSummer, the club’s own version of a summer camp; Dance Therapy, a dance class for beginners and expert dancers; grooming and style workshop; Amazing Grocery Race; leadership training; Yoga Festival; feeding program; and Unilab Extreme Challenge, the youth club’s culminating activity and year-ender event.

“The Unilab Fit To Win Youth Club aims to promote health awareness among Filipino youth by embracing a holistic perspective on health and wellness. By taking part in activities that enhance their mind, body, and spirit, our youth will be fit to win the challenges of tomorrow,” Barrientos asserts.

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To know more about the Unilab Fit To Win Youth Club, visit its Facebook page or e-mail unilabfittowin@gmail.com.